Exhibitions in Milan in April: practical guide to must-see shows

Must-see exhibitions in Milan in April

April brings a busy exhibition calendar to Milan: large-scale projects spanning multiple venues coexist with photographic solo shows, site-specific works and curated paths that connect historical legacies with contemporary practices. Below is a selection of key exhibitions and practical advice to plan your visits.

The multi-venue project: Metafisica/Metafisiche

Metafisica/Metafisiche. Modernity and Melancholy is the season's focal project: an extensive exhibition developed across several institutions that pairs historical masterpieces with contemporary reinterpretations. Curated by Vincenzo Trione, the initiative gathers hundreds of loans — paintings, sculptures, photographs, drawings and archival materials — to map the relationships between the metaphysical movement and fields such as fashion, cinema and architecture.

Main venues include Palazzo Reale, Museo del Novecento, Grande Brera - Palazzo Citterio and Gallerie d'Italia. The project runs over an extended period, allowing visitors to explore its chapters at different times during the season.

Featured shows and solo presentations

• MUDEC — The museum hosts photographic exhibitions and thematic projects, including a program focused on the theme of snow with related city events.
• Elisabetta Catalano solo show — A photographic portrait of the artist presented through prints and previously unseen materials.
• Viasaterna — Exhibition on cinema, fashion and performance (open until April 19, 2026), featuring vintage prints and archival items.
• William Kentridge (Grande Brera / Palazzo Citterio) — A new intervention reinterpreting Morandi's still lifes with video installations and cardboard sculptures.
• Macchiaioli — An exhibition revisiting the movement in light of recent scholarship.
• Nuria Mora — Large site-specific work at the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana (on view 03/04/2026–18/04/2026).
• Tracce Fuoriporta by Dall'Osso — Installations and sculptures that encourage a sensory reading of space and absence.

Practical tips for visiting

• Book ahead: many exhibitions recommend or require online booking, especially on weekends and for multi-venue projects.
• Check opening hours: schedules differ by venue; some institutions offer extended evening openings on Thursdays. Confirm times on each venue's official website.
• Plan your route: for a dispersed project, spread visits across several days and allow travel time between sites.
• Use resources on site: audioguides, multimedia stations and exhibition catalogues (for example the Metafisica catalogue) are useful for deeper understanding.
• Take cultural breaks: stop at museum cafes and bookshops to consult essays and critical texts related to the shows.

Why visit

Milan's exhibition program balances major historical surveys and contemporary interventions, creating opportunities to explore how memory and innovation interact in art. Whether you prefer monumental retrospectives or intimate installations, April offers a variety of pathways to discover surprising connections between past and present.