International Museum Day 2026
Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum
17 & 18 May 2026 | Free Entrance
This year’s theme for International Museum Day explores how museums can unite a divided world.
To mark the occasion, the Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum has put together a rich program of activities, taking place on Sunday 17 and Monday 18 May 2026.
Opening Hours
Sunday, 17 May 2026: 10:00 – 15:00
Monday, 18 May 2026: 10:00 – 16:00
Two Days of Free Admission
The ILJ Museum will open its doors to the public with free admission on both days. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the world of jewelry and metalsmith through a collection that stands out on the international stage.
Guided Tours of the Temporary Exhibition
The ILJ Museum’s curators will lead guided tours of the temporary exhibition on both days, starting at 11:00 a.m. and 13:00 p.m. Visitors will have the chance to discover a selection of Lalaounis’s microsculptures through the current temporary exhibition, “Lila: The Art of Hosting, From the Banquet to the Coffee Table” .
The exhibition is the second chapter in a series of anniversary exhibitions celebrating the 30+ years operation of the ILJ Museum. Its starting point is Lila Lalaounis, the creator’s wife and muse. Her spirit of hospitality and her love for the art de la table brought these pieces to the forefront not only as works of art, but also as functional elements of everyday life.
On display are 120 carefully selected objets d’art drawn from more than 50 collections designed and supervised by Ilias Lalaounis between 1957 and 2002. Gilded wildflowers, enlarged silver insects, athletic figures crafted from semi-precious stones, hand-hammered silver candlesticks and other singular pieces showcase the creator’s genius creativity. Through their dual nature, they redefine the interplay between function and decoration.
Meet the Artists at the ILJM’s #ZEM #ZEDET Workshops
In the spirit of this year’s theme, the ILJ Museum will open the doors of its two live workshops to showcase JaIR, the world’s first Jewelry Artist in Residence program hosting established international artists. Through live demonstrations, these artists share their experience, their creative explorations, and their recent works they have crafted in the Museum’s workshops.
Visitors will get a close-up view of the creative process behind each piece and see how it serves as a tool for connection and communication between people of different cultures and backgrounds. It is a living example of cultural exchange, a proof that art knows no borders.
Opening Hours
Sunday, 17 May 2026: 10:00 – 15:00
Monday, 18 May 2026: 10:00 – 16:00
Email: pr@lalaounis-jewelrymuseum.gr
Tel: +30 210 9239709, +30 210 9221044
12 Kallisperi & 6 Karyatidon Str., Acropolis 11742
www.lalaounis-jewelrymuseum.gr