Deceit is in the air, tell the truth and play fair…
Find a mask and wear it well, so your identity no one can tell…
On April 4, 2026, the island’s historic public library, the Nantucket Atheneum, will transform into a mysterious venue of intrigue, murder, hidden motives, and whispered suspicions when it hosts the Midnight Masquerade Murder Mystery, an immersive evening when guests will gather in masks and costumes, sip cocktails, and sleuth their way through a theatrical whodunit.
While the event serves as a fundraiser for the library, it’s designed to be a playful and engaging evening for all. “This is a fundraiser but also a fun event to celebrate and unite our community,” explains the Atheneum team. The event fits the institution’s long history of serving as a gathering place for islanders—though previous generations might be surprised to find their staid library hosting a murder, even a pretend one.
Tickets are now on sale at the Atheneum’s website.
To ensure a polished production, the Atheneum has partnered with a professional company specializing in murder mystery events, though there could be some undercover locals. The evening is designed to be an interactive experience, with the murder occurring during the event, sending attendees scrambling to identify the culprit hiding among them until the killer is unmasked.
The format encourages both teamwork and individual investigation. Guests may arrive in groups to pool their investigative skills or come solo and form alliances on the fly. Either way, participants will need to keep their wits sharp as they navigate the evening’s twists and turns. With guests all wearing costumes and masks, they won’t know which of their fellow attendees are fellow detectives and which are accessories to the crime.
True to its theme of “Midnight Masquerade” (though it will be held from 5:30 to 8 pm), the event promises an atmosphere of mystery and sophistication. Guests are encouraged to arrive wearing costumes and masks to add a layer of visual intrigue to the challenge–after all, it’s harder to read suspects’ intentions when their identities are hidden behind an ornate mask.
The ticket price to this over 21 event for adults includes light bites and two complimentary drinks. As plans for this April event are finalized, additional paid opportunities may be available, such as a photo booth where guests can capture their masked personas against the backdrop of the Atheneum’s elegant interior.
Evening wear, ball gowns, Venetian masks, suits, and tuxes are what to wear to this high-class night of masks and murder. Suggestions and inspirations for attire can be found at the Atheneum’s website.
The murder mystery represents a creative departure for the Atheneum, which typically hosts author readings, lectures, and an wide variety educational programs within its 1847 walls. Yet there’s something fitting about a library—a place where countless fictional murders have played out across thousands of mystery novels—hosting a live whodunit.
The event also demonstrates how historic institutions can remain vibrant by experimenting with new formats. While the Atheneum’s rare book collections and whaling archives attract scholars and history enthusiasts, a murder mystery draws a different crowd, potentially introducing new faces to the library and its mission.
Specifics of the murder plot are a closely held secret, though Atheneum staff has revealed that the mystery is not based on an existing book: every clue will be fresh, every suspect equally suspicious. Even devoted mystery readers will be on equal footing with everyone else.
Whether you’re a fan of Agatha Christie, a devotee of true crime podcasts, or someone who enjoys dressing up and experiencing something different, the Midnight Masquerade Murder Mystery offers a unique way to experience one of Nantucket’s most treasured institutions after dark in an entirely new way.
Just remember: trust no one, watch everyone, and whatever you do, don’t turn your back on your suspects.