The 2026 edition of VARIOUS OTHERS in Munich featured a tightly curated program of exhibitions across participating galleries, institutions, and artist-run spaces. For the first time, the event awarded the "VARIOUS OTHERS Prize" (VO Award) to both a gallery and an off-space: Gallery Sperling and space n.n. won for their respective exhibitions. Notable presentations included solo shows by Paola Siri Renard at nouveaux deuxdeux, Milena Muzquiz at Galerie Rüdiger Schöttle, and a dual exhibition at Knust Kunz Gallery Editions featuring Robert Motherwell and Merce Cunningham. Museum Brandhorst also opened the "Carrying" project with works by international artists.
The expansion of VARIOUS OTHERS with a juried prize signals the growing institutional recognition of both commercial galleries and independent artist-run spaces in the Munich art scene. The collaboration between galleries—such as Hauser & Wirth with max goelitz gallery, or Galerie Rüdiger Schöttle with Travesía Cuatro—reflects a trend toward cross-gallery partnerships that amplify emerging and mid-career artists. The inclusion of historical figures like Robert Motherwell and Nam June Paik alongside contemporary practitioners underscores the event's role in bridging generations and fostering dialogue between established and experimental practices.