The night of the museums is a European intitiative in which more than 1200 musuems across Europe will open their doors ‘after dark’  on the 20th May, 2006 and where visitors will be able to listen to music, theatre and go on guided visits. In Madrid, the Thyssen Museum will be open from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. In the Museo del Prado a group of youngster will be able to answer visitor question between 8.30 and 10.30 p.m and the museum will remain open untl 1 a.m – entry will be free from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m 

The Museo del Traje will be open from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. with a jazz band (Missing Stompers) and entry will be free until they reach their quota.  At the Museo Nacional de Antropología they will have a "night of repercussion" with an African percussion band, Babacar and the Diengoz, playing. Again entry is free until they fill the quota, whilst the Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas will open its doors until 10.30 p.m. The Museo Sorolla will be open from 9 p.m. to 11.30 p.m

The Museo Arqueológico Nacional will have an Andalucian Reminiscences night with guides , theatrical guidse literary stories and a nocturnal concert with Araba and Andalucian music in the garden.