Exhibition programme 2026

Dear friends of arts and culture,

“What Connects us. Dimensions of Social Sustainability” is the programmatic theme for 2026 at the Bundeskunsthalle. Following last year's focus on ecological sustainability, we now want to turn our attention to perspectives on social responsibility, asking how art, education, cultural exchange, and dialogue can contribute to more public engagement and strengthen societal relationships. This is not only reflected in exhibitions at the Bundeskunsthalle, but also in a comprehensive audit of educational programs, inclusion and social participation. We want to further widen our horizon internationally and also explore diverse local socio-cultural environments. With our exhibition programs we turn our attention to the Global South and explore the Indigenous worlds of the Amazon region, showcase a central figure in queer New York of the 1970s and 80s, delve into the cultural history of sex work, focus on the memory culture post WW II and the Nazi crimes, and we will revisit Latin American female artists from the past Century.

We are very pleased to give you a preview of the Bundeskunsthalle’s varied program for the coming year. A wide range of inspiring exhibitions and events are awaiting you!

The 2026 exhibition program:

Peter Hujar. Eyes Open in the Dark ​
February 27–August 23, 2026
Peter Hujar was a photographer and central figure in the downtown scene of 1970s and early 80s New York, but at his death in 1987 from AIDS-related pneumonia his photography was largely unknown to a broader art world. Hujar’s principal concern was with portraiture, whether photographing his friends and denizens of the downtown scene—whom he encountered on the street, photographed in his apartment studio, and sought out at performance venues—or turning his attention to animals, architecture and landscapes. A show organized by Raven Row and the Peter Hujar Foundation. In partnership, the Gropius Bau in Berlin will be showing Peter Hujar / Liz Deschenes: Persistence of Vision from March 19–June 28, 2026.

Amazônia. Indigenous Worlds ​
March 13–August 19, 2026
This exhibition gives voice to the Indigenous peoples of the Amazon, offering a new perspective on a region often reduced to exotic clichés. Amazonia is a vibrant whole of dense networks, intercultural exchange, and diverse sociability. With around 400 exhibits, the show explores creation, community, and future visions from Indigenous perspectives. An exhibition from the Musée du quai Branly.

Sex Work. A Cultural History 
April 2–October 25, 2026
“Nothing about us without us!” Developed with a collective of researching sex workers, this exhibition traces the history of sex work in Europe from antiquity to today. Through art, cultural-historical evidence, and archival material, it explores how societies have treated sex work—and what that reveals about power, values, and humanity.

Interactions 2026
May 1–November 1, 2026
This outdoor program invites visitors to engage with interactive artworks, performances, and workshops. Each project tells its own story and encourages openness, shared experience, and social connection.

"Social Fabric": 55 years Collection of Contemporary Art of the Federal Republic of Germany
June 12–October 4, 2026
Since 1995, the Bundeskunsthalle has showcased works from the Federal art collection. Social Fabric presents a broad selection from several decades, reflecting on how themes like social responsibility, equality, and identity are expressed in artistic practice.

NEVER AGAIN! Against Forgetting the Crimes of the Nazi Era
October 9, 2026–May 2, 2027
Opening the Cultural Autumn, this exhibition explores Germany’s changing memory culture regarding the crimes of the Nazi period. As Holocaust survivors become fewer, preserving their testimonies gains new urgency. The show examines methods of commemoration through art, digital media, and historical objects.

Latin American Women Artists. From Frida Kahlo until Today
December 4, 2026–March 29, 2027
This major retrospective brings together works by over 60 women artists from Latin America—from Mexico to Argentina—for the first time in Europe. Spanning more than a century from 1915 until today, it highlights both iconic and overlooked figures, exploring their artistic voices in relation to cultural identity and female empowerment.

Live arts—Dance, theatre, music, performance
When the doors to the exhibitions close, the spotlights turn on: Physical Therapy – Sober Dance Sessions, Connor Schumacher explores rave culture without substances and gets everyone on the dancefloor. Manu Delago (handpan) and Max ZT (hammered dulcimer) come together to present innovative sounds and beautiful compositions. In Hiding Piece, Hofmann & Lindholm invite the audience to disappear in the performance space, make themselves invisible, or remain as silent observers.

Studio Bonn–Talks and a new conference format
Studio Bonn hosts public debates on current topics with cultural impact. In 2026, it introduces the European Cultural Forum Bonn (ECFB), bringing together global voices from arts, culture, science, politics, and civil society (September 17–19). Considering global interdependences and planetary boundaries, the forum will explore cultural responses to today’s challenges and foster transnational alliances for an open, democratic society.

With this program we warmly invite you to reflect, to exchange ideas, and to participate.

We are looking forward to your visit!

Yours sincerely,
Eva Kraus and the whole team of the Bundeskunsthalle

Director: Eva Kraus / Managing Director: Oliver Hölken
Press officer: Sven Bergmann, presse [at] bundeskunsthalle.de

Current exhibitions:

Expedition to the World’s Oceans
Until April 6, 2026

WEtransFORM. On the Future of Building
Until January 25, 2026

W.I.M. The Art of Seeing. A Wim Wenders exhibition
Until January  11, 2026

Federal Prize for Art Students
27th Competition of the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
November 6, 2025–January 4, 2026

For the most up to date schedule, please go visit here.

The Bundeskunsthalle is supported by 
Der Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien.

Contact
Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany, Museumsmeile Bonn, Helmut-Kohl-Allee 4, 53113 Bonn. T +49 228 9171 200 / info [at] bundeskunsthalle.de. 

*Images above: [1] Peter Hujar, William S. Burroughs, 1975. Peter Hujar, Self-Portrait (II), 1975. © 2025 The Peter Hujar Archive/Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY, DACS London and Pace Gallery. [2] Paulo Desana, The Spirits of Transformation, Pamürɨmasa 6, 2022. © Paulo Desana. [3] Vic Porter, Nothing about us without us, 2019. © Vic Porter. [4] Famed, Trust People, 2017. © the artists. [5] Interactive digital testimony by Holocaust survivor Eva Umlauf, Project “Learning with digital testimonies” (LediZ), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Photo: © Bright White Ltd. [6] Elda Cerrato, La Hora de los Pueblos, 1975. © Estate of Elda Cerrato. Photo: Courtesy Institute for Studies on Latin American Art (ISLAA), New York.