Louvre Abu Dhabi will mark International Museum Day with three days of free public admission from May 16 to 18, offering an expanded programme of guided tours, workshops, screenings, and interactive experiences designed around cultural exchange and accessibility.
Presented in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, the initiative invites visitors to explore the museum’s galleries and architecture at their own pace while engaging with a series of educational and participatory events.
Throughout the weekend, free thematic guided tours will run daily at 10:30 am, 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm, and 4:30 pm across the permanent galleries and the Picasso exhibition. In addition, visitors can access specialised experiences including the Architecture Experience and Art in Scents olfactory tours on Saturdays for an additional fee.
Film Screenings, Workshops, and Interactive Experiences
The programme also includes daily children’s workshops at 11 am and 3 pm, alongside creative activities designed to encourage younger audiences to engage directly with art and storytelling.
On May 16, the museum will host Cannes Film Nights at 7 pm, presenting a curated programme of international cinema screenings. Tickets for the event are priced at 30 AED.
Meanwhile, on May 18, the museum will feature complimentary screenings of The Pulse of Time, its original short film inspired by works from its permanent collection. Screened in both English and Arabic between 11 am and 5 pm in the auditorium, the 40-minute documentary explores the evolution of human creativity through artworks spanning prehistoric eras to contemporary practice.
The museum’s conservation and research teams will also present Inside the Lab: A Scientific Demonstration, offering live sessions that reveal the scientific processes behind artwork preservation and museum research. Demonstrations will take place across the galleries throughout May 18.
Additionally, adult visitors can participate in Book an Easel on May 17 and 18 under the museum’s dome. Led by museum educators, the workshop combines gallery visits with guided painting sessions inspired by selected artworks.
Architecture, Digital Experiences, and Cultural Exploration
Alongside physical programming, Louvre Abu Dhabi will expand its digital and immersive experiences during the three-day celebration. Visitors can explore We Are Not Alone, a self-guided audio walk beneath the museum’s dome that reinterprets the architecture through a speculative, futuristic narrative.
Families can also access The Secret of the Dome Stars, a multilingual interactive digital game designed for children aged 6 to 12. Available in Arabic, English, French, Chinese, and Russian, the experience combines puzzles and storytelling with works from the permanent collection.
The museum will further present the Quantum Dome Project, a collective virtual reality experience that animates artworks through immersive digital technology. The VR programme will be free for museum members and Fazza cardholders.
By combining architecture, film, education, and participatory design, the International Museum Day programme reinforces Louvre Abu Dhabi’s broader mission to position the museum as a shared cultural space connecting audiences across generations and disciplines.