As a global entertainment platform, TikTok is a place that celebrates cultural expression and the arts, empowering communities to discover culture in every corner of the globe, from art and music to dance and theater. On May 18, TikTok launches its inaugural #MuseumMoment, bringing together some of the world's most iconic institutions in an all-day LIVE global event for the very first time.

Around the world, one #MuseumMoment at a time

TikTok's longest culture LIVE to date will take users on a tour of the world's best cultural institutions, featuring an exclusive virtual tour conducted by 23 museums across 12 different countries around the world.

#MuseumMoment LIVE will kick off with the National Gallery in Singapore at 3 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), and take viewers on an unforgettable journey through the arts and across the world via Israel, Japan, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, Germany, UK and USA, with the LIVE finishing off on the other side of the world in Mexico at 9 p.m. EDT. #MuseumMoment will be LIVE streamed all-day via TikTok for Good, TikTok's global social impact content hub.

The #MuseumMoment LIVE will give people a chance to experience cultural content from around the world, from a tour of 1930's England via Black Country Museum (UK) to hearing from a taxidermy expert at Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (Germany) to seeing famous artworks like The Night Watch from Rembrandt at the Rijksmuseum (The Netherlands) and exploring the iconic spaces of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (US). The Sacramento History Museum (US), which has produced some of the most popular culture content over the past year on TikTok, takes art enthusiasts and history buffs alike on a virtual tour of their print shop made famous on TikTok by their volunteer printer, Howard, along with an exclusive peek into their new exhibit, “California in Print.” From modern art and historical artefacts to ancient sculptures and quirky architecture, there is something for all culture lovers to enjoy.

As part of the celebrations, TikTok is also launching a new AR effect that allows for a more immersive experience for guests at the Palace of Versailles, where you can come alive as Queen Marie Antoinette as you take a stroll through the virtual gallery.

Culture starts on TikTok

As a platform that inspires creativity and brings joy, TikTok also creates and celebrates culture that transcends borders, unlocking experiences for art enthusiasts all over the world.

Over the past year, some of the world's most famous cultural institutions have joined TikTok and have connected with a wider audience, welcoming visitors digitally through immersive online experiences.

Culture content takes centerstage on TikTok, where there's been a huge rise in people consuming art and culture over the past year. Content with the most popular hashtags in this category, including #FineArt, #ArtHistory and #ArtOnTikTok, have garnered over 2 billion monthly views to date globally, growing by over 3000% in the past year.

Being able to virtually visit iconic institutions through the lens of the TikTok community has sparked people's curiosity, whether it's to view art, see something unusual, or to learn about history. #Museum inspired the most video creations around the world, with content growing by almost 200% since May 2020.

The most popular culture content on TikTok transcends borders, as art lovers all over the world can travel to a chocolate waterfall in Lebanon or discover the masterpieces by Italian creator and music artist Emanuele Aloia as he performs a song at the Uffizi Gallery in Italy.

To be a part of the action and join in on TikTok's biggest ever culture LIVE, tune in on May 18 from 3 a.m. EDT. Check out the full schedule of the global TikTok LIVE here.