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

Foto: Achim Kukulies, Ausstellungsansicht der Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen

Art heaven, Kant and the climate crisis

Top exhibitions

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

Nach Damaskus...
Museum Folkwang, Essen
6. Nov 2026 - 21. Feb 2027
Die Ausstellung „Nach Damaskus … Karl Ernst Osthaus und die islamischen Künste“ im Museum Folkwang beleuchtet die islamische Kunstsammlung des Museumsgründers und ihre Auswirkungen auf Design und Architektur.
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Astrid Lindgrens Welt in Bildern
Ludwiggalerie Schloss Oberhausen, Oberhausen
20. Sept 2026 - 17. Jan 2027
Die LUDWIGGALERIE Schloss Oberhausen präsentiert die Welt von Astrid Lindgren, ihre Werke und Illustrationen in einer einzigartigen Ausstellung.
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The fascination of jewelry. 7000 years of jewelry art at the MAKK
Museum für Angewandte Kunst Köln, Köln
4. Dec 2025 - 30. Dec 2025
Discover the impressive exhibition 'Fascination Jewelry. 7000 years of jewelry history with 370 exhibits can be admired here.
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William Kentridge. Triumphs and laments
Museum Folkwang, Essen
4. Dec 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.
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Kirchner. Picasso.
LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur, Münster
4. Dec 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.
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Genossin Sonne
Dortmunder U, Dortmund
4. Dec 2025 - 18. Jan 2026
Kulturfans erkunden die Ausstellung 'Genossin Sonne' im Dortmunder U, die Kunst, Astronomie und Theorie verbindet und die Rolle des Kosmos in historischen Prozessen beleuchtet.
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Music, science, society

1,250 years of Westphalia
LWL-Museum in der Kaiserpfalz, Paderborn
4. Dec 2025 - 28. Feb 2026
Celebration of the 1250th anniversary of Westphalia in 2025 with an anniversary program and exhibitions at the LWL Museum in the Kaiserpfalz in Paderborn. The history and culture of the region are told here.
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Formula 1® exhibition
FKP Scorpio Entertainment GmbH, Oberhausen
4. Dec 2025 - 22. Mar 2026
The international Formula 1® exhibition in Oberhausen offers a multimedia experience with original racing cars, unpublished material and a racing simulator.
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Amazônia. Indigene Welten
Bundeskunsthalle, Bonn
13. Mar 2026 - 9. Aug 2026
Die Bundeskunsthalle in Bonn präsentiert die Ausstellung „Amazônia. Indigene Welten“, die die Kultur und Lebensweise der indigenen Völker des Amazonasgebietes beleuchtet.
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Land and soil
K21 Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf
4. Dec 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.
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After Hitler. The German confrontation with National Socialism
Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bonn
4. Dec 2025 - 25. Jan 2026
The exhibition "After Hitler" at the Haus der Geschichte in Bonn examines Germany's confrontation with National Socialism over generations.
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ASIA POP
NRW-Forum, Düsseldorf
18. Sept 2026 - 30. May 2027
Die Ausstellung 'ASIA POP' im NRW-Forum Düsseldorf präsentiert ab dem 18. September 2026 die Vielfalt der ostasiatischen Popkultur mit über 400 Exponaten.
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