Since 2011, ICOM has been sponsoring the European Night of Museums, which is celebrated every year on the Saturday just before International Museum Day.

This year, the European Night of Museums will be held during the night of 16 to 17 May 2015. Created in 2005 by the French Ministry for Culture and Communication, the event inspires museums to open their doors to the public until 1:00 a.m. and free of charge.

By welcoming the public at night, museums provide visitors with a new perspective on their collections, applying a more creative and sensory approach. Last year, museums from 33 European countries mobilised to make the 10th edition of the event a magical one for the many night owls who attended. Over the course of the night, various activities are planned, bringing in a young public that may be more difficult to reach during traditional museum hours.

http://nuitdesmusees.culturecommunication.gouv.fr/