Dreaming of a European cultural getaway in 2026? Why not plan your trip around the continent’s most captivating art exhibitions? Come with me to discover the best must see European Art Exhibitions 2026.
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European Exhibitions Worth Travelling For in 2026
Finding an excuse to travel is never hard. Choosing with destination, a little trickier. These are the exhibitions that are luring me to Europe this year.
From landmark museum retrospectives to bold contemporary installations, 2026 is set to be an outstanding year for art lovers travelling across Europe. Whether you’re planning a cultural weekend break or building an art-focused itinerary around a new destination, these exhibitions offer the perfect excuse to explore somewhere new.
In this guide, you’ll discover the best art exhibitions in Europe worth travelling for in 2026. Where to see them. Why they deserve a place on your travel itinerary and how to get there. From historic capitals to emerging creative cities, these exhibitions combine exceptional art with unforgettable European destinations.
Must see exhibitions in Austria 2026
Bernini, Painter and Sculptor at the Palais Lobkowitz, Vienna
Discover a lost masterpiece by Bernini.
- Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
- 2 December 2026 – 4 April 2027
- Getting there: High speed trains will take all day or you can get a Eurostar to Brussels and then catch a sleeper to Vienna.
Exhibitions not to miss in Belgium
Pick almost any Belgian city at random and you will probably find that it has an abundance of interesting art and architecture to keep you busy for a weekend. 2026 will see the reopening of the Middleheim Museum in Antwerp with a big outdoor sculpture park. In Bruges a brand new museum BRUSK, opens with an exhibition devoted to the role of Bruges as world up in the medieval era. Design takes centre stage in Ghent with the reopening of the Design Museum in the autumn.
Antony Gormley: Geestgrond at KMSKA, Antwerp
Antony Gormley in the gallery and outside.
- KMSKA, Antwerp
- until 20 September 2026
- Getting there: Eurostar to Brussels, change platform, trains to Antwerp take 45 minutes
Travelling by train in Belgium is really easy with most places under an hour from Brussels. Take a read of my guide to Belgian Cities by Train for inspiration of where to visit.
The Antwerp Six: 40th Anniversary at MoMu, Antwerp
One for the fashionistas. 40 years ago six designers from the fashion department at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp took the fashion world by storm. My mother wore Dries Van Noten clothes to my wedding. See why she and millions of others bought the clothes.
- MoMu, Antwerp
- until 17 January 2027
- Getting there: Eurostar to Brussels, change platform trains to Antwerp take 45 minutes
Installation worth travelling to Denmark for in 2026
As Seen Below – The Dome, a Skyspace by James Turrell at ARoS, Aarhus
I love James Turrell’s Skyspaces. A feeling of immense calm, washes over me as soon as I step into one. Just thinking about makes me feel at peace. As Seen Below will be his largest ever Skyspace. 16 metres high and 40 metres across. You will enter via a light filled, underground corridor and emerge into a vast dome open to the sky. ARoS has been on my list for some time and will become even more alluring in June.
- ARoS
- Opening 19 June 2026
- Getting there: Either ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam or Hull to Rotterdam or Eurostar to Amsterdam. Then train to Hamburg, overnight in Hamburg then train to Kolding and change for Aarhus. Or fly direct to Aarhus.
Exhibitions Worth Travelling For in France 2026
Mary Cassatt Being Independent at Musee d’Orsay, Paris
Largest ever exhibition devoted to Mary Cassatt in France to mark 100 years since her death
- Musee d’Orsay, Paris
- 26 October 2026 – 31 January 2027
- Getting there: Eurostar from Paris to London
Exhibitions you need to see in Germany 2026
Becoming Paula: London Berlin Worpswede Paris at the Paula Modersosohn-Becker Museum Bremen
Paula Modersohn was born 150 years ago. 100 years ago a museum opened dedicated to her work. It was the first museum in the world dedicated solely to a female artist. Paula was an Expressionist. Becoming Paula looks at her career from student days to her early death.
- Modersohn-Becker Museum, Bremen
- until 13 September 2026
- Getting there: Fly direct to Bremen or to Hamburg and then catch a train to Bremen (about 1½ hours)
Beyond the World. The Blue Rider at the Lenbachhaus, Munich
German Expressionism is one of my favourite isms. The Blue Rider group were based in Munich and the Lenbachhaus has the world’s largest collection of their work. Beat a path to Munich to see Wassily Kandinsky, Gabriele Münter, Paul Klee and many more.
- Lenbachhaus, Munich
- Until 5 September 2026
- Getting there Eurostar to Paris, walk to Gare de l’Est and then 5½ hours train to Munich
Cassirer and the Breakthrough of Impressionism at the Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin
Paul Cassirer, was a Berlin based gallerist who was an early champion of the Impressionists. Works by Degas, Monet and Renoir among others, entered German national collections due to his mediation. He was just a enthusiastic about German Impressionists and also Edvard Munch. See 100 works that he championed.
- Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin
- until 27 September 2026
- Getting there: Eurostar to Brussels and then catch the European sleeper to Berlin arriving early in the morning. https://www.europeansleeper.eu/night-train-brussels-berlin
I, Gustave Courbet at Museum Folkwang, Essen
Gustave Courbet broke with tradition and depicted ordinary people, doing ordinary things in ordinary places rather than beautiful, rich people in extraordinary settings. Head to Essen for a look at his work both for public and more private display.
- Museum Folkwang, Essen
- until 8 November 2026
- Getting there: Eurostar to Brussels, change for Cologne and then again to Essen or flight to Dusseldorf and then bus or train to Essen.
Exhibitions not to miss in Italy 2026
2026 is a Venice Biennale year. National pavilions will fill the Biennale site 9 May – 22 November 2026. Elsewhere in the city great art will fill galleries and pop up displays. The Galleria dell’Accademia will be playing host to a big Marina Abramovic exhibition, their first dedicated to a living female artist.
Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi, Florence
If you are a Rothko fan, this is unmissable. A major retrospective with 70 works making their way to Florence from across the world. Even better Rothko’s works spread out across the city. In the Museo di San Marco you can see Rothko’s work in dialogue with Fra Angelico frescos. Over at the Biblioteca Medicia Laurenziana the vestibule will be adorned with Rothko’s.
- Palazzo Strozzi, Florence
- until 23 August 2026
- Getting there: Fly to Florence or Pisa and catch a train
Must see exhibitions in The Netherlands 2026
Fun Fact: The Netherlands has a higher density of museums than any other country. Here are the Dutch shows that I would most like to see this year.
Early February sees the opening of the new Dutch Fotomuseum in Rotterdam along with a slew of seriously tempting exhibitions in Den Haag and Dordrechts. You could spent a long weekend in Rotterdam seeing them all. Den Haag is actually included in the Rotterdam Pass transport ticket and Dordrecht is either a short train ride away or even better a river bus ride. Should you wish to include Yellow, Amsterdam is a mere 45 minutes away.
Rui Chafes X Alberto Giacometti at Beelden aan Zee, Scheveningen, The Hague
Look at Giacometti’s sculptures in a new light as they are set alongside the work of Rui Chafes. All in a beachside gallery, hidden within a sand dune.
- Beelden aan Zee, Scheveningen
- until 9 January 2027
- Getting there – Eurostar to Rotterdam, change platform for 25 minute train ride to Den Haag and then a 20 minute tram ride
Hals – Rembrandt at the Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem
Two giants of Dutch 17th century portraiture on show side by side. Unmissable. Even better when you’ve seen the exhibition wander round the Frans Hals Museum to see more Frans Hals alongside the cream of Dutch creativity right up to the present day.
- Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem
- 5 November 2026 – 28 February 2027
- Getting there: Eurostar to Amsterdam, change platforms for 30 minute train ride to Haarlem
EXHIBITIONS WORTH TRAVELLING FOR IN NORWAY 2026
Edvard Munch and the Chocolate Factory at Munch, Oslo
How can you resist an exhibition with this title? In 1923 Munch created large scale paintings to be hung in the Freia Chocolate Factory. See them at the Munch museum in Oslo along side his preparatory sketches and drawings.
- Munch, Oslo
- until 11 October 2026
- Getting there: Fly to Oslo
If you are in London check out Cultural Wednesday’s Best London Exhibitions. For more travel dreaming check out my ideas for UK Cultural Travel Destinations
