One Night, Open Doors

The European Central Bank (ECB) will participate in Frankfurt's annual Night of the Museums on Saturday, April 25, 2026, opening the public areas of its main building in the Ostend district to visitors. According to the ECB's official announcement, the evening program centers on two guided tours — one focused on contemporary art, the other on architecture — alongside live music, a public talk, and interactive quizzes.

Two Tours: Art or Architecture, Your Choice

The ECB's main building is a striking hybrid: the historic Grossmarkthalle, completed in 1928, fused with a contemporary high-rise complex designed by Viennese firm Coop Himmelb(l)au.

Tour 1 explores the ECB's contemporary art collection inside the conference center — a 'house-in-house' structure embedded within the Grossmarkthalle. A highlight is Thomas Bayrle's site-specific installation Frankfurters (1980).

Tour 2 covers the ground floor of the Grossmarkthalle, tracing the building's architectural history and its integration with the modern complex, while presenting site-specific works by Giuseppe Penone and OKO. Though the towers themselves are off-limits, their architectural relationship to the historic hall is addressed during the tour.

Beyond the guided tours, visitors can freely explore the ground floor, visit the ECB Visitor Centre, catch a live jazz performance by the ECB staff band, and attend a public talk by Dr. Konrad Elsässer — descendant of original architect Martin Elsaesser and chair of the Martin Elsaesser Foundation. Registration opens April 7 and closes April 21.

From Market Hall to Central Bank Headquarters

Designed by Martin Elsaesser, the Grossmarkthalle originally served as a wholesale market when it opened in 1928. Its column-free interior and rational construction were hallmarks of functional modernism. Today, repurposed as the ECB's public hub, it houses the Visitor Centre, conference facilities, and event spaces.

Permanent art-in-architecture works by Liam Gillick, Thomas Bayrle, Giuseppe Penone, and OKO — installed throughout the building — will be presented during the event. The themes explored include time and growth, structure and complexity, and the relationship between the individual and larger systems.

The ECB's cultural openings like this one reflect a broader trend among European public institutions to foster transparency and closer ties with citizens.