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

W.I.M. The art of seeing
Bundeskunsthalle, Bonn
27. Nov 2025 - 11. Jan 2026
The Bundeskunsthalle in Bonn is honoring the renowned director Wim Wenders with an exhibition that sheds light on his multifaceted work and presents his artistic development.
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The secret power of fragrances
Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf
27. Nov 2025 - 8. Mar 2026
Guests follow the history of fragrance in a unique exhibition at the Kunstpalast in Düsseldorf, which combines art, culture and the olfactory experience.
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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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Ich, Gustave Courbet
Museum Folkwang, Essen
17. Jul 2026 - 8. Nov 2026
Die Ausstellung „Ich, Gustave Courbet – Maler und Rebell“ im Museum Folkwang beleuchtet ab Juli 2026 das radikale Schaffen und politische Engagement des französischen Malers Gustave Courbet.
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Seeing Kollwitz anew
Käthe Kollwitz Museum Köln, Köln
27. Nov 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.
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Monet – Cézanne – Matisse. The Scharf Collection
Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf
12. Mar 2026 - 9. Aug 2026
Kulturfans erkunden die Scharf Collection im Kunstpalast Düsseldorf, eine beeindruckende Sammlung französischer und internationaler Kunst vom 19. bis 21. Jahrhundert.
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Music, science, society

Genes - diversity of life
LWL-Museum für Naturkunde, Münster
27. Nov 2025 - 31. Dec 2025
Discover the fascinating world of genes in the exhibition "Genes - Diversity of Life" at the LWL Museum of Natural History in Münster.
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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.
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Democratic cultures in the Sauerland 1925-1975-2025
Sauerland-Museum, Arnsberg
27. Nov 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.
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1,250 years of Westphalia
LWL-Museum in der Kaiserpfalz, Paderborn
27. Nov 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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Think:times! 150 years of the Hermann Monument
Lippisches Landesmuseum, Detmold
27. Nov 2025 - 26. Apr 2026
To mark the 150th anniversary of the Hermann Monument, the Lippisches Landesmuseum Detmold is presenting a multimedia exhibition that sheds light on the colossal statue as a symbol of German identity and history.
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SEX NOW
NRW-Forum, Düsseldorf
27. Nov 2025 - 3. May 2026
The "SEX NOW" exhibition at the NRW-Forum Düsseldorf sheds light on the transformation of the sex industry, sexual self-determination and the role of digital technologies in sexuality.
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