emirates7 - In celebration of International Museum Day, Louvre Abu Dhabi opens its doors with free entry for all visitors from 16 to 18 May, inviting audiences to enjoy three days of art, learning and cultural exchange at the museum.
Across the weekend, visitors can explore the galleries at their own pace, encountering artworks that span cultures, geographies and centuries. Through guided tours, workshops, film screenings and special experiences, the programme highlights the museum as a place for discovery, reflection and shared moments around art.
This year’s International Museum Day theme, Museums Uniting a Divided World, reflects the role of museums in bringing people together through culture and storytelling. In response, Louvre Abu Dhabi invites audiences to enjoy experiences that encourage dialogue, curiosity and connection, using art as a starting point for shared understanding under the museum’s iconic dome.
The programme brings together art, cinema, architecture and learning in a series of activities designed for all ages. From hands on sessions for children and creative workshops for adults to immersive films, scientific demonstrations and self guided encounters, the weekend showcases multiple ways of engaging with art and ideas in a welcoming, inclusive setting.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
International Museum Day
Saturday 16 – Monday 18 May 2026
Free entry for all visitors.
This International Museum Day, enjoy three days of free entry, as we invite you to spend time with art at your own pace, on your own terms.
Whether you return to a familiar artwork or discover something new, the museum remains a space for reflection, curiosity, and shared experiences, welcoming you to discover stories of cultural connections.
Over the three days, discover a rich programme of experiences designed to engage with art in meaningful ways.
Pre-book your free ticket to skip the queue.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Guided Tours
Saturday 16 – Monday 18 May
Timing: 10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm and 4:30pm
Location: Permanent Galleries and Picasso Exhibition
Tickets: Free
Visitors can join our free thematic guided tours throughout the weekend, exploring the museum’s collection, exhibitions, narrative, and architecture.
Spaces are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
For a more immersive experience, discover our Architecture and Art in Scents olfactory sensorial experiences, available on Saturdays only at an additional cost.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Children and family workshops
Saturday 16 – Monday 18 May
Timings: 11am and 3pm
Tickets: Free
Enjoy hands-on creative activities for children and families all weekend.
No need to book, just in.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Film Screenings
Cannes Film Nights
Timing: Saturday 16 May, 7pm
Tickets: 30 AED
Discover Cannes Film Nights, a curated selection of five screenings of world cinema. Book now
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Pulse of Time
Monday 18 May
Every hour, 11am–5pm (alternating English & Arabic)
Location: Auditorium
Free
A 40-minute film exploring Louvre Abu Dhabi’s collection and loaned works, telling a story of humanity through time. Through poetic narration, artworks from different civilisations are brought to life.
No need to book, just in.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Inside the Lab: A Scientific Demonstration
Monday 18 May
Timings: 10:30am-12:30pm, 1-3pm, 3:30-5:30pm
Location: Museum galleries
Tickets: Free
Join our expert research and lab team for a series of live demonstrations offering insights into the science behind museum work. Discover how scientists study and preserve artworks through hands-on demonstrations using specialist tools and techniques.
No need to book, just in.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Book an Easel
Sunday 17 and Monday 18 May
Timings: 1-4pm
Location: Under the dome
Tickets: Free
A workshop for adults inspired by artworks in our galleries. Led by a Museum Educator, participants visit the galleries and translate their favourite artwork into paintings.
Book now.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Reading Corner: The Books of Louvre Abu Dhabi
Monday 18 May
Relax and browse a curated selection of Louvre Abu Dhabi publications, while gaining an insight into the museum’s publishing process.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Explore at your own Pace
Saturday 16 May – Monday 18 May
We are not Alone: Bring your headphones and experience Louvre Abu Dhabi’s architecture through a futuristic lens in a free self-guided audio walk under the dome.
Listen here
The Secret of the Dome Stars: Enjoy our free digital game for ages 6-12, where young explorers can solve puzzles, unlock secrets, and connect with the museum’s collection in the permanent galleries (available in Arabic, English, French, Chinese and Russian).
Explore here
Quantum Dome Project, a collective VR experience: Enjoy a VR adventure that brings Louvre Abu Dhabi’s artworks to life in an immersive, interactive experience. Free for members and Fazaa card holders.
Book now
Across the weekend, visitors can explore the galleries at their own pace, encountering artworks that span cultures, geographies and centuries. Through guided tours, workshops, film screenings and special experiences, the programme highlights the museum as a place for discovery, reflection and shared moments around art.
This year’s International Museum Day theme, Museums Uniting a Divided World, reflects the role of museums in bringing people together through culture and storytelling. In response, Louvre Abu Dhabi invites audiences to enjoy experiences that encourage dialogue, curiosity and connection, using art as a starting point for shared understanding under the museum’s iconic dome.
The programme brings together art, cinema, architecture and learning in a series of activities designed for all ages. From hands on sessions for children and creative workshops for adults to immersive films, scientific demonstrations and self guided encounters, the weekend showcases multiple ways of engaging with art and ideas in a welcoming, inclusive setting.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
International Museum Day
Saturday 16 – Monday 18 May 2026
Free entry for all visitors.
This International Museum Day, enjoy three days of free entry, as we invite you to spend time with art at your own pace, on your own terms.
Whether you return to a familiar artwork or discover something new, the museum remains a space for reflection, curiosity, and shared experiences, welcoming you to discover stories of cultural connections.
Over the three days, discover a rich programme of experiences designed to engage with art in meaningful ways.
Pre-book your free ticket to skip the queue.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Guided Tours
Saturday 16 – Monday 18 May
Timing: 10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm and 4:30pm
Location: Permanent Galleries and Picasso Exhibition
Tickets: Free
Visitors can join our free thematic guided tours throughout the weekend, exploring the museum’s collection, exhibitions, narrative, and architecture.
Spaces are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
For a more immersive experience, discover our Architecture and Art in Scents olfactory sensorial experiences, available on Saturdays only at an additional cost.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Children and family workshops
Saturday 16 – Monday 18 May
Timings: 11am and 3pm
Tickets: Free
Enjoy hands-on creative activities for children and families all weekend.
No need to book, just in.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Film Screenings
Cannes Film Nights
Timing: Saturday 16 May, 7pm
Tickets: 30 AED
Discover Cannes Film Nights, a curated selection of five screenings of world cinema. Book now
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Pulse of Time
Monday 18 May
Every hour, 11am–5pm (alternating English & Arabic)
Location: Auditorium
Free
A 40-minute film exploring Louvre Abu Dhabi’s collection and loaned works, telling a story of humanity through time. Through poetic narration, artworks from different civilisations are brought to life.
No need to book, just in.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Inside the Lab: A Scientific Demonstration
Monday 18 May
Timings: 10:30am-12:30pm, 1-3pm, 3:30-5:30pm
Location: Museum galleries
Tickets: Free
Join our expert research and lab team for a series of live demonstrations offering insights into the science behind museum work. Discover how scientists study and preserve artworks through hands-on demonstrations using specialist tools and techniques.
No need to book, just in.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Book an Easel
Sunday 17 and Monday 18 May
Timings: 1-4pm
Location: Under the dome
Tickets: Free
A workshop for adults inspired by artworks in our galleries. Led by a Museum Educator, participants visit the galleries and translate their favourite artwork into paintings.
Book now.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Reading Corner: The Books of Louvre Abu Dhabi
Monday 18 May
Relax and browse a curated selection of Louvre Abu Dhabi publications, while gaining an insight into the museum’s publishing process.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Explore at your own Pace
Saturday 16 May – Monday 18 May
We are not Alone: Bring your headphones and experience Louvre Abu Dhabi’s architecture through a futuristic lens in a free self-guided audio walk under the dome.
Listen here
The Secret of the Dome Stars: Enjoy our free digital game for ages 6-12, where young explorers can solve puzzles, unlock secrets, and connect with the museum’s collection in the permanent galleries (available in Arabic, English, French, Chinese and Russian).
Explore here
Quantum Dome Project, a collective VR experience: Enjoy a VR adventure that brings Louvre Abu Dhabi’s artworks to life in an immersive, interactive experience. Free for members and Fazaa card holders.
Book now
الرجاء الانتظار ...