Show Scotland has evolved from Museums and Galleries Month (MGM), which has been running in the UK since 2000.

In 2004 Museums Galleries Scotland (formerly the Scottish Museums Council) drew together a group of representatives from museums and galleries to discuss the relevance of MGM to the Scottish sector. The need for a Scottish event/campaign that would raise the public and media profile of the museum sector was identified.

Museums Galleries Scotland worked with other museums, galleries and arts organisations to develop this idea. Taking inspiration from other international models including n8 in Amsterdam, New York’s Museum Mile Festival and the Lange nacht de museen (long museums night) in Berlin, Show Scotland was established as a pan-Scottish event for the country’s museums and galleries.