Bienenwaben Installation im Folkwang Museum in Essen
Tourismus NRW e.V., Bienenwaben Installation im Folkwang Museum in Essen

Top exhibitionsArt heaven, Kant and the climate crisis

The museums in North Rhine-Westphalia offer a wide range of exciting exhibitions with different focal points. Art and culture enthusiasts can look forward to works by renowned painters, sculptors and photographers. Institutions show exhibits on important music groups. Historical events, historical personalities and social phenomena also play a role. Below you will find an overview of the top exhibitions on offer this year. They are divided into the areas of "Art, Design, Architecture" and "Music, Science, Society".

Art, design, architecture

  • From left to right: Merce Cunningham, Robert Rauschenberg, John Cage, M.C. Richards, Bob Catoin and Jasper Johns, 1958
    Museum Ludwig, From left to right: Merce Cunningham, Robert Rauschenberg, John Cage, M.C. Richards, Bob Catoin and Jasper Johns, 1958
    Five friends
    Museum Ludwig, Köln
    3. Oct 2025 - 11. Jan 2026
    The exhibition "Five Friends" at the Museum Ludwig sheds light on the relationships and influence of five influential artists of the 20th century on post-war art.
    Learn more
  • The Museum Ludwig displays works of art from classical modernism to contemporary art production on around 8000 square meters.
    KölnTourismus, Foto: Christoph Seelbach, The Museum Ludwig displays works of art from classical modernism to contemporary art production on around 8000 square meters.
    Yayoi Kusama. Works from 70 years
    Museum Ludwig, Köln
    14. Mar 2026 - 2. Aug 2026
    Comprehensive retrospective of the artist Yayoi Kusama at the Museum Ludwig, Cologne, sheds light on seven decades of her work, including unpublished and new works.
    Learn more
  • Kirchner. Picasso.
    LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur, Münster
    26. Sept 2025 - 18. Jan 2026
    The exhibition "Kirchner. Picasso." at the LWL Museum of Art and Culture examines the connections and differences between the works of these two exceptional artists.
    Learn more
  • On the grounds of the Peter Behrens Building, historical machines convey individual work processes in heavy industry
    Tourismus NRW e.V., On the grounds of the Peter Behrens Building, historical machines convey individual work processes in heavy industry
    Peter Behrens - Art and technology
    LVR-Industriemuseum Peter-Behrens-Bau, Oberhausen
    30. Aug 2025 - 31. Dec 2028
    Discover the life and work of Peter Behrens, a pioneer of modern design, in the newly designed permanent exhibition at the LVR Industrial Museum in Oberhausen.
    Learn more
  • Käthe Kollwitz, 1867-1945, Self-portrait en face with right hand, c. 1893/94, colored chalk on olive-brown toned paper, 633 x 488 mm
    Käthe Kollwitz Museum Köln, Käthe Kollwitz, 1867-1945, Self-portrait en face with right hand, c. 1893/94, colored chalk on olive-brown toned paper, 633 x 488 mm
    Seeing Kollwitz anew
    Käthe Kollwitz Museum Köln, Köln
    11. Oct 2025 - 15. Mar 2026
    Following extensive refurbishment, the Käthe Kollwitz Museum Cologne is presenting the opening exhibition "Kollwitz revisited", which features both classics and rarely shown works by the artist.
    Learn more
  • Federico Cuatlacuatl, Xochipitzahuatl-Nova, 2024, 3-channel video installation (still)
    David Morales, Federico Cuatlacuatl, Xochipitzahuatl-Nova, 2024, 3-channel video installation (still)
    Hypercreatures
    Max Ernst Museum Brühl des LVR, Brühl
    30. Aug 2025 - 5. Oct 2025
    The 'Hypercreatures' exhibition at the Max Ernst Museum Brühl examines surrealist hybrid figures that combine elements of animal, machine, human and plant.
    Learn more
  • William Kentridge, drawing for the self-portrait As a Coffee Pot (2 Private Thoughts), 2021
    William Kentridge, 2024, William Kentridge, drawing for the self-portrait As a Coffee Pot (2 Private Thoughts), 2021
    William Kentridge. Triumphs and laments
    Museum Folkwang, Essen
    4. Sept 2025 - 18. Jan 2026
    The exhibition 'William Kentridge. Triumphs and Lamentations' at the Museum Folkwang honors the South African artist on the occasion of his 70th birthday and presents his multifaceted work.
    Learn more
  • The Phoenix des Lumières was launched in January 2023 as a digital art center in the former gas blower hall of the Phoenix West blast furnace plant
    Culturespaces, Foto: Gregor Winert, The Phoenix des Lumières was launched in January 2023 as a digital art center in the former gas blower hall of the Phoenix West blast furnace plant
    Asterix & Obelix. An immersive adventure
    Phoenix des Lumières, Dortmund
    30. Aug 2025 - 31. Dec 2025
    The exhibition "Asterix and Obelix. An immersive adventure" in Dortmund allows visitors to accompany the comic heroes on their search for the druid Miraculix.
    Learn more
  • Imperial Palace, Hamaguri Gate, etching and aquatint, 17 × 21 cm, 1995
    Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst Köln (MOK), Imperial Palace, Hamaguri Gate, etching and aquatint, 17 × 21 cm, 1995
    Tanaka Ryōhei. From line to landscape
    Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst, Köln
    30. Aug 2025 - 21. Sept 2025
    Discover the fascinating world of Japanese graphic artist Tanaka Ryōhei at the Museum of East Asian Art Cologne and take advantage of the MuseumsCard.
    Learn more
Load more elements

Music, science, society

  • Conrad Felixmüller, Child in front of a blast furnace, 1927
    LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn, Foto: Jürgen Vogel, Conrad Felixmüller, Child in front of a blast furnace, 1927
    Brave new world of work. 1890-1940
    LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn, Bonn
    13. Nov 2025 - 12. Apr 2026
    The exhibition "Brave new world of work. 1890-1940" at the LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn sheds light on the changes in the world of work and their artistic treatment.
    Learn more
  • The museum extension has provided space for special exhibitions since 2019. Three cube-shaped floors are gracefully embedded in the beautiful Arnsberg landscape on the edge of the slope facing Ruhrstrasse
    Brigida Gonzalez, The museum extension has provided space for special exhibitions since 2019. Three cube-shaped floors are gracefully embedded in the beautiful Arnsberg landscape on the edge of the slope facing Ruhrstrasse
    Democratic cultures in the Sauerland 1925-1975-2025
    Sauerland-Museum, Arnsberg
    10. Oct 2025 - 12. Apr 2026
    The special exhibition at the Sauerland Museum sheds light on the social development of the Sauerland from 1925 to 2025, with a focus on democratic cultures.
    Learn more
  • Members of the Artists' Association of Congolese Plantation Workers (CAPTC) in Lusanga, Congo. from left to right: Olele Mulela Mabamba, Irène Kanga, Huguette Kilembi, Jérémie Mabiala, Jean Kawata, Mbuku Kimpala, Ced'art Tamasala and Matthieu Kasiama. In the background the exhibition space White Cube
    Human Activities, 2020, Members of the Artists' Association of Congolese Plantation Workers (CAPTC) in Lusanga, Congo. from left to right: Olele Mulela Mabamba, Irène Kanga, Huguette Kilembi, Jérémie Mabiala, Jean Kawata, Mbuku Kimpala, Ced'art Tamasala and Matthieu Kasiama. In the background the exhibition space White Cube
    Land and soil
    K21 Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf
    29. Nov 2025 - 19. Apr 2026
    The exhibition "Grund und Boden" at the K21 of the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen reflects on the use and management of resources in modern societies. It invites discussion about a sustainable future.
    Learn more
  • The collection of the LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn comprises countless objects from over 450,000 years of Rhenish life and cultural history
    Michael Sondermann, The collection of the LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn comprises countless objects from over 450,000 years of Rhenish life and cultural history
    The Rhine. Life by the river
    LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn, Bonn
    30. Aug 2025 - 30. Sept 2025
    The special exhibition 'The Rhine. Life on the River' at the LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn offers an archaeological journey through the history of the Rhineland from spring 2025.
    Learn more
  • The award-winning underwater photographer Tobias Friedrich has captured a blue shark in a picture. Guests can now marvel at the photo
    Tobias Friedrich, The award-winning underwater photographer Tobias Friedrich has captured a blue shark in a picture. Guests can now marvel at the photo
    Planet Ocean
    Gasometer Oberhausen, Oberhausen
    30. Aug 2025 - 30. Nov 2025
    The 'Planet Ocean' exhibition in the Gasometer Oberhausen presents the beauty of the world's oceans through large-format photographs, films and immersive installations.
    Learn more
  • Erna Wagner-Hehmke dedicates an extensive series with 18 motifs to the four female members of parliament (from left to right), Helene Wessel (Center Party), Helene Weber (CDU), Friederike Nadig (SPD) and Elisabeth Selbert (SPD). Today they are regarded as the "Mothers of the Basic Law", Photo: Erna Wagner-Hehmke
    Bestand Erna Wagner-Hehmke, Stiftung Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bonn, Erna Wagner-Hehmke dedicates an extensive series with 18 motifs to the four female members of parliament (from left to right), Helene Wessel (Center Party), Helene Weber (CDU), Friederike Nadig (SPD) and Elisabeth Selbert (SPD). Today they are regarded as the "Mothers of the Basic Law", Photo: Erna Wagner-Hehmke
    The path to the Basic Law
    kulturinfo rheinland, Oberhausen
    30. Aug 2025 - 28. Sept 2025
    The exhibition "The Road to the Basic Law" at the LVR Industrial Museum impressively shows the emergence of German democracy through photographs by Erna Wagner-Hehmke.
    Learn more
  • The almost completely preserved Dalheim monastery complex is home to the only state museum for monastic cultural history in Germany
    Teutoburger Wald Tourismus, Foto: Dominik Ketz, The almost completely preserved Dalheim monastery complex is home to the only state museum for monastic cultural history in Germany
    The power of rules
    Stiftung Kloster Dalheim - LWL Landesmuseum für Klosterkultur, Lichtenau
    1. May 2026 - 30. May 2027
    The exhibition "The power of rules!" at Dalheim Monastery examines the role of rules in society and invites reflection.
    Learn more
  • German Football Museum, directly opposite the main station
    Deutsches Fußballmuseum Dortmund, Exterior view of the German Football Museum Dortmund - directly at the main station
    Günter Netzer - the seventies
    Deutsches Fußballmuseum, Dortmund
    30. Aug 2025 - 30. Sept 2025
    The special exhibition at the German Football Museum in Dortmund celebrates the golden age of soccer in the 1970s and the career of Günter Netzer, the first pop icon of German soccer.
    Learn more
  • Poster for the exhibition After Hitler. The German confrontation with National Socialism
    Schleiner + Partner Kommunikation, Poster for the exhibition After Hitler. The German confrontation with National Socialism
    After Hitler. The German confrontation with National Socialism
    Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bonn
    30. Aug 2025 - 25. Jan 2026
    The exhibition "After Hitler" at the Haus der Geschichte in Bonn examines Germany's confrontation with National Socialism over generations.
    Learn more
Load more elements
New tips every two months

Insider tips & excursion ideasNewsletter

Fancy some mail? Then subscribe here to our every two months newsletter with information on special travel offers, selected short tips for short trips and other insider tips for travelling in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Click here to register