Happy Nowruz 1404 / 2025

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 on Thursday, March 20, 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 General Admission Pricing after 5 pm on March 20

Enjoy $5 minimum, pay-what-you-wish general admission to MFA Boston during our Nowruz celebration (available in person day of, starting at 5 pm).

Events and Activities

My Homeland Through the Camera Lens

Linde Family Wing
5–8 pm

In My Homeland Through the Camera Lens, the Uyghur photographer Ablikim E. Yulghun expresses his deep affection for his homeland, capturing the breathtaking beauty and rich history of the Uyghur region. Experience the visual journey shared through his lens—towering mountains, vast deserts, and flourishing rivers, all reflections of the land’s natural grandeur. The photographer delves into the timeless traditions and ancient civilizations that have shaped the region’s vibrant culture while also shedding light on the ongoing struggles faced by the Uyghur people, offering a deeper understanding of East Turkistan's cultural heritage and its challenges.

Nowruz Kid Zone

Riley Seminar Room
5–8:30 pm

Hear a Nowruz-inspired story in Farsi, share your Nowruz memories, and learn more about the many places that celebrate this ancient festival! Presented by Bagche for Music, Language, and Art.

Drop-In Art Making: Painted Wooden Eggs

Druker Family Pavillion
5–9 pm (Last entry 8:45 pm)

Welcome the new year and celebrate the spring equinox by adding bright colors and intricate patterns to a wooden egg using acrylic paint markers.

Nowruz Celebration Displays

5–9 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard

View a diverse range of traditional Nowruz table displays, a key element to any celebration. Learn more about the many cultures who celebrate Nowruz and what they include on their table display.

Caspian Vibes: Sounds from Azerbaijan

5:30 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard

Get your feet moving and your hands clapping as you experience enchanting folk music and dance from Azerbaijan. Imbued with passionate melodies and graceful movements, this breathtaking performance is guaranteed to leave an impression. Presented by Azerbaijan Society of New England.

Three in 30

5:30 and 7 pm
Meet in Sharf Visitor Center

Take a 30-minute tour exploring three objects in the MFA galleries that have connections to Nowruz celebrations around the world.

Sounds of Central Asia

5:30–5:50, 6:10–6:30, 6:50–7:10, and 7:30–7:50 pm
Gallery 168

Enjoy a captivating celebration featuring music, poetry, and more. Experience the rich traditions of Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Uzbek, and Uyghur communities in unforgettable performances of artistry and expression. Presented by the TurkicStan Center.

Spotlight Talk: Chinese Porcelain and the Persianate Imagination

6 and 6:50 pm
Gallery 175

Chinese ceramics so inspired artists in ancient and medieval Iran that architects created beautiful spaces to display and store them and potters made ceramics adapting their aesthetics. Join Laura Weinstein, Ananda Coomaraswamy Curator of South Asian and Islamic Art, for an introduction to the MFA’s very own chini khana or “China house,” an installation dedicated to this fascinating aspect of Persian aesthetics.

Aftab Dance Group

6 and 7:30 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard

Experience the many cultures of Iran through a medley of Persian dance performed by Boston-based Aftab Dance Group, which is comprised of students and young professionals.

Kazakhstan Ensemble

6:30pm 
Shapiro Family Courtyard

Hear a selection of Kazakh musical pieces showcasing the richness of the country’s traditional and contemporary compositions. “Küy ‘Karakemer’” by Kuat Shildebayev highlights the expressive depth of the kuy, a traditional instrumental genre of the Kazakh steppe. Shildebayev also brings new life to the beloved folk song “Yapurai” with an arrangement blending tradition with modern interpretation. “Finale” from Yevgeniy Brusilovsky’s suite Boz Aigyr captures dynamic orchestration and powerful melodies, reflecting the composer’s significant contributions to Kazakh classical music. Another folk song, “Naz Konyr,” arranged by Daulet Shakirov, presents the delicate beauty and lyrical charm of Kazakh musical heritage. Finally, the stirring “Dawn of the Homeland” by Serik Yerkimbekov evokes a sense of patriotism and pride, embodying the spirit of Kazakhstan through its evocative melodies. Together, these pieces represent a vibrant tapestry of Kazakh musical artistry.

Camelia Dance Academy

7:15 and 7:45 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard

Celebrate new life, Nowruz, and spring with a dynamic performance fusing traditional Persian music and dance with modern and classical styles. This captivating experience features bold music, dance, and hand movements, and makes for an exciting showcase.

Music from Afghanistan

8pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard

Musicians Hasan Ali Khan, Giri Subramaniam, and Arson Fahim come together to celebrate Nowruz through a unique combination of instruments: piano, tabla drums, and the lute-like rubab, the latter of which is considered the national instrument of Afghanistan. Featuring reimagined arrangements of music from Afghanistan and beyond, the performance embraces the spirit of renewal and the arrival of spring.