International Museum Day is celebrated on May 18 to encourage people to visit and enjoy museums, and to raise awareness about the challenges that museums face that they can only survive with the support of their communities.

The day is hosted by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) which invites museums all over the world to participate in the day's commemorations. ICOM encourages museums to engage with the public and teach them about museums' contributions to our education, and to society's development.