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Nighttime openings at Lyon’s museums
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Last updated date : 12/05/2025
Who has never dreamt of hiding in a museum to stay after it closes? Ben Stiller’s adventures in ‘Night at the Museum’ must have planted a seed in our imaginations… But what if we told you that it is possible in Lyon? You probably won’t see any inanimate objects springing to life or a T-rex wandering around the displays, but you will find artists, screenings, conferences and original tours.
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Musée des Confluences: musical nights
Every first Thursday of the month, the Musée des Confluences organises themed nighttime openings until 10 pm. Attractions include live music in the lobby (or on the Rhône-side terrace in summer), conferences and screenings in the auditorium, and express 15-minute tours of the exhibitions. The activities on offer are free and accessible for all. An entrance ticket is required to access the exhibitions however.
Outside of the nighttime openings, the Musée des Confluences also has a busy schedule of shows, concerts and evening screenings in its auditorium. On the museum’s website, you will find a programme inspired by the temporary and permanent exhibitions, featuring wonderful music from around the world, as well as all the latest news (International Women's Day, Fête de la science – an annual event celebrating science in the French-speaking world, and more).
Museum
Musée des Confluences
86 quai Perrache - 69002 Lyon 2ème
Au macLYON : nighttime openings to celebrate the exhibitions
Twice a year, in September and March, Lyon’s contemporary art museum unveils three new exhibitions. Each inauguration is a medley of fun activities, from explorations of the exhibits to DJ sets at macBar, the museum’s bar.
Museum
Modern Art Museum (macLYON)
81 quai Charles de Gaulle Cité Internationale - 69006 Lyon 6ème
Au musée des Beaux-Arts : fine art tours
Every first Friday of the month, from 6 to 10 pm, the Museum of Fine Arts organises nighttime openings that mingle art with music, dance or drama. Classic experiences include tours by torchlight, an opportunity to discover the museum’s exhibits in a different light.
Special students’ nighttime opening: MacLYON x Musée des Beaux-Arts
Once a year, MacLYON links up with the Musée des Beaux-Arts to put on a special nighttime opening for students. A hundred or so students from various disciplines share with you their favourite exhibits, through guided tours, music, dance, drama, installations and performances. The event is open to all and free for students. Each entrance ticket gives access to both museums.
Exhibition
Nocturne étudiante MAC -MBA
Lieux divers - 69123 Lyonwww.mac-lyon.com/fr/programmation/nocturne-etudiante-macmba-2024
Musée Gadagne – Musée d’Histoire de Lyon: conferences to expand your mind
Did you love the exhibitions at the Lyon History Museum? You can stay on after your visit to explore topics in greater depth. Once a month, the Gadagne auditorium hosts conferences for history buffs and curious minds, run by researchers and experts.
Museum
Museum of the History of Lyon - Gadagne Museums
1 place du Petit Collège - 69005 Lyon 5ème
In May, the European Night of Museums
Each year in May, nearly 3000 museums in France and Europe take part in the European Night of Museums, offering free admission for an evening of activities, tours and shows.
Museums in Lyon involved in the event include: MAC Lyon (contemporary art); Musée Gadagne (museums of the art of puppetry and the history of Lyon); Musée des Beaux-Arts (fine art); CHRD (Resistance and Deportation History Centre); MICG (Museum of Printing and Graphic Communication); Henri Malartre Automobile Museum; Tony Garnier Urban Museum; Jean Couty Museum; Musée des Confluences; Lugdunum – Museum and Roman Theatre; Musée des sapeurs-pompiers Lyon Rhône (firefighting museum).
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