Exhibitions in Rome: May 2026 guide

Exhibitions in Rome: May 2026 guide

Rome offers a packed program of exhibitions for May 2026. Below is a curated list of shows not to miss, with key details to plan your visit.

• Tragicomica. Perspectives on Italian Art — MAXXI. On view until 20 September 2026. A journey through over eighty years of contemporary art featuring more than 130 artists exploring irony, the grotesque and pop culture.
• HOKUSAI. The Great Master of Japanese Art — Palazzo Bonaparte. Exhibition open until 29 June 2026, showing over 200 works including prints, kimonos and traditional objects.
• Mario Schifano — Palazzo delle Esposizioni. Retrospective running until 12 July 2026, dedicated to a major figure of post-war Italian art.
• Robert Doisneau — Museo del Genio. Photography exhibition until 19 July 2026, presenting over 140 black-and-white images of everyday life.
• Impressionism and Beyond. Masterpieces from the Detroit Institute of Arts — Ara Pacis Museum. On display until 3 May 2026, featuring 52 works from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
• GAM 100. A century of the Municipal Gallery 1925–2025 — Galleria d’Arte Moderna di Roma. Celebratory show until 11 October 2026 with more than 120 works tracing a century of civic collection.
• Flowers. Wonderful Nature — Chiostro del Bramante (DART). Open since 18 March and running until 6 September 2026; expands the focus from single flowers to the whole natural ecosystem.
• VENUS – Valentino Garavani through the eyes of Joana Vasconcelos — PM23. Exhibition until 31 May 2026, offering a contemporary reinterpretation of Valentino Garavani’s creative universe.
• Agnès Varda. Here and There, between Paris and Rome — Villa Medici. Major Italian retrospective until 25 May 2026 dedicated to the filmmaker and photographer.

Practical information

Visiting tips: always check opening times and reservation procedures on the museum or gallery’s official website. Many exhibitions require advance booking, particularly during weekends. Buy tickets online to avoid queues.

Getting around: most venues are reachable by public transport. Plan your route to make the most of a day if you want to visit multiple shows.

Location example: Via Guido Reni, 4a, 00196 Rome RM, Italy. Verify the exact address for each exhibition before you go.

This guide highlights the main exhibitions in Rome for May 2026. For the latest information on hours, closures and ticket prices, consult the official pages of the hosting institutions.