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

  • Mathilde Dietrichson, Self-portrait, 1865, oil on canvas, 49.6x37.2 cm, Oslo Museum
    Foto: Rune Aakvik, Oslo Museum, Mathilde Dietrichson, Self-portrait, 1865, oil on canvas, 49.6x37.2 cm, Oslo Museum
    Women artists! From Monjé to Münter
    museum kunst palast, Düsseldorf
    25. Sept 2025 - 1. Feb 2026
    The exhibition at the Kunstpalast Düsseldorf honors 30 female artists of the 19th and 20th centuries who created important works despite social obstacles.
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  • The opening of the exhibition Dalí. The Endless Enigma was very well attended.
    Hulisz, Tourismus NRW e.V., The Phoenix des Lumières exhibition openings attract large numbers of visitors
    In the realm of the pharaohs
    Phoenix des Lumières, Dortmund
    27. Aug 2025 - 31. Dec 2025
    The immersive exhibition 'In the Realm of the Pharaohs' at the Phoenix des Lumières in Dortmund takes visitors back to ancient Egypt and presents impressive digital works of art.
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  • 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
    27. 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.
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  • Gluck, Bank Holiday Monday, c.1937, Painting, oil on canvas, 23.7 × 18.7 cm
    Private collection, courtesy of The Fine Art Society Ltd, Gluck, Bank Holiday Monday, c.1937, Painting, oil on canvas, 23.7 × 18.7 cm
    Queer Modernism. 1900 to 1950
    Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf
    26. Sept 2025 - 15. Feb 2026
    The exhibition "Queer Modernism. 1900 to 1950" at the K20 of the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen honors the revolutionary contribution of queer artists to modernism.
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  • The Kaiser Wilhelm Museum is adorned with the 1.7-ton bronze group Genius of the Arts
    Johannes Höhn, Tourismus NRW e.V., The Kaiser Wilhelm Museum is adorned with the 1.7-ton bronze group Genius of the Arts
    Emma Talbot meets Johan Thorn Prikker
    Kaiser Wilhelm Museum, Krefeld
    3. May 2026 - 24. Jan 2027
    In her latest exhibition, British artist Emma Talbot explores Johan Thorn Prikker's monumental mural cycle "Ages of Life", which is on display at the Kaiser Wilhelm Museum in Krefeld.
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  • Svenja John, NOKOMIS brooch, Berlin, 2010
    Foto: DetlefSchumacher.com, Svenja John, NOKOMIS brooch, Berlin, 2010
    The fascination of jewelry. 7000 years of jewelry art at the MAKK
    Museum für Angewandte Kunst Köln, Köln
    27. Aug 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, 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.
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  • 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.
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  • 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.
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Music, science, society

  • The exhibition at the Neanderthal Museum focuses on the life stories of individual Neanderthal women. Life-size figures illustrate what they looked like
    H. Neumann, The exhibition at the Neanderthal Museum focuses on the life stories of individual Neanderthal women. Life-size figures illustrate what they looked like
    Stereotypical Neanderthal
    Neanderthal Museum, Mettmann
    27. Aug 2025 - 31. Aug 2025
    The special exhibition "Stereotypical Neanderthals" at the Neanderthal Museum sheds light on the diversity of prehistoric communities and offers emotional insights into the life of the Neanderthals.
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  • 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
    27. 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.
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  • 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, 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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  • 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.
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  • The LVR-Niederrheinmuseum Wesel is the place to go for culture fans who want to find out more about the history of the Lower Rhine region
    LVR-Niederrheinmuseum Wesel, The LVR-Niederrheinmuseum Wesel is the place to go for culture fans who want to find out more about the history of the Lower Rhine region
    The history of the Lower Rhine
    LVR-Niederrheinmuseum Wesel, Wesel
    27. Aug 2025 - 31. Dec 2026
    The new permanent exhibition at the LVR-Niederrheinmuseum Wesel sheds light on the history of the Lower Rhine and links regional developments with global themes.
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  • Udo Lindenberg. Comet-like panic
    Ludwiggalerie Schloss Oberhausen, Oberhausen
    27. Aug 2025 - 28. Sept 2025
    Discover the 'Udoversum' in a comprehensive exhibition about the musician and artist Udo Lindenberg in the Ludwiggalerie Schloss Oberhausen.
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  • Imperial palace with St. Bartholomew's Chapel
    Karl Heinz Schäfer, Tourist Information Paderborn, Imperial palace with St. Bartholomew's Chapel
    1,250 years of Westphalia
    LWL-Museum in der Kaiserpfalz, Paderborn
    27. Aug 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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  • 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
    27. 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.
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  • View of the exhibition The Land of a Thousand Fires. Industrial pictures from the Ludwig Schönefeld Collection
    Ruhr Museum; Foto: Deimel + Wittmar, View of the exhibition The Land of a Thousand Fires. Industrial pictures from the Ludwig Schönefeld Collection
    The land of a thousand fires
    Ruhr Museum, Essen
    27. Aug 2025 - 14. Feb 2026
    The exhibition "The Land of a Thousand Fires" at the Ruhr Museum shows the fascination of heavy industry for artists since the 19th century.
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