What it is
International Museum Day is observed on 18 May and is coordinated by ICOM, the International Council of Museums. It has been celebrated since the late 1970s, and each year ICOM usually suggests a theme. Many museums open their doors for free or hold special events, and in some places there are night openings around the same time.
For businesses it is a gentle culture-and-learning day. Shops, cafés, schools and travel brands can recommend places to visit, tell their own product story as a “mini museum” and connect with local museums.
Symbols: A museum building, an exhibit under glass, a ticket, a guide with headphones, a night visit
Emoji: 🏛️ 🖼️ 🎟️ 🔦 📜 🧭
Colours: Deep burgundy, warm gray, gold
Hashtags: #InternationalMuseumDay #MuseumDay #MuseumLovers #CultureTrip #LearnSomethingNew
What to aim for
- Reach: shareable recommendations of places to visit in your city
- Brand storytelling: show the history of your product or place in a museum style
- Partnership: connect with local museums and cultural spaces
Post ideas by format
Post
- A short list of three museums or exhibitions in your city that you personally recommend, with one reason each
- A “mini museum” photo of the oldest item in your business and its story
Carousel
- “A day at the museum with kids”: one slide per tip, from choosing an exhibit to bringing a snack
- “Our product as an exhibit”: one slide per stage of its history, with a museum label on each
Reel / short video
- Hook: “We turned our shop into a museum.” Quick cuts of labelled items with a serious guide voice
- A 20-second “three things to know before you go to a museum” video
Stories
- A poll: “Art, history or science museum?”
- A question box: “Which museum should we visit as a team?”
Ready-made post examples
Layouts we wrote as examples. Replace the details with your own business before you publish.
On International Museum Day we recommend turning one afternoon into a mini trip. Choose a museum in your city, take a notebook and find one object you would like to know more about. Then write three questions. Save this post as a reminder, and tell us in the comments the museum you would like to visit next.
A board for slow travellers: small museums that deserve a detour, from craft and local history to science and art. Save pins for your next trip, and check the opening hours before you go, since many museums have a free day or a night event around the date. Tell us in comments your favourite hidden museum.
Museums are a great adventure for children if you prepare a little. Choose one room, not the whole building. Give the child a small task, such as finding three animals or a very old object. Take a break for a snack. Share in the comments the museum your child liked the most, and we will collect the recommendations in one post.
Meme and trend formats that fit
- Museum label. Add museum-style labels to everyday objects in your business, such as “Coffee machine, 21st century, still working”. Keep it witty and use your own props.
- Expectation vs reality. Two panels: the quiet cultural visit you planned and the one with a bored child asking about the café. Warm and recognisable for parents.
What to avoid
- Do not use photos of exhibits or museum branding without the museum’s permission
- Do not claim free entry or special hours for a specific museum unless you checked this year’s information
- Do not make fun of art or history; the day is about curiosity
When to post
- Check the program of local museums two weeks ahead and mention only what you have confirmed
- Publish your recommendations on the morning of 18 May or a day before, so people can plan
- The day after, share the photos of the visit and thank the museums for their work
What to check afterwards
- Saves of the recommendations and the Pinterest board
- Comments with places followers want to visit
- Visits that mention the museum day, if you offer a related bonus
Add one line about your business: the free generator gives three captions with hashtags for the network you choose. No sign-up.