[Translated by eTranslation]

Many treasures lie dormant in the museum's archives. Known and unknown pieces are unpacked to illuminate them with new methods and from new perspectives. The rich collections of the NHM Vienna provide clues to the past, present and future of our earth. Witnesses of Earth's history such as minerals and fossils, meteorites from space, human skeletons or evidence from the animal and plant world: Not only are they all collected and exhibited, but they are constantly being investigated using new scientific methods.
 
Bringing current research to the forefront is always the intention of the NHM Vienna during the Long Night of Museums. Researchers from the institute will present their work at a total of twelve research stations in the exhibition collection.
 

Highlights at the Natural History Museum Vienna, Maria-Theresien-Platz

World Heritage Unpacked

We present the latest finds fresh from the excavation! In the summer of 2025, sensational finds, especially from the Stone Age, were made in Hallstatt. They were carefully packaged by restorers at the NHM site in Hallstatt and brought to NHM Vienna for further analysis. Let's unpack and explore the 7,500-year-old scientific treasures together.
 

Crime scene nature: we unpack

Tourists are often unaware that they violate laws by buying seemingly harmless souvenirs from their holidays. When customs at the airport confiscates souvenirs, mostly animals or animal products, and imposes severe penalties, the surprise is great. Together we unpack travel suitcases and go in search of illegal souvenirs. Why their liquor bottle should not contain a snake, they also learn at this station.   
 

Getting Old Texts to Speak

Deciphering old documents is a technical challenge at first. Writings were often used that are no longer in use today. When the old documents are unpacked and read, seemingly inconspicuous things come to life: History is made to speak and often manifests itself in great stories.
 

Packing, unpacking, holding on to knowledge: What's behind the book covers?

The NHM Vienna is home to one of the largest museum libraries in the country. The holdings form a unique treasure of the Austrian and even the world's natural-historical cultural heritage. Between the old book covers you will find magnificent lithographs, old scientific treatises and maps as well as hand-coloured folios. Acid-free packaging paper, padded containers, special book supports and even book snakes ensure that the bibliophilic treasures are preserved for future generations.
 

Family program "Unpacking" in Deck 50

Whether you send an entire dinosaur or a small grain of moon dust, the packages that arrive at NHM Vienna are always worth unpacking. They do not always fit in boxes, and caution should be exercised when opening them. Using practical examples, such as those from the Botanical Collection, we show how scientific objects are packed, unpacked and repackaged. Get to know scientific packaging. A quiz on Deck 50 offers the opportunity to guess what's included in them.
 

On the roof of the museum

If you want to get high on this special night and at the same time take a look behind the scenes of the museum, this special tour is just right for you. After an overview of the history of the museum and its collections at the famous Kaiserbild (it shows the founder of the collections, Kaiser Franz I. Stephan von Lothringen), it goes quickly up and "behind the scenes", where the participants can recover from the hustle and bustle of the Long Night. After a view from the top aisle into the museum, nothing stands in the way of a visit to the roof. Enjoy the breathtaking view over the old and new Vienna with a cool drink.
 

NHM Above the rooftops of Vienna

A cultural-historical walk through the museum with cocktail on the roof (limited number of participants, from 12 years, ticket € 9,– at the information stand in the dome hall). Guided tours take place at 7 p.m., 8 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m. and 10.30 p.m.
 

In front of the museum

Vienna Association for Astronomy (WAA)

A look through the telescopes at the stars above Vienna: At Maria-Theresien-Platz in front of the NHM Vienna, a dedicated team of the Vienna Association for Astronomy is active. Assuming a cloudless sky, a look through the high-quality telescopes of the "Citizen Scientists" is astonishing. Anyone who has ever experienced the moon, stars and planets with telescopes and expert explanations will not forget this way of teaching science. From 9 p.m. to midnight.

The location of the NHM Vienna in the Narrenturm also takes part

On the site of today's university campus (Spitalgasse 2, 1090 Vienna) stands a circular building from the end of the 18th century: the so-called "fool's tower" – an important monument to the history of health care and medicine. Today, this building houses a worldwide unique collection of human preparations, including wet and bone preparations, wax objects and medical devices.

The newly designed permanent exhibition on the ground floor illustrates different aspects of general and special pathology as well as the historical development of pathology in Vienna. The eventful history of the Fool's Tower is discussed as well as the historic renovation of the building. Take advantage of the special exhibition "Safe Sex: Comeback of venereal diseases". The exhibition not only shows the history of venereal diseases, but also refers to current topics such as AIDS therapy and HPV vaccination, the first "vaccination against cancer".

On the basis of historical preparations, different clinical pictures are shown and explained. Since many STIs are now easily treatable, a special focus is placed on education and prevention – according to the motto: Treatment is good, prevention is better. Since sexually transmitted infections have social consequences in addition to physical complaints, this topic is also represented. Stigma and exclusion should not really play a role in diseases today, but those affected are still discriminated against in the 21st century. STIs can meet any person, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.

How do sexually transmitted infections (STIs) affect the body? How can I get infected? What protection is there? These and other questions about STIs are answered in this mediation programme. The number of participants is limited to 15 people for reasons of space. Each time at 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., duration approx. 45 minutes.
 

Organisational

Tickets for the Long Night of Museums can be purchased directly at the Natural History Museum Vienna at the ticket office.
 
The buddies of the practical vocational orientation of the youth at the plant Sozial:Raum GmbH work on the Long Night in the dome hall with: Inclusive. Committed. At the NHM Vienna

General request for information:
Mag. Irina Kubadinov
Head of Press & Public Relations, Press Spokesperson, NHM Vienna
 https://www.nhm.at/irina _kubadinow
Tel.: +43 (1) 521 77-410 I irina.kubadinow@nhm.at