Ephesus night museum runs until 1 October 2026
Published on 09/27/2026 at 13:29 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Ephesus and its night museum programme remain open to visitors until 1 October 2026 at the ancient site near Selcuk in Turkey. The archaeological city, also known locally as Efes, is offering evening access while special lighting covers several of its best-known monuments.
Ephesus night museum programme continues until 1 October
The night museum programme runs on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until 1 October 2026. The programme began in June 2026 and is therefore still available during the final days of September and on the first day of October.
Visitors can enter the illuminated ruins from 7pm, while the site closes at 11pm. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism listing gives the night opening as 7pm to 11pm, with the ticket office closing at 10pm. The official listing also identifies the archaeological site as Efes Örenyeri and gives its address in Selcuk. The official night-museum listing sets out the current evening schedule.
The illuminated route includes the Library of Celsus, the Agora, Curetes Street, the Temple of Domitian, the ancient theatre and the Terrace Houses. A projection-mapping presentation on the facade of the Library of Celsus is also continuing during the 2026 season. The programme runs until 1 October 2026, according to Hürriyet Daily News.
Ephesus monuments gain a different setting after dark
The evening programme changes the timing of a visit to a site whose main remains belong to successive Hellenistic and Roman settlements. UNESCO describes Ephesus as a former port city in the estuary of the River Kaystros, with the coastline moving westwards as the city developed in new locations.
The Roman Imperial remains include the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre. The UNESCO World Heritage property also includes the Terrace Houses, which preserve wall paintings, mosaics and marble panelling. The UNESCO description of Ephesus identifies the city as an outstanding example of a Roman port settlement.
That history connects directly with the night programme. Visitors are not simply seeing a general evening landscape: the lighting is concentrated on the processional streets, public buildings and domestic remains that define the ancient city. The Library of Celsus, rebuilt from surviving fragments in the twentieth century, becomes both a historical monument and the surface for the continuing projection presentation.
Visiting Ephesus: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The night museum programme runs until 1 October 2026 at Ephesus near Selcuk, with visits scheduled from Wednesday to Saturday.
- Night access begins at 7pm and ends at 11pm, while the official ticket-office closing time is 10pm. The programme uses the archaeological site rather than the separate Ephesus Museum in Selcuk.
- The official address is Efes Harabeleri, 35920 Selcuk, Izmir. The site has lower and upper entrances, and the Ministry listing identifies the lower gate as operating until 7pm and the upper gate until 6pm for the daytime schedule.
- The terrain is an open archaeological landscape with ancient streets, stone surfaces and exposed remains. The route includes Curetes Street, the Great Theatre and the Terrace Houses, so visitors should expect uneven ground and walking between separate monuments.
- Turkey’s official language is Turkish and its national currency is the Turkish lira.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Ephesus
When does the night museum take place at Ephesus?
The night museum programme runs on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until 1 October 2026. Evening access is scheduled from 7pm to 11pm, with the ticket office closing at 10pm.
What is Ephesus?
Ephesus is an archaeological site near Selcuk in Turkey, with successive Hellenistic and Roman settlements. Its major remains include the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre and the Terrace Houses.
Where is Ephesus and how do you get there?
Ephesus is near Selcuk in Izmir Province. The official site address is Efes Harabeleri, 35920 Selcuk, and the archaeological area has lower and upper entrances.
