Global heritage and harmony spotlighted on International Museum Day

Museums across the globe and in Bangladesh observed International Museum Day on Monday under the theme ‘Museums Uniting a Divided World’. Organized annually by the International Council of Museums (ICOM), this year’s event carries extra weight as it coincides with the organization’s landmark 80th anniversary.

The 2026 theme focuses on how cultural institutions can serve as social, cultural, and geopolitical bridges in a deeply fragmented world. According to a statement from ICOM, the goal this year is to highlight how museums act as trusted public spaces that nurture respectful dialogue, reduce inequality, and foster global peace without erasing cultural differences.

In Bangladesh, the day was marked with due solemnity and enthusiasm. Bangladesh National Museum in Dhaka spearheaded the domestic celebrations, organizing a colorful morning rally that marched from Shahbagh through the Dhaka University campus. Special exhibitions, cultural programs, and a seminar focused on heritage preservation and global cooperation were also held. Officials noted that the country's 103 public and private museums are increasingly adopting interactive roles to engage the youth and preserve national history.

On the international stage, UNESCO marked the day by reinforcing its partnership with ICOM to protect cultural heritage and announcing a landmark global survey to study the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in modern museum operations. European cultural capitals also came alive with celebrations, in Athens, major institutions like the Acropolis Museum hosted extended free-admission hours, interactive embroidery workshops, and collaborative community art installations, effectively turning the ancient city into a living cultural ecosystem that highlights shared human history.

By aligning its goals with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, ICOM’s global network used this year's event to demonstrate that museums are no longer just passive archives of the past, but living institutions capable of driving contemporary societal harmony.