Night Museum Season 2026 Started: Visitor Numbers Broke Record

The 2026 season has started for the Night Museum application, which brings Turkey's cultural heritage together with visitors in the unique atmosphere of the night. Within the scope of the application conducted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 20 museums and archaeological sites can be visited at night hours between June 1 and October 1, 2026.

Night Museum achieved significant success in 2025 by hosting over 1 million visitors.

In the new season, the application is expected to attract intense interest from both domestic and foreign tourists. Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced the new period of the application with a post on his social media account. Ersoy stated that the application will continue this year with the aim of making cultural heritage accessible at all hours of the day, using the following expressions:

“We have started the new season in Night Museum! We continue our application, which we implemented with the goal of making our cultural heritage accessible at all hours of the day, this year as well. Between June 1 and October 1, 2026, 20 museums and archaeological sites will welcome their visitors in the unique atmosphere of the night. Last year, under the Night Museum program, we hosted over 1 million visitors. From Nemrut to Ephesus, from Side to Zeugma, from Galata Tower to Istanbul Archaeology Museums, we will again offer an unforgettable experience to our visitors on our cultural routes. We await all our guests who want to experience Turkey's rich cultural heritage in the unique atmosphere of the night at our museums and archaeological sites.”

History Revived in the Silence of the Night

The Night Museum application, which brings together the magnificence of historical sites with the silence of the night, is preparing to welcome visitors again this year at museums and archaeological sites across Turkey. The application, which allows the cultural heritage to be experienced in a different atmosphere, aims to increase tourism diversity with night visits.

The First Application Started at Three Archaeological Sites

The Night Museum application, initiated in 2024 with the aim of preserving cultural heritage and transferring it to future generations while increasing tourism potential, was first implemented at the archaeological sites of Ephesus, Hierapolis, and Side. In 2024, 395,212 visitors were hosted.

Exceeded 1 Million in 2025

In 2025, the Night Museum application continued at museums and archaeological sites with high visitor potential. Prominent locations included Nemrut Archaeological Site, Ephesus Archaeological Site, Side Archaeological Site, Hierapolis Archaeological Site, Patara, Aspendos, Galata Tower, Istanbul Archaeology Museums, Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum, Derinkuyu and Kaymakli Underground Cities, and Zeugma Mosaic Museum.

In museums and archaeological sites in Istanbul, the application continued until October 5, 2025, as part of the Istanbul Culture Route Festival. Due to high demand, it was extended until November 2, 2025, at the Ephesus and Side archaeological sites. The application at Galata Tower continued throughout the year. By the end of 2025, more than 1 million visitors were hosted within the scope of the Night Museum.

To be Implemented at 20 Museums and Archaeological Sites

The Night Museum application will be implemented at a total of 20 locations, including 11 museums and 9 archaeological sites affiliated with the Ministry, between June 1 and October 1, 2026. In this context, Müzekart holders, provided they have a Turkish ID number, will be able to visit the following sites from 7:00 PM until the specified closing hours for an additional fee of 200 lira:

Nemrut Archaeological Site, Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Alanya Museum, Aspendos Archaeological Site, Patara Archaeological Site, Museum of Lycian Civilizations, Side Archaeological Site, Didim Apollo Temple, Ahlat Seljuk Cemetery, Hierapolis Archaeological Site, Gaziantep Zeugma Mosaic Museum, Istanbul Archaeology Museums, Galata Tower, Istanbul Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Ephesus Archaeological Site, Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum, Marmaris Museum, Derinkuyu Underground City, Şanlıurfa Museum and Haleplibahçe Mosaic Museum.

The Ahlat Seljuk Cemetery will be open to visitors free of charge.