World Art Day: unmissable exhibitions across Italy

World Art Day: key exhibitions in Italy

World Art Day falls on 15 April 2026. The spring season brings numerous exhibitions nationwide: fairs and off-programmes in Milan, and major museum shows in Rome, Florence, Naples and beyond. Below is a practical selection of exhibitions and events worth visiting.

Main exhibitions and where to see them

• Milan: Milano Art Week (13-19 April) features around 490 events across museums, galleries and foundations. Miart (17-19 April) celebrates its 30th edition with the theme "New Directions". Paris Internationale debuts in Milan (18-21 April) at Palazzo Galbani. Notable shows include Anselm Kiefer at Palazzo Reale, Cao Fei and Mona Hatoum at Fondazione Prada, and Rirkrit Tiravanija at Pirelli HangarBicocca. The Ghost Track project proposes contemporary interventions within permanent collections.
• Bolzano: Museion hosts Evelyn Taocheng Wang's first institutional solo in Italy, Sweet Landscape, converting the museum's second floor into a total installation (25 April - 8 November 2026).
• Turin: highlights include the EXPOSED photography festival (from 9 April), the Orazio Gentileschi exhibition at Musei Reali (until 3 May), Chiharu Shiota at MAO, and curatorial projects on Leonardo and Hokusai.
• Naples: at MANN, the Partenope exhibition (3 April - 6 July) brings together over 250 works from antiquity to contemporary art; Joan Miró is on view at the Basilica della Pietrasanta until 19 April. Emilio Isgrò's show runs at Capodimonte (10 April - 29 September).
• Florence: a major Mark Rothko retrospective at Palazzo Strozzi runs until 23 August. The Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec exhibition at Museo degli Innocenti is open until 7 June; Firenze Déco at Palazzo Medici Riccardi is on until 25 August.
• Rome: Palazzo Bonaparte hosts the largest Italian exhibition dedicated to Katsushika Hokusai; the Chiostro del Bramante presents Flowers. Wonderful Nature (until 6 September). Vasari e Roma at Palazzo Caffarelli runs until 19 July. The Scuderie del Quirinale have extended Treasures of the Pharaohs until 14 June; Palazzo Barberini exhibits "Bernini e Barberini" and Palazzo Esposizioni hosts a Mario Schifano show (until 12 July).
• Palermo: "Impressionist Treasures: Monet and Normandy" at Palazzo Reale is open until 28 September. Villa Zito's exhibition on Sicilian historic jewellery, The Golden Age, runs until 24 May.

Practical tips for visitors

• Tickets: book online in advance, especially for blockbuster shows.
• Opening times: check official websites for hours and possible closures.
• Planning: combine nearby exhibitions and prefer weekdays to avoid crowds.
• Accessibility: verify services for visitors with reduced mobility and options for family or school visits.

This guide offers a concise overview to help plan cultural outings for World Art Day and the spring exhibition season. Always consult official sources for the latest information on tickets and visiting conditions.