Artsy has published a list of 11 must-see museum exhibitions scheduled for 2026, highlighting major retrospectives and biennials. The article opens by reflecting on 2025's trend of amplifying marginalized voices, citing exhibitions like "Paris Noir" at the Centre Pompidou and the Turner Prize win of neurodivergent artist Nnena Kalu. For 2026, the piece notes a shift toward large-scale retrospectives of established figures, including Tracey Emin's "A Second Life" at Tate Modern and "Raphael: Sublime Poetry" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, alongside major biennials such as the 61st Venice Biennale, the 18th Lyon Biennale, and the 16th Gwangju Biennale.
This list matters because it provides a curated preview of the year's most significant art events, offering readers a roadmap for engaging with the global art scene. The article underscores how museums are navigating political and economic uncertainty by focusing on celebrated artists whose radical pasts can inspire new generations. The inclusion of major biennials also signals that 2026 will be a pivotal year for assessing contemporary art trends and directions, making this a key resource for art enthusiasts and professionals alike.