Thousands turn out for Ice Age exhibit and light show at Szeged's Night of Museums

NewsCulture

Jun 22

Thousands gathered yesterday in front of Móra Ferenc Museum in Szeged for concerts, fire performances, and a one-of-a-kind light show included in the 2026 Night of Museums programs.

The highlight of the evening was a custom-designed animated light projection, created especially for the museum’s neoclassical façade. Ice Age animals appeared to climb across the tympanum and knock over its columns in a show that captivated onlookers in Móra Park and even packed the nearby bike lane of Belvárosi Bridge.

According to figures released by the museum in a post-event press release, 6,500 visitors took part in the indoor programs of this year’s Night of Museums at the Móra Ferenc Museum and its partner venues.

The museum opened the second phase of its bilingual Ice Age exhibition, The Mysterious Ice Age, featuring original fossils and bones, life-size reconstructions, and an extreme cold room that allowed guests to feel real Ice Age temperatures and even touch actual ice. The exhibition proved so popular that lines formed outside the room at peak times.

The museum also hosted a widely attended Eco-Fashion Show in front of the building, where both professional and amateur designers presented clothing made from recycled materials. Performances by Kifaru Drums and the Fire Fantasy fire juggling troupe were crowd favorites, keeping the energy high late into the night. The final brass concert drew an enthusiastic audience well past midnight.

Hands-on activities for children included fossil-themed games, giant puzzles, paw-print stamping, and crafts in Móra Park, making the event a full family affair.

A single ticket granted access to all three venues – the Móra Ferenc Museum, Vármúzeum, and Fekete Ház – all open until midnight.

The third and final phase of the Ice Age exhibition is expected to open in mid-July, with the full exhibit running through January 2026.