To mark International Museum Day on 18 May, the National Central Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan will host the traditional international cultural and educational event, the «Night at the Museum 2026» Event, which has become a cherished tradition for the museum community. The theme of this year’s International Museum Day, announced by the International Council of Museums (ICOM), is «Museums Uniting a Divided World».
This major cultural event aims to highlight the vital role of museums in preserving cultural heritage, fostering historical awareness, and promoting cultural dialogue among the public.
«Night at the Museum» is a unique cultural experience that brings history and culture to life in a contemporary setting, allowing visitors to discover the museum from a new perspective.
As part of the event, the National Central Museum will remain open to visitors until late in the evening. In addition to traditional guided tours, interactive, educational, and creative programs will be organized. Guests will have the opportunity to attend theatrical performances, take part in masterclasses, and, through encounters with historical figures, gain a deeper appreciation of the atmosphere of bygone eras.
The main aim of the event is to increase public interest in historical and cultural heritage, strengthen the status and significance of museums, and promote national cultural values to a wider audience.
Events dedicated to International Museum Day, held as part of the «Night at the Museum 2026» Event, will take place on 18 of May, 2026 from 09:00 to 23:00 in the following program:
EXHIBITION
- «Masatydai Qulpyrgan…» (from the Carpet Collection of the National Central Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan)
The carpet is one of the most important objects of the material culture of the Kazakh people and belongs to the category of bes jaksy (five goods) – the «five valuable gifts/items» It holds not only practical household significance but also deep ritual and ceremonial meaning. The museum’s holdings preserve a rich collection comprising more than 300 carpets and textile items dating from the early twentieth century.
The exhibition «Masatydai Qulpyrgan…» presents pile and flat-woven carpets, wall carpets, as well as small textile objects created in various regions of Kazakhstan. Among the exhibits, a special place is occupied by a tuskiiz – an embroidered wall hanging decorated with gold embroidery and valuable fur.
- The «Biregei!» Exhibition
Every year, the museum presents visitors with rare and unique exhibits from its own collections, a practice that has already become a cherished tradition. This year, the tradition will continue with the exhibition «Biregei!».
The exhibition will feature antique items made of precious metals and decorated with diamonds, as well as collections of clocks and candlesticks dating from the twelfth century onwards. The display will also include ceramic and porcelain objects, along with sculptures produced in Kazakhstan, Germany, England, France, and at the Imperial Porcelain Factory.
Among the unique exhibits are the costume and ritual attributes of a Tungus shaman. A significant part of the exhibition is devoted to works by masters of painting.
- The «Tosbelgilerdegi Tarikhi-Derektik Korinister» Exhibition
Historical and Documentary Images on Badges
The exhibition presents badges, breast badges, and commemorative awards associated with sports, education, culture, and public life in Kazakhstan across different periods. Today, the holdings of the National Central Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan preserve 12, 103 items of phaleristic materials, of which more than 3,600 are badges. The exhibition reveals badges not only as symbolic objects but also as important historical sources reflecting the political, cultural, and social history of the country.
The exhibition consists of several sections. The section devoted to the press and mass media presents commemorative badges of republican and regional newspapers and magazines, children’s and youth publications, literary journals, and all-Union periodicals. The section on culture, art, and museum work demonstrates the renaissance of national culture through badges related to the Voice of Asia festival, festivals named after Shaken Aimanov, leading art institutions, as well as the National Central Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the A. Kasteyev Museum of Arts, the Archaeological Museum, and the Ykylas Museum of Folk Musical Instruments.
- The Anniversary Exhibition «Ulttyn Unbairagy»
Dedicated to the 105th Anniversary of Kazakh Radio and the 60th Anniversary of Shalkar Radio
The exhibition presents archival documents, photographic materials, historical audio recordings, technical devices, as well as personal belongings of well-known radio presenters and radio employees.
Among the unique exhibits are materials that belonged to Tamty Ibragimova, one of the first announcers who made a significant contribution to the formation of Kazakh Radio. She began working as an announcer at the Republican Radio Committee in 1931 and, during the Great Patriotic War, assisted wounded soldiers in hospitals. Today, the museum’s holdings preserve around 50 exhibits associated with her.
The exhibition will also feature a Sanyo transistor radio receiver that belonged to the statesman, public figure, and ethnographer Uzbekali Zhanibekov, as well as rare exhibits related to the history of the Kazteleradio television tower.
As part of the exhibition, a special project titled “Star Guide” will be implemented. Within this project, veteran announcers of Kazakh Radio and Shalkar Radio – including Sauyk Zhakanova, Amanzhan Ensebayuly, and other prominent figures – will conduct author-led guided tours. Visitors will have the opportunity to hear the unique voices of Mukhtar Auezov, Berdibek Sokpakbayev, Takhawi Akhtanov, Anuarbek Baizhanbayev, and Mukagali Makatayev, preserved in the Golden Fund.
- The Exhibition «Gasyr Jasagan Ult Teatry»
A National Theatre That Has Lived Through a Century
To mark the 100th anniversary of the M. Auezov Kazakh National Drama Theatre, the exhibition «Gasyr Jasagan Ult Teatry» will open, prepared on the basis of the collections of the Theatre Museum.
The exhibition covers the rich history of the theatre – from its formative period in 1917–1930 to the present day. Visitors will be presented with materials illustrating the development of professional Kazakh theatre, the first stage productions, the role of the Kazakh intelligentsia in the advancement of theatrical culture, the first acting troupes, and landmark historical performances.
Among the valuable exhibits is the stage costume worn by Sholpan Zhandarbekova, People’s Artist of the USSR, when she performed the role of Aktokty in the 1958 production «Akan Seri – Aktokty». The exhibition will also feature historical chapans and stage costumes that belonged to outstanding masters of Kazakh theatre, including Kalibek Kuanyshbayev, Serke Kozhamkulov, and Asanali Ashimov.
Visitors will be able to see rare photographs and archival documents, posters, programs and booklets of famous performances, stage costumes and props, personal belongings and manuscripts of distinguished actors and directors, as well as state awards and letters of appreciation.
- The «Art of Asia» National Art Exhibition
This art project explores the potential of painting, graphic art, decorative and applied arts, and sculpture to freeze time, transforming fleeting emotions, everyday scenes and moments of human life into eternity.
The exhibition features work by contemporary Kazakhstani artists from Almaty, Astana, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Pavlodar, Shymkent, Konaev, Ekibastuz, Taraz and other cities.
«DONATE TO THE MUSEUM» CAMPAIGN
As part of the campaign «Donate to the museum», Altynbek Korazbaev – People’s Artist of Kazakhstan, State Prize laureate, singer-composer – and Saule Zhanpeisova – Honored Artist of Kazakhstan, performer of traditional songs – will donate musical instruments and stage costumes to the museum’s collection. In addition, Temirzhan Daulet will donate valuable items related to his sporting achievements to the National Central Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
PERFORMANCES, CONCERTS AND FILM SCREENINGS
As part of the “Museum Night – 2026” campaign, National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan will present a historical theatrical performance in the “Golden Horde” hall with the participation of student theaters from Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University. The performance will portray key historical periods of the Golden Horde era and artistic dialogues between khans through stage scenes.
As part of a dramatized tour in the ‘Living Museum’ format, visitors will be able to meet the Golden Man, Queen Tomyris, shamans, Kazakh khans, Aldar Kose and other historical figures.
Actors from the State Academic Puppet Theatre will create a special atmosphere in the museum halls, bringing to life the characters from Kazakh fairy tales and historical legends.
A show program by the Kazakh State Circus will be presented for young audiences.
In addition, special film screenings from the Kazakhfilm studio’s collection will be organized.
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL «MUSEUM FEST»
As part of the event, the international festival «Museum Fest» will be held. The festival will present best practices in the museum sector and will include various cultural and professional program with the participation of museum specialists from Kazakhstan and abroad.
CONCERT PROGRAMME AND THE «STAR GUIDE» PROJECT
A concert program featuring contemporary performers and musical groups will take place on the stage in front of the museum.
Well-known actors of the M. Auezov Kazakh National Drama Theatre will serve as «Star Guides» for the exhibition «Gasyr Jasağan Ult Teatry».
Radio veterans, led by Sauyk Zhakanova, will conduct special guided tours of the exhibition dedicated to the 105th anniversary of Kazakh Radio and the 60th anniversary of Shalkar Radio.
Saule Zhanpeisova, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan, will perform together with her students. The program will also include a classical music concert featuring instruments from the State Collection of Rare Bowed Musical Instruments, as well as a concert by the Akzhauyn Chamber Orchestra.
CRAFT MASTERCLASSES, INTERACTIVE GAMES AND GUIDED TOUR ROUTES
Quests, quizzes, and educational games will be organized in the museum halls, during which visitors will be able to complete various tasks while exploring the museum exhibitions.
Masterclasses will be held in carpet weaving, shym-shi and syrgalak weaving, making ceramic vessels from clay, felt-making, and playing togızkumalak. A special masterclass on ancient Turkic runic writing will also be organized, allowing participants to become familiar with ancient written symbols through practice.
A special guided tour route will be developed between the Museum of Almaty and the National Central Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
On the stage area in front of the museum, the quiz «Who Is Faster?» will be held, with prizes awarded to the winners. In addition, visitors will be offered masterclasses by museum restorers and scientific interactive program.
MERCHANDISE AND ROBOT SHOW
As part of the event, a robot show and virtual travel programs through historical eras using VR technologies will be organized.
Special merchandise under the «Night at the Museum 2026» brand will be released, including tote bags, T-shirts, and caps.
HOSTS OF THE «NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2026» EVENT
The hosts of the «Night at the Museum 2026» Event will be the well-known television and radio presenter Berik Kosherbekuly and the master of artistic recitation Akbobek Kairzhanova
Date: 18 of May 2026, 6.00 pm – 11.00 pm
Venue: National Central Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Samal-1/44.
Tel: +7 701 678 15 38.
