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INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DAY

When is International Museum Day in 2024?

International Museum Day in 2024 is on the Saturday, 18th of May (5/18/2024).

International Museum Day is on the 139th day of 2024. There are 227 days left in the year.

International Museum Day Facts

  • Date: May 18, 2024
  • International
  • Also Called: IMD
  • Celebrations: Taking a trip to the nearest museum
International Museum Day iImage Credit: Pixabay.com

Popularly known as IMD, International Museum Day is observed every year on 18th May. The holiday is coordinated by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) with the aim of educating the public about museums and the challenges they face. Every year, the council comes up with a specific International Museum Day theme and all activities revolve around the particular topic.

History of International Museum Day

International Museum Day was created in 1977. The International Council of Museums created this day to give museum professionals a chance to meet the public and make them aware of their everyday challenges. The IMD main goal is to raise awareness on the significant part that museums play in the improvement of society internationally.

The council chooses a theme every year, and museums across the globe strive to organize activities around the subject. Some of the past themes include environmental care, globalization, bridging culture gaps and indigenous people.

Over the years, International Museum Day has become very popular with more museums and countries participating. In 2017, about 36000 museums and 157 countries participated in the event.

How to Celebrate International Museum Day

One of the best International Museum Day activities to celebrate International Museum Day is taking a trip to the nearest museum. Museums are one of the most educational places under the planet. It is here that we get to learn about our ancestors, Greek sculptures, prehistoric spears, planes used in the WW1, Egyptian mummies; simply said, museums have it all.

Friends can accompany you, your children or even take the trip alone. Given that there are different types of museums, you will be spoilt for choice. From farming, art, fashion, natural history, astronomy to archeology.

Depending on the Museum you intend to visit, you might be lucky to get free admission. For instance, on the International Museum Day Philadelphia Museum of Art is known for awarding visitors a free Museum Day.

It is, however, important to note that museums can be very crowded on this particular day. If you can’t tolerate long queues, crowds and noisy surroundings, then you should consider visiting the museum a few days after or before the holiday.

On this day, the International Council of Museums holds a special delegation in some of the largest museums in the world where the president of the ICOM gives a persuasive speech on International Museum Day.

If you can’t visit a museum, plan to donate or volunteer to work at the museum nearby.

As the whole world marks the day, be sure to join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #museumday.

Best Museums in the World

The best museums in the world are popular tourist attractions during the International Museum Day period. This list with some of the best ten museums will also help you determine where to visit during the next Museum Day.

1. The Louvre in Paris, France

2. British Museum in London, UK

3. National Museum of China

4. National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC

5. Vatican Museum, Vatican City

6. National Palace Museum in Taipei Taiwan

7. Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Netherlands

8. Museo Nacional Del Prado in Madrid

9. National Gallery, Athens

10. Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, NY

Interesting Facts about Museums

- In classical Latin, a museum means a holy place to the muses or a place where people study arts and philosophy.

- Museology is a term that describes the study of museum collections and their presentation to the public for educational purposes.

- Louvre Museum in Paris, France receives more than nine million visitors every year.

- India and Japan are the only countries that have toilet museums.

- There is an Umbrella Covers Museum in Maine, the USA that has over 1300 umbrella covers.

- The Dog Collar Museum at Leeds Castle in Kent does not allow dogs in the compound.

International Museum Day Observances

DAY
DATE
HOLIDAY NAME

List of National and Regional Public Holidays of International in 2024

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
MondayMonJan 01, 2024Jan 01Global Family Day
ThursdayThuJan 04, 2024Jan 04World Braille Day
ThursdayThuJan 11, 2024Jan 11International Thank-You Day
TuesdayTueJan 30, 2024Jan 30World Leprosy Day
MondayMonFeb 12, 2024Feb 12Darwin Day
WednesdayWedFeb 21, 2024Feb 21International Mother Language Day
ThursdayThuFeb 22, 2024Feb 22World Thinking Day
FridayFriMar 01, 2024Mar 01International Day of the Seal
FridayFriMar 08, 2024Mar 08International Women's Day
WednesdayWedMar 20, 2024Mar 20World Frog Day
ThursdayThuMar 21, 2024Mar 21World Down Syndrome Day
FridayFriMar 22, 2024Mar 22World Water Day
SaturdaySatMar 23, 2024Mar 23World Meteorological Day
SaturdaySatMar 23, 2024Mar 23Earth Hour
SundaySunMar 24, 2024Mar 24World TB Day
TuesdayTueApr 02, 2024Apr 02International Children's Book Day
SundaySunApr 07, 2024Apr 07World Health Day
FridayFriApr 12, 2024Apr 12Yuri's Night
TuesdayTueApr 16, 2024Apr 16International Special Librarians Day
SundaySunApr 21, 2024Apr 21International Creativity and Innovation Day
MondayMonApr 22, 2024Apr 22Earth Day
TuesdayTueApr 23, 2024Apr 23World Book Day
ThursdayThuApr 25, 2024Apr 25World Penguin Day
ThursdayThuApr 25, 2024Apr 25World Malaria Day
FridayFriMay 03, 2024May 03World Press Freedom Day
SundaySunMay 05, 2024May 05International Midwives Day
WednesdayWedMay 08, 2024May 08World Red Cross Day
FridayFriMay 10, 2024May 10World Lupus Day
SundaySunMay 12, 2024May 12International Nurses Day
MondayMonMay 13, 2024May 13IEEE Global Engineering Day
WednesdayWedMay 15, 2024May 15International Day of Families
FridayFriMay 17, 2024May 17World Hypertension Day
SaturdaySatMay 18, 2024May 18International Museum Day
TuesdayTueMay 21, 2024May 21World Day for Cultural Diversity
WednesdayWedMay 22, 2024May 22International Day for Biological Diversity
ThursdayThuMay 23, 2024May 23World Turtle Day
FridayFriMay 24, 2024May 24World Schizophrenia Day
SaturdaySatMay 25, 2024May 25Towel Day
FridayFriMay 31, 2024May 31World No-Tobacco Day
SaturdaySatJun 01, 2024Jun 01World Milk Day
MondayMonJun 03, 2024Jun 03World Bicycle Day
WednesdayWedJun 05, 2024Jun 05World Environment Day
SaturdaySatJun 08, 2024Jun 08World Ocean Day
FridayFriJun 14, 2024Jun 14World Blood Donor Day
SundaySunJun 16, 2024Jun 16International Day of the African Child
MondayMonJun 17, 2024Jun 17World Day to Combat Desertification & Drought
ThursdayThuJun 20, 2024Jun 20World Refugee Day
FridayFriJun 21, 2024Jun 21International Yoga Day
WednesdayWedJun 26, 2024Jun 26International Day Against Drug Abuse and Trafficking
ThursdayThuJul 11, 2024Jul 11World Population Day
TuesdayTueJul 16, 2024Jul 16World Snake Day
SundaySunJul 28, 2024Jul 28World Hepatitis Day
SundaySunAug 04, 2024Aug 04International Friendship Day
ThursdayThuAug 08, 2024Aug 08Universal & International Infinity Day
FridayFriAug 09, 2024Aug 09International Day of the World's Indigenous People
SaturdaySatAug 10, 2024Aug 10International Biodiesel Day
MondayMonAug 12, 2024Aug 12International Youth Day
TuesdayTueAug 13, 2024Aug 13International Lefthanders Day
WednesdayWedAug 14, 2024Aug 14World Lizard Day
FridayFriAug 23, 2024Aug 23International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade & its Abolition
SundaySunSep 08, 2024Sep 08International Literacy Day
FridayFriSep 13, 2024Sep 13International Chocolate Day
SundaySunSep 15, 2024Sep 15Software Freedom Day
SundaySunSep 15, 2024Sep 15International Day of Democracy
MondayMonSep 16, 2024Sep 16International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
ThursdayThuSep 19, 2024Sep 19Talk Like a Pirate Day
SaturdaySatSep 21, 2024Sep 21World Gratitude Day
SundaySunSep 22, 2024Sep 22World Car-Free Day
SundaySunSep 29, 2024Sep 29World Heart Day
SundaySunSep 29, 2024Sep 29Inventors Day
TuesdayTueOct 01, 2024Oct 01World Ballet Day
TuesdayTueOct 01, 2024Oct 01International Music Day
WednesdayWedOct 02, 2024Oct 02World Farm Animals Day
ThursdayThuOct 03, 2024Oct 03World Temperance Day
FridayFriOct 04, 2024Oct 04World Animal Day
SaturdaySatOct 05, 2024Oct 05World Teacher's Day
ThursdayThuOct 10, 2024Oct 10World Mental Health Day
WednesdayWedOct 16, 2024Oct 16World Food Day
ThursdayThuOct 17, 2024Oct 17International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
ThursdayThuOct 24, 2024Oct 24United Nations Day
TuesdayTueOct 29, 2024Oct 29International Internet Day
FridayFriNov 08, 2024Nov 08World Town Planning Day
ThursdayThuNov 14, 2024Nov 14World Diabetes Day
SaturdaySatNov 16, 2024Nov 16International Day for Tolerance
TuesdayTueNov 19, 2024Nov 19World Toilet Day
ThursdayThuNov 21, 2024Nov 21World Television Day
MondayMonNov 25, 2024Nov 25International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
SaturdaySatNov 30, 2024Nov 30International Computer Security Day
SundaySunDec 01, 2024Dec 01World Aids Day
MondayMonDec 02, 2024Dec 02International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
ThursdayThuDec 05, 2024Dec 05International Volunteers Day
SaturdaySatDec 07, 2024Dec 07International Civil Aviation Day
TuesdayTueDec 10, 2024Dec 10Human Rights Day

List of Popular Celebration Days of United States in 2024

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
FridayFriJan 12, 2024Jan 12National Pharmacists Day
FridayFriJan 19, 2024Jan 19National Popcorn Day
FridayFriFeb 02, 2024Feb 02Groundhog Day
FridayFriFeb 02, 2024Feb 02National Wear Red Day
WednesdayWedFeb 07, 2024Feb 07National Signing Day
FridayFriFeb 09, 2024Feb 09National Pizza Day
TuesdayTueFeb 13, 2024Feb 13Galentine's Day
TuesdayTueFeb 13, 2024Feb 13National Pancake Day
WednesdayWedFeb 14, 2024Feb 14Valentine's Day
ThursdayThuFeb 15, 2024Feb 15National Bagel Day
SundaySunFeb 18, 2024Feb 18National Drink Wine Day
ThursdayThuFeb 22, 2024Feb 22National Margarita Day
ThursdayThuFeb 29, 2024Feb 29Leap Day
FridayFriMar 01, 2024Mar 01National Employee Appreciation Day
ThursdayThuMar 07, 2024Mar 07National Cereal Day
SundaySunMar 10, 2024Mar 10Daylight savings
MondayMonMar 11, 2024Mar 11National Napping Day
ThursdayThuMar 14, 2024Mar 14National Walkout Day
ThursdayThuMar 14, 2024Mar 14National Pi Day
WednesdayWedMar 20, 2024Mar 20National Proposal Day
SaturdaySatMar 23, 2024Mar 23National Puppy Day
SaturdaySatMar 30, 2024Mar 30National Doctor Day
WednesdayWedApr 03, 2024Apr 03National Walking Day
ThursdayThuApr 04, 2024Apr 04National Burrito Day
SundaySunApr 07, 2024Apr 07National Beer Day
ThursdayThuApr 11, 2024Apr 11National Pet Day
FridayFriApr 12, 2024Apr 12National Grilled Cheese Day
ThursdayThuMay 02, 2024May 02National Day Of Prayer
SundaySunMay 12, 2024May 12Mother's Day
SaturdaySatMay 25, 2024May 25National Towel Day
SaturdaySatMay 25, 2024May 25National Wine Day
FridayFriJun 07, 2024Jun 07National Donut Day
SaturdaySatJun 08, 2024Jun 08National Best Friends Day
SundaySunJun 16, 2024Jun 16Father's Day
FridayFriJun 21, 2024Jun 21National Selfie Day
SaturdaySatJun 22, 2024Jun 22National Kissing Day
SaturdaySatJul 13, 2024Jul 13National French Fry Day
SundaySunJul 14, 2024Jul 14National Nude Day
WednesdayWedJul 17, 2024Jul 17National Hot Dog Day
SundaySunJul 21, 2024Jul 21National Ice Cream Day
TuesdayTueJul 23, 2024Jul 23Amazon Prime Day
WednesdayWedJul 24, 2024Jul 24National Tequila Day
MondayMonJul 29, 2024Jul 29National Chicken Wing Day
ThursdayThuAug 01, 2024Aug 01National Girlfriends Day
SundaySunAug 04, 2024Aug 04National Sister Day
WednesdayWedSep 18, 2024Sep 18National Cheeseburger Day
ThursdayThuOct 03, 2024Oct 03National Boyfriends Day
FridayFriOct 04, 2024Oct 04National Vodka Day
FridayFriOct 04, 2024Oct 04National Taco Day
WednesdayWedOct 09, 2024Oct 09Leif Erikson Day
SaturdaySatOct 19, 2024Oct 19Sweetest Day
TuesdayTueOct 29, 2024Oct 29National Cat Day
ThursdayThuOct 31, 2024Oct 31Halloween
SundaySunNov 03, 2024Nov 03National Sandwich Day
FridayFriNov 29, 2024Nov 29Black Friday
MondayMonDec 02, 2024Dec 02Cyber Monday
SaturdaySatDec 07, 2024Dec 07Candle Day
MondayMonDec 09, 2024Dec 09National Pastry Day
FridayFriDec 20, 2024Dec 20National Ugly Sweater day