Sofia will participate in the European Night of Museums on May 23, with over 80 cultural venues, museums, and galleries offering special exhibitions, concerts, and educational events. The event aims to provide free or preferential access to some of the most significant cultural institutions in the city until midnight.

Transport Adjustments

The municipal government has introduced temporary transportation arrangements to better serve citizens and visitors. Two additional bus lines will be operational during the event, according to BTA.

Highlights of the Event

One of the most extensive museum programs is that of the Regional Historical Museum – Sofia. Visitors can explore exhibitions such as "She, When She Was a Comrade," "Funerary Practices in Sofia Throughout the Centuries," and "In the Footsteps of Dürer," as well as a city tour titled "The Buildings Speak." At the Antiquities Cultural-Communication Complex "Serdica," there will be archaeological workshops, lectures on medieval fashion, and curator talks about an exhibition dedicated to Tekla Alexieva.

The National Historical Museum (NIM) will showcase two golden rings from Pliska, which will be on display until the end of the year. The museum will host a special evening where visitors can explore some of the most impressive treasures of medieval Bulgaria. Other exhibitions include "Stories and Tales of Heroic Times," commemorating 150 years since the April Uprising, and "The Neanderthal in Me." The museum façade will be transformed into a 3D mapping screen.

The National Ethnographic Museum (IEFEM-BAN) will open its doors to visitors starting at 7:00 PM. Exhibitions such as "130 Years of the National Museum," "Found Memory: Smilyan Knives – Men's Jewelry of the Rhodopes," and "The Starry Sky – Mythology and Science" will be available. The team has prepared a tombola with prizes.

The National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BA) will offer its permanent exhibitions and the exhibition "Bulgarian Archaeology 2025," showcasing the most significant archaeological discoveries of the last season.

The National Natural History Museum at BA will present the biological and mineral diversity of Earth, moon samples, and meteorites from Mars, as well as the exhibition "Tracing the Dog in Ancient Thrace" and the campaign "Species of the Year 2026."

The National Military-Historical Museum will feature a concert by the Representative Orchestra of the National Guard, summer movies, and the interactive game "Mission 110," allowing visitors to engage in a challenge using only a mobile phone and QR codes.