Have you ever enjoyed a cocktail surrounded by the remains of some of the largest animals to walk this earth? Or put on a virtual reality headset and wandered into another realm? What about learning and trying to create your own masterpiece while gazing at world-class paintings? If you've ever wanted to experience all of this and more in a single evening in Berlin, then you can’t miss out on the Long Night of Museums (Langen Nacht der Museen) this summer!

During the Long Night of Museums, 75 museums and cultural institutions across Berlin open their doors to the public at night. With nearly 750 events taking place at this year’s Long Night of Museums, there are countless exhibitions, installations, events and more just waiting to be discovered.

A brief history of the Long Night of Museums

Originally thought up by a group of museums working with the city’s marketing department in the mid-1990s, the first Long Night of Museums attracted 6.000 visitors, who came to experience a number of different activities in 18 museums. Although it used to take place twice a year, in February and August, in 2012 event organisers decided to scale it back to a single annual event as its popularity grew.

The concept proved to be such a success over the years that it has continued to expand, welcoming more than 50.000 visitors in 2023. The Long Night of Museums has even become an international phenomenon, with 120 museum nights being held across the globe in cities like Paris, Buenos Aires and Amsterdam. In Berlin, well-known spin-off events include the Long Night of the Sciences, the Long Night of Religions and the Long Day of Urban Nature.

Photo credit: © Kulturprojekte Berlin, Oana Popa

What to expect at the museum night

The central focus of the Long Night of Museums is the extended visiting hours and countless events, with all participating locations open from 6pm to 2am. Art historians, tour guides and experts will be on hand to offer a personalised experience, as visitors can select which events to attend and make their own schedule for the evening.

The Long Night of Museums usually starts with an opening ceremony at the Lustgarten in Berlin-Mitte, with a musical performance and an appearance from the Berlin mayor. Afterwards, many attendees follow a direct route to famous museums such as the Old Museum (Altes Museum), the Old National Gallery (Alten Nationalgalerie), and the German Historical Museum.

Attending the Long Night of Museums

Get ready to journey through the different realms of natural science, art, history and technology at night with just one ticket during the Long Night of Museums. 

A single ticket offers access to all museums, as well as the very convenient shuttle bus service travelling between venues. In addition, the ticket includes use of all of Berlin’s public transportation from 3pm to 5am on the day of the event - double win! For more information on the event, or to get your ticket from July 29, visit the official Long Night of Museums website.

Photo credit: © Kulturprojekte Berlin, Melanie Sapina

Thumb photo credit: © Kulturprojekte Berlin, Oana Popa