On May 18, 2026, the National Museum of Natural History of the NAS of Ukraine traditionally opens its doors to celebrate International Museum Day.
The museum will be open on Monday, May 18, from 11:00 to 16:30. Admission to the museum and participation in all programs are free of charge.
On this day, visitors can enjoy a rich popular science program for children and adults:
- thematic lectures about amazing fish, insects, birds, and the life of Ukrainian polar explorers in Antarctica;
- tours about geological processes, the geological history of Ukraine's territory, and the evolution of vertebrates from fish to humans;
- a demonstration of a hippopotamus skeleton that has not been exhibited before;
- discussions about volcanoes, agates of Rivne region, and colonialism in science;
- interactive botanical programs about carnivorous plants, plant scents, fungi, and flipping through the "diary" of planet Earth;
- quests and the search for mysterious plants in the museum space;
- workshops on creating structures from mammoth bones and creative activities in the bird exhibition;
- programs about mythical animals, snakes, and birds.
In the Paleontological Department, visitors will find stories about the evolution of vertebrates, a demonstration of the hippopotamus skeleton, and a workshop on creating dwellings from mammoth bones. A lecture on colonialism in paleo-zoological research and the issue of appropriation of Ukrainian scientific heritage promises to be extremely interesting.
The Botanical Department of the museum has prepared interactive programs about carnivorous plants, plant scents, amazing fungi, and the past of our planet. Visitors will also enjoy quests, the search for mysterious plants in the museum space, and a live introduction to the world of botany.
The Zoological Department invites you to lectures about birds, fish, insects, and the life of Ukrainian polar explorers in Antarctica, as well as quests, family programs, and creative activities. On this day, the museum exhibitions will become a space of living stories about animals and the people who study them.
Pre-registration is required to participate in the interactive tour "Tales about Animals in the Natural History Museum" here.
According to the National Museum of Natural History of the NAS of Ukraine
