Eurovision Song Contest – Special Programmes

The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) is coming to Basel. Basel’s museums have also been preparing for the world’s largest music event. With a lot of creativity and humour, they have put together various support programmes and events, ranging from workshops and special exhibitions to the smallest disco in the world.

Museum Night Basel – a night for one and all

On 23 January 2026 this popular cultural event is due to celebrate its 25th anniversary with its unique mix of educational and fun elements that has attracted old and young in equal measure since the outset.

Launched in 2001, the Museum Night has consistently proved one of Basel’s most cherished cultural highlights. Its blend of cultural attractions and a party atmosphere has something in store for all generations as they enjoy a night out together.

Basel’s museum authorities took their cue from Berlin’s “Long Night of Museums” in 1998, recognising the potential of such a joint project for the local museum landscape. The 1990s had brought a shift in cultural policy attitude, with museums increasingly putting visitors at the heart of their strategic considerations. The aim was to create programmes that turn the museums into lively and participatory sites of learning experiences.

To this day, the Museum Night attracts entire families, art aficionados, party lovers and all those in-between. For the museums, it’s an ideal format to try out new and low-threshold ways of highlighting the appeal of their specific cultural riches. Each year it is a pleasure to observe the dedication with which they approach this task of making art and culture accessible to everyone.

Young and inclusive

Since 2008, young people under 26 have been able to access all museums free of charge on the night, an important step towards lowering barriers that may prevent them from engaging with art and culture. This age group now makes up around half of all the visitors. Generous support from Novartis, Basler Kantonalbank and Helvetia Versicherungen has made this unique offer possible.

Fostering participation and inclusion belongs to the mission of museums and other cultural institutions and is equally essential to the Museum Night. The project “Zusammen ins Museum” (let’s go to the museum together), founded in 2015, specifically reaches out to people with a direct migration background or those in precarious life situations. During the Museum Night, they are accompanied by representatives from politics, social organisations, cultural associations, educational institutions and other volunteers on a tour of the night’s cultural offerings. For them, too, admission is free.

www.museumsnacht.ch