Malaysia will allow free admission to all 19 museums under the Department of Museums Malaysia on May 18 to mark International Museum Day 2026 [1, 2]. The Kuala Lumpur Tower will also be illuminated blue that day as a symbol of support for museums as centers of knowledge, heritage, and education [3].

National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang said the effort aims to encourage more Malaysians, especially the youth, to visit museums and appreciate the nation’s history and heritage. He said, "We also hope the public will value the role of museums as institutions of knowledge, catalysts for unity and platforms for nation-building" [1].

The International Museum Day 2026 theme is "Museums Uniting a Divided World," highlighting museums’ role in fostering understanding, unity, and bridging cultural divides in a challenging global environment, according to a Ministry of National Unity statement [3].

The Ministry of National Unity is advancing Malaysia’s heritage sector through educational, technological, and community engagement projects. A Museum Matching Grant under Budget 2026 aims to prioritize people-centric projects like infrastructure development, digitalization, and educational spaces. Minister Dagang stated, "This grant prioritises people-centric projects and programmes, focusing on permanent infrastructure development, museum digitalisation, educational spaces and museum-related programmes" [1, 2].

In April, the Malaysia Museum Bill was tabled and agreed in principle by the Cabinet. The proposed federal law will regulate museum activities in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan, establish a Malaysia Museum Council, and create registers of museums and collections [1, 2].

On May 16, Minister Dagang spoke at the Central Zone Unity Week 2026 event at the National Museum. The program, now in its fourth year, promotes unity and understanding of cultural diversity [1, 2].

The government will host the International Museum Day 2026 celebration from June 23 to 30 in Johor with the Johor Heritage Foundation [1, 2]. On May 18, Malaysians can visit the 19 museums free of charge and see the blue illumination of the Kuala Lumpur Tower to mark International Museum Day [1, 3, 2].