Here are ten must-see exhibitions to anchor your cultural calendar this autumn .
1. 18th Lyon Biennale: From One Dream to Another
Location: Lyon, France | Dates: 19 September – 13 December 2026
Unfolding across former industrial halls at Les Grandes Locos, macLYON, and historic passageways, the Lyon Biennale transforms the city into an exploration of dreams, architecture, and collective space . Curated by Catherine Nichols, it features over 100 international artists working in sculpture, sound, and installation .
2. Cézanne and Us
Location: Grand Palais, Paris, France | Dates: 23 September 2026 – 17 January 2027
Paul Cézanne’s rhythmic brushwork and structural approach to form reshaped the trajectory of modern art . This landmark exhibition at the newly restored Grand Palais places his paintings in dialogue with masters he inspired—from Picasso and Mondrian to Joan Mitchell and contemporary painters .
3. Ellsworth Kelly: At the Edge of Water
Location: Fondation Maeght, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France | Dates: Through 15 November 2026
Set in the Mediterranean hills, this monographic survey explores Kelly’s mastery of pure shape, spatial relation, and saturated flat color . For lovers of modernism and minimalist interiors, Kelly’s work demonstrates how distilled forms can hold immense visual serenity.
4. Maurizio Cattelan: Night
Location: Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin, Germany | Dates: 10 September 2026 – 7 March 2027
Inside Mies van der Rohe’s glass-and-steel architectural icon, Cattelan presents his first major solo institutional exhibition in Germany . Expect provocative, theatrical installations that confront questions of power, humor, and collective memory .
5. Picasso – Bacon: What It Feels Like to Be Human
6. Mary Magdalene: Sin. Pray. Love.
Location: Städel Museum, Frankfurt, Germany | Dates: 17 September 2026 – 17 January 2027
A rich visual narrative exploring one of the most enigmatic and depicted figures in Western art history . From Renaissance masterworks to modern interpretations, the show examines the evolving cultural and artistic representations of devotion, beauty, and identity .
7. Taryn Simon: Rotunda Commission
Location: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, USA | Dates: 18 September 2026 – 14 March 2027
American multidisciplinary artist Taryn Simon engages Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic spiraling architecture with a new body of work . Known for rigorous conceptual systems, photography, and sculpture, Simon’s installation reframes how visitors interact with space, narrative, and institutional authority .
8. Remedios Varo: The Alchemical Canvas
Location: Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk, Denmark | Dates: 18 September 2026 – 10 January 2027
Celebrated Mexican-Spanish Surrealist Remedios Varo created intricately detailed, mystical dreamscapes bridging science, alchemy, and esoteric philosophy . This European retrospective offers a rare look at her finely painted, otherworldly compositions .
9. Mariko Mori: All That Shines
Location: Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan | Dates: 31 October 2026 – 28 March 2027
Spanning over three decades of work, this major Tokyo retrospective showcases Mori’s luminous vision connecting ancient Japanese spirituality, cutting-edge technology, and astrophysics . High above the city, the exhibition features interactive sculptures, video, and immersive environments .
10. The 90s
Planning your autumn itinerary
To make the most of your cultural visits this season:
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Anchor around major weeks: Combine museum retrospectives with city art fairs—such as Paris Design Week (10–19 September), Berlin Art Week (9–13 September), or The Armory Show in New York (24–27 September) .
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Book timed tickets early: High-profile exhibitions at venues like the Grand Palais, Louvre, and Guggenheim often require advance reservation slots .
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Look for display inspiration: Pay attention to how galleries group works, balance negative wall space, and use warm framing—ideas you can bring directly into styling your home .
