Come and celebrate International Museum Day at Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi. Free entry to the museum on Saturday 16th, Sunday 17th and Monday 18th May 2026.
Explore the wonders of the natural world through hands-on science and creative workshops. See: This International Museum Day – One planet, many stories. You can register here.
Meet the Palaeontologist
Visit the PalaeoLab and meet real palaeontologists who work in the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi. The team includes: Dr Mark Jonathan Beech, Dr Luca Bellucci, Dr Caroline Malem, Shamma Alhammadi, Mariam Alhassani and Avaneesh Khatavkar.
Date: Monday 18 May, 2026
Time: 9 AM – 12 PM, 2-3 PM, 4-5 PM
Meet the Meteorite Expert
Meet the Meteorite expert from the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi in the Story of Earth Gallery, Dr Ludovic Ferrière (Curator – Geoscience).
Date: Saturday 17 May, 2026
Time: 11 AM to 1 PM, 2-4 PM, and 5-7 PM
Meet the Entomologist
Meet the Entomology expert from the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi in the Life Sciences Lab, Dr Brigitte Howarth (Curator – Bioscience).
Date: Monday 18 May, 2026
Time: 10-11 AM, 1-2 PM, 3-4PM
Specimen Handling Workshop
Go behind the scenes with the collections team to discover how museum specimens are handled, preserved, and prepared. This rare insight reveals the careful processes that protect and present scientific collections.
Date: Monday 18 May, 2026
Time: 6 PM
Build a Mini Exhibit
Step into the role of a curator and create your own miniature exhibition. Participants select specimens, design displays, and learn how museums tell stories through objects and classification.
Date: Monday 18 May, 2026
Time: 3 PM, 5 PM, 6 PM
Needle Felting
Date: Monday 18 May, 2026
Time: Drop in
Sun Printing Activity
Harness the power of sunlight to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind prints using natural materials. This creative activity introduces participants to the science of light while producing striking visual patterns.
Date: Saturday 16 – Sunday 17 May, 2026
Time: 12 PM, 2 PM, 5 PM
Light Lab: Colour & Shadow
Step into a world of colour and light as participants experiment with transparent materials to create layered visual effects. By observing how colours overlap and interact, children gain a playful introduction to light behaviour and perception.
Date: Saturday 16 – Sunday 17 May, 2026
Time: 11 AM, 1 PM, 4 PM
Constellation Light Lab
Explore the night sky through a creative, hands-on activity that brings constellations to life. Participants create their own constellation viewers and discover how light travels, while learning how humans have long mapped patterns in the stars.
Date: Saturday 16 – Sunday 17 May, 2026
Time: 11 AM, 1 PM, 4 PM
Shadow Safari
Turn light into storytelling in this interactive shadow play experience. Using hands and simple shapes, participants create animal silhouettes and perform behind a lit screen, blending science with creativity and performance.
Date: Saturday 16 – Sunday 17 May, 2026
Time: 12 PM – 6 PM
Wiggly Creatures Workshop
Get imaginative with craft materials to create moving, expressive creatures inspired by the natural world. This playful session explores how structure and movement help animals survive and interact with their environments.
Date: Saturday 16 May, 2026
This International Museum Day, Abu Dhabi Culture invites you to a special three-day celebration with free entry to all Abu Dhabi museums and cultural institutions, alongside hands-on workshops, live performances, and guided tours across the emirate.
Under this year’s global theme “Museums Uniting a Divided World“, discover how Abu Dhabi’s museums act as bridges across cultures, fostering dialogue, understanding, and connection within and between communities worldwide.
From Saadiyat Cultural District and Al Ain Cultural Sites to the shores of Delma Island— there’s never been a better time to explore Abu Dhabi.