Caitlin Cunningham Photography.
Caitlin Cunningham Photography.
Nowruz
Happy Nowruz 1405 / 2026
Join us to celebrate the ancient festival of Nowruz, which signals the beginning of spring! Observed by over 300 million people for more than 3,000 years in places including the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Black Sea Basin, the Middle East, and the Balkans, Nowruz is a beloved holiday that is recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Stop by the Museum to discover unique Nowruz traditions from around the world, revel in magnificent works of art, enjoy lively dance and music performances, and much more.
Special Admission Pricing During $5 Third Thursdays
Enjoy $5 minimum, pay-what-you-wish general admission during our Nowruz celebration (available in person day of, starting at 5 pm). Learn more about discounted admission to the MFA on the third Thursday of every month.
Events and Activities
Nowruz Celebration Displays
5–8 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard, Level 1
View the diverse traditional table displays that are a key element to any Nowruz celebration. Learn more about the many cultures who celebrate Nowruz and what they include on their table display.
When the Mountains Bloom: Nowruz in Tajikistan
5–8 pm
Gallery 168, Level 1
“When Nowruz arrives, the world becomes young again; the human heart fills with hope.”
—Mirzo Tursonzoda, modern-day Tajik poet
Experience Nowruz as it is celebrated in Tajikistan, where ancestral rituals, music, dance, and artistic traditions welcome the return of light and life. Enjoy a community art display, and participate in a hands-on art activity inspired by traditional Tajik fire rituals.
Ablikim Emet: My Homeland Through the Camera Lens
5–8 pm
Remis Auditorium entryway, Level 1
Don’t miss a rare chance to see work by photographer Ablikim Emet. Through his lens, Emet captures the natural grandeur of his homeland, East Turkestan—from towering mountains and vast deserts to flourishing rivers—while also documenting the timeless traditions and ancient civilizations that define the region’s vibrant culture.
Drop-In Art Making: Painted Wooden Eggs
5–9 pm (last entry 8:45 pm)
Druker Family Pavillion, Level 1
Welcome the new year and celebrate the spring equinox by adding bright colors and intricate patterns to a wooden egg using acrylic paint markers.
Sounds of Central Asia
5:30–5:50 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard, Level 1
Experience the rich traditions of Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Uzbek, and Uyghur communities through lively music and dance. Featuring traditional folk music performed on the long-necked string instrument known as the dombyra or tambura. Presented by the TurkicStan Center.
Gallery Tours: Three in 30
5:30 and 7 pm
Meet in Sharf Visitor Center, Level 1
Take a 30-minute tour exploring three objects in the MFA galleries that highlight and connect to Nowruz around the world.
ASL interpreter available at 5:30 pm
Rostam Toward Mazandaran: A Children’s Naqqāli Performance by Bagche
6–6:30 pm
Riley Seminar Room, Level 1
This live performance brings the ancient Persian storytelling tradition of naqqāli to life through the voices of children ages eight to 10. Experience a blend of narration, gesture, and live music inspired by Ferdowsi’s epic poem the Shahnameh, shared in a playful and engaging way that connects ancient heritage with a new generation. Created especially for Nowruz at the MFA with funding by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, this performance invites audiences of all ages to experience the joy of Persian storytelling, community, and renewal.
Students performing attend Bagche, a nonprofit dedicated to providing an inclusive and accessible Persian-language education to individuals of all backgrounds. Bagche is a nonreligious and nonpolitical educational institution, focused on fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment for all students.
ASL interpreter available
Aftab Dance Group
6 and 7:15 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard, Level 1
Experience the diverse cultures of Iran through a medley of Persian dance performed by Aftab Dance Group, featuring students and young professionals in the Boston area.
Turkmen Bardic Tradition and Dutar Performance
6:15–7 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard, Level 1
Enjoy Turkmen bardic music and festive traditions, including songs associated with Nowruz (Nowruz toýy). Hear a range of songs from romantic and heroic epics, alongside instrumental pieces from the dutar (two-stringed lute) repertoire, performed by Mohammad Geldi Geldi Nejad, known as “Oghlan Bakhshi.”
Spotlight Talk: Garden Paradises in Persian Carpets
7:15–7:35 pm
Riley Seminar Room, Level 1
Join Elizabeth Dospel Williams, Penny Vinik Chair of Fashion, Textiles, and Jewelry, to explore the history of garden paradises in Persian art. Focusing on two carpets in the exhibition “Framing Nature: Gardens and Imagination,” consider how carpets connect ancient ideals across centuries.
ASL interpreter available
Afghanistan Freeharmonic Orchestra: Music of Renewal and Resilience
7:45–8:15 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard, Level 1
Celebrate the arrival of spring and honor the enduring spirit of Afghan culture with this special musical performance. The Afghanistan Freeharmonic Orchestra’s Qudrat Wasefi and Huma Rahim present Afghan folk songs and melodies, many originally created by women, alongside songs from the 1970s, amplifying voices that persist despite displacement and silence.
Dining Specials
Head to New American Café or Taste for meals, snacks, drinks, and other treats inspired by Nowruz. Learn more about dining at the MFA.
Wheelchair accessible
Accessibility
The Museum is committed to accessibility for all visitors. If you need accommodations for you to attend, please reach out to [email protected] or 617-267-9300.
Bag Checks
All bags are subject to inspection by Museum staff. Backpacks, large bags, all liquids including hand sanitizer and sunscreen, and outside food or drink are not permitted. Exceptions are made for medical or religious needs. All bags are strongly discouraged, and any bags larger than 11” x 15” must be checked in the Coat Room upon entry. Read our full bag check policy.
