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International Museum Day

May 18
Front façade of the National Museum of Beirut illuminated at night, featuring a symmetrical neoclassical design with tall columns and broad steps.
© Courtesy of Rehabilitation of the National Museum of Beirut 1996–1999
International Museum Day 2026: Museums Uniting a Divided World

Each year since 1977, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) has organized International Museum Day, which represents a unique moment for the international museum community.

The objective of International Museum Day (IMD) is to raise awareness about the fact that, “Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.”

On 18 May 2026, museums worldwide will mark International Museum Day under the theme “Museums Uniting a Divided World”. The theme highlights the potential of museums to act as bridges across cultural, social, and geopolitical divides, fostering dialogue, understanding, inclusion and peace within and between communities worldwide.

On International Museum Day, ICOMOS Lebanon recognizes the vital role museums play in preserving, interpreting, and transmitting cultural heritage.

Museums safeguard collections that originate from monuments and archaeological sites, linking movable and immovable heritage within a shared framework of conservation standards and research.

The protection of heritage depends on this collaboration – from the site to the museum, and from scholarship to public engagement.

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