Several museums in Florence will take part in the 2026 edition of the European Night of Museums on Saturday 23 May, with late openings and reduced or free admission aimed at encouraging wider access to cultural sites across Europe.
Free evening opening at the Opera del Duomo Museum
Among the participating institutions, the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo will open free of charge from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., with the last admission at 11 p.m. and closing at midnight. No booking or ticket will be required for the evening opening.
The museum, located behind Florence Cathedral, houses many of the original artworks and sculptures from the Duomo complex, including works by Michelangelo, Donatello and Ghiberti.
A Europe-wide cultural initiative
The late opening is part of the wider European Night of Museums programme promoted by the French Ministry of Culture and supported by UNESCO, the Council of Europe and the International Council of Museums (ICOM).
The initiative takes place simultaneously across Europe each year and is intended to encourage people to visit museums and cultural sites outside normal opening hours, often with reduced admission prices or free entry.
Uffizi evening opening for €1
The Uffizi Galleries will also take part in the initiative. According to Italy’s Ministry of Culture, the second floor of the museum will be exceptionally open from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., with last entry at 9:30 p.m.
Admission will cost the symbolic price of €1, except for visitors entitled to free entry under Italian law. Closing procedures at the Uffizi will begin at 10:30 p.m.
Museums across Italy to join
Across Italy, state museums and cultural sites participating in the initiative will offer either symbolic €1 admission or free access, together with special events and activities organised with local associations and institutions.
More information and the full national programme are available on the Italian Ministry of Culture website: Italian Ministry of Culture – European Night of Museums 2026.
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