International Museum Day 2026 Features Virtual Tours and TikTok Livestreams

International Museum Day 2026, set for May 18, is organized by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) under the theme “Museums Uniting a Divided World.” This year, over 37,000 museums from 158 nations and territories are anticipated to join in. Activities will feature free entry, workshops, performances, virtual reality exhibits, and heritage walks throughout the week. The TikTok series “Museums Come Alive” will enhance virtual participation, showcasing livestreams from renowned venues such as the Guggenheim and the Museum of Modern Art. A highlight includes a two-hour tour of the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, led by travel journalist Zhuldyz Rakhmet on May 18 at 11 a.m. ET. Other notable streams feature MoMA and Egypt’s Abdeen Palace Museum. ICOM initiated this event in 1977.