Paraguay is preparing for its most significant cultural evening of the year. The Night of the Museums Association – Paraguay will host the 9th edition of this nationwide celebration on Saturday, 15 November, from 18:00 to 00:00. The initiative aims to exceed last year’s achievements. The goal of the Museum Night 2025 is to bring together almost one hundred museums and cultural institutions across Paraguay’s twelve departments. All the museums will be offering free and unrestricted entry to the public.
A cultural experience without barriers
Accessibility and national participation remain at the heart of the Night of the Museums. After drawing more than 30,000 attendees in 2024, the project, which has grown steadily since 2017. The organisation reaffirms its mission to highlight and safeguard Paraguay’s cultural heritage.
The official launch event was held at the CAF Integration House. Paola Martínez, representing the Paraguay Science Museum (MuCi), emphasised the widespread conviction in the transformative power of museums as essential spaces that protect the most invaluable treasures of local communities.
To make cultural exploration easier for the public, the organisation will operate free bus routes in key cities including Asunción, Luque, Lambaré, Capiatá, and Areguá. Other departments will provide independent cultural circuits. The aim is to ensure that transportation does not become a barrier for those wishing to visit spaces dedicated to art, history, and collective memory.
Night of the Museum’s diverse cultural programme
Participating institutions will offer a wide range of activities, including exhibitions, guided tours, artistic performances, talks, and interactive experiences. The complete programme will be published in digital format in the days leading up to the event. This will enable visitors to plan their cultural itinerary.
Asunción, Paraguay’s capital, will host more than fifty participating institutions. The National Archive, the National Library, the CAF Integration House and the Cultural Centre of Spain Juan de Salazar will participate. The Museo del Barro, the Museum of Memories: Dictatorship and Human Rights, and the Paraguay Science Museum (MuCi) as well. Additionally, multiple bicentennial houses will be open to the public.
National participation by Department
The Night of the Museums underscores its national relevance through a rich and diverse cultural offering in the interior of the country:
- Central: Nine institutions, including the Ramón Elías Mythological Museum in Itauguá, the Centro Cultural del Lago, and the Museum of the Fallen at Ytororó.
- Itapúa: Ten cultural spaces, including the Jesuit Reductions (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Encarnación Railway Museum, and the Edwin Krug Historical and Cultural Centre in Hohenau.
- Alto Paraná: Six museums, including El Mensú Museum, Ka’aty Museum, and ITAIPU’s Tierra Guaraní Museum.
- Boquerón: Five museums representing the cultural richness of the Chaco, including the Fernheim Museums and the Gran Chaco American Interpretation Centre.
- Paraguarí: Four key historical sites, such as Cerro León Camp Museum and the Dr. Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia Museum.
Concepción, Misiones, Ñeembucú, Caazapá, Guairá, and Cordillera will also participate with their local and regional cultural spaces.
Recognitions and institutional support
The Night of the Museums has been recognised nationally. The event has been declared of National Tourist Interest by the National Secretariat of Tourism. Additionally, of Cultural Interest by the National Secretariat of Culture. The initiative also receives support from academic and government institutions.
The programme is organised by the Night of the Museums Association – Paraguay. They are a non-profit, non-partisan organisation dedicated to promoting appreciation of national heritage. The event is sponsored by key institutions including Banco Sudameris, MuCi Foundation, and CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean. The event received international support from OEI, ICOM Paraguay, and the Bogotá Museum Network.
For 2025, the Night of the Museums is an open invitation to discover Paraguay through its art, its history, and its collective memory.
