On the occasion of International Museum Day (May 18), the City of Athens is actively participating in the celebration with a rich programme of events and activities for children, students and adults, offering free admission and participation from Thursday, May 14 to Friday, May 22.
The Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, stated:
All museums and cultural venues operated by the City of Athens are participating in International Museum Day with free admission. From the Maria Callas Museum and the Industrial Gas Museum to the City of Athens Arts Center, the Angeliki Hatzimichali Museum of Folk Art and Tradition, as well as our libraries, we have designed free activities and programmes for an entire week. We continue to strengthen access to culture and create experiences that connect the city with its people.
This year’s theme by the International Council of Museums (ICOM), “Museums Uniting a Divided World”, highlights the role of museums as spaces of dialogue, inclusion and social cohesion. The City of Athens’ programme follows this direction, promoting creativity, collaboration and the connection between art and everyday life.
A Week of Activities for All Ages
Sunday, May 17, 2026
As part of the celebrations, the Maria Callas Museum will open its doors with free admission from 10:00 to 19:00, inviting visitors to discover the life and artistic journey of the legendary diva through a multisensory experience.
At 13:30, the concert “Moments of Romanticism: Piano and Cello” will take place, featuring pianist Vivian Brenda and cellist Vania Papadimitriou. The programme includes works by Chopin, Elgar, Fauré, Saint-Saëns, Schubert and Rachmaninoff, offering a refined musical experience.
The Industrial Gas Museum is once again participating in International Museum Day 2026, inviting visitors of all ages to enjoy an interactive exploration of the old gasworks factory. Participants will discover the “yellow boxes” of the sensory route, touch 19th-century machinery, experience a steam engine in operation and pull a small wagon through the production buildings. Through play and exploration, visitors are introduced to the history and operation of Athens’ historic gasworks in an engaging and original way.
The initiative is supported by Natural Gas Greek Energy Company, major sponsor of the Industrial Gas Museum. As the country’s oldest energy provider, the company returns symbolically to its roots while actively contributing to the promotion of industrial history and cultural heritage.
At the Angeliki Hatzimichali Museum of Folk Art and Tradition (6 Angelikis Hatzimichali Street, Plaka), an embroidery workshop will take place at 12:00 within the exhibition “My Precious Mother”. Participants will create an embroidery piece dedicated to motherhood under the guidance of the collective Narrative Embroideries.
Monday, May 18, 2026
The City of Athens Art Gallery will present an educational programme for students aged 4–17 titled “The Art Gallery Connects the Neighbourhood and Local Schools Through Art!”
Set in the multicultural neighbourhood of Metaxourgeio, the Gallery — an important cultural landmark of the area — will connect local schools through visual art inspired by the works of artists Dimitra Siaterli and Nikolas Klironomou, currently exhibited at the Gallery. Students will create a collective artistic imprint, reflecting on how individual expression can encourage dialogue, inclusion and peaceful coexistence.
At the City of Athens Arts Center in Eleftherias Park, the museum education programme “The Colour That Unites Us…” will be held for high school students as part of the exhibition “Floating Hopes” by visual artist Manolis Bitzos. The programme includes an introductory presentation and an experiential art workshop inspired by the artist’s works. Students will create individual artworks that will later merge into a collective visual composition, highlighting the power of collaboration and diversity.
On the same day, at 18:30, the Athens Municipal Library will host a guided tour of its rare collections, offering visitors a unique opportunity to explore valuable archival material.
Parallel Activities
The City of Athens Infant and Preschool Library (May 14) will organise an activity for children aged 4–6 titled “Little Explorers on the Paths of Museums!” Children will become temporary “guardians” and “explorers” of treasures, discovering what a museum is, how it functions and why every object has its own story. The activity concludes with a creative workshop where children are invited to bring a favourite object and create their own exhibition.
The Athens Municipal Library will also host an exhibition of rare documents and archival material from its collections — including rare books, newspapers and magazines — from May 15 to 22.
