By Rebecca Ceccatelli. Cover image 1+1. L’arte Relazionale, ph. Musacchio & Pasqualini / MUSA, courtesy Fondazione MAXXI
Change is always in the air: shifts in work, in the course of our lives, in our emotions, or in our interests. If on your new year’s resolutions list you’ve written down “visit new exhibitions in Venice, Florence, Turin, or other Italian cities in 2026,” then this article is likely to be both inspiring and essential for planning your cultural getaways in the months to come. That’s because 2026 is shaping up to be an exceptionally vibrant year in Italy for the arts: not only will the Venice Biennale return as one of the most anticipated events on the Italian cultural scene, but a number of unique, high-profile exhibitions are set to open across the country—shows we simply cannot wait to experience.
So here it is: a curated list of the most exciting new exhibitions arriving (or newly opened and absolutely worth visiting) in Florence, Turin, and other Italian cities in 2026 — city by city.
Marina Abramović – Transforming Energy at the Gallerie dell’Accademia, Venice 2026
From May 6 to October 19, 2026, the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice will, for the first time, host the work of a living artist: Transforming Energy, a major solo exhibition by performance art pioneer Marina Abramović. Marking her 80th birthday, this ambitious show is the first time the museum has dedicated a large-scale exhibition to a living female artist, presenting her work in dialogue with the Renaissance masterpieces that define Venice’s artistic heritage.
Curated by Shai Baitel in close collaboration with the artist, the exhibition unfolds across both the permanent collection and temporary spaces, inviting visitors to engage with iconic works such as Imponderabilia and Rhythm 0, as well as interactive “Transitory Objects” that encourage physical participation. A highlight not to miss is the pairing of Abramović’s Pietà (with Ulay) with Titian’s unfinished Pietà, offering a striking contemporary reflection on themes of suffering and transcendence. Transforming Energy promises an immersive experience that bridges past and present, making it a must-see for art lovers in 2026.
When: May 6th – October 19th 2026
Where: Gallerie dell’Accademia, Venice
Mark Rothko – Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi, Florence 2026
In spring 2026, Palazzo Strozzi will open its doors to Rothko in Florence, a rare and immersive exhibition dedicated to Mark Rothko, running from March 14 to July 26, 2026. Curated by Christopher Rothko, the artist’s son, alongside Elena Geuna, the show highlights how the rich visual culture of Florence and its Renaissance masters influenced Rothko’s revolutionary approach to color and form.
Visitors will encounter a carefully selected array of works spanning Rothko’s career, from early figurative pieces to his iconic color fields. Some of these monumental canvases are rarely loaned outside major international museums, making this exhibition a unique opportunity to experience Rothko’s emotional and spiritual intensity up close.
The exhibition unfolds not only in the grand rooms of Palazzo Strozzi but also extends into the Museum of San Marco and the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, creating a unique dialogue between Rothko’s color-soaked canvases and the city’s Renaissance heritage.
When: March 14th – July 26th 2026
Where: Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, Florence
1+1 – The Relational Years: Relational Art Exhibition at MAXXI, Rome 2026
At MAXXI – National Museum of 21st Century Arts in Rome, 1+1: The Relational Years transforms the museum into something far from a traditional art exhibition. Although it opened at the end of 2025, the exhibition remains a must-visit in 2026 until March 1, as it is the first major retrospective in the world dedicated to Relational Art — a movement that reshaped contemporary practice by placing human relationships and social interaction at the heart of artistic creation.
Curated by French art critic Nicolas Bourriaud, who originally coined the term Relational Aesthetics in the late 1990s, together with associate curator Eleonora Farina, the exhibition brings together works by around 45 internationally acclaimed artists. Rather than presenting art as isolated objects to be silently observed, 1+1 emphasizes conviviality, collective experience, and participation as essential elements of the artwork — a fitting reflection on how art intersects with everyday social life.
Visitors can engage with pieces and actions that activate the gallery space in unexpected ways, inviting collaboration, interaction, and even surprise. In an age where much of our interaction happens online, this exhibition offers a refreshing reminder of the power of physical presence and shared experiences.
When: until March 1, 2026
Where: MAXXI – National Museum of 21st Century Arts in Rome
3 Can’t-Miss Exhibitions in Milan 2026: Bosetto, Tiravanija & Steyerl
Milan opens 2026 with a trio of exhibitions that promise to engage, surprise, and inspire. At Pirelli HangarBicocca, Benni Bosetto (February 12 – July 19, 2026) transforms the space into a living installation, where light, reflection, and architecture become part of the artwork. Not far away, Rirkrit Tiravanija (March 26 – July 26, 2026) turns the gallery into a social experiment, inviting visitors to cook, share, and interact — art as a lived experience rather than something to merely observe.
Meanwhile, the Fondazione Prada Osservatorio continues to host Hito Steyerl: The Island (until October 30, 2026). Even though the exhibition has already opened, its extended schedule makes it an ideal companion to the newer shows. Steyerl’s installations and videos explore the intersections of technology, media, and politics, offering a reflective counterpoint to the playful energy of Bosetto and Tiravanija.
When: February 12 – July 19, 2026. Where: Pirelli Hangar Bicocca, Milan
When: until October 30, 2026 – Where: Fondazione Prada, Milan
Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles – Must-See Exhibition at MAO, Turin 2026
Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles at the MAO – Museo d’Arte Orientale is a must-visit exhibition for anyone in Turin. Open until June 28, 2026, this major monographic retrospective showcases over twenty years of Shiota’s career, highlighting some of her most iconic installations.
Curated by Mami Kataoka, director of the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, together with Davide Quadrio, director of MAO, and supported by Anna Musini and Francesca Filisetti, the exhibition marks its Italian premiere after an international tour that included institutions such as the Grand Palais in Paris and the Long Museum West Bund in Shanghai.
The Soul Trembles traces over twenty years of Shiota’s career through drawings, photographs, sculptures, and, most notably, some of her most iconic installations. Characterized by intricate webs of red and black threads that fill entire rooms, the works transform the museum space into an emotional landscape where memory, identity, relationships, and life and death emerge in a powerful, meditative way. Among the works on display are celebrated installations such as Where Are We Going? and Uncertain Journey, which invite viewers to reflect on individual and collective paths, as well as In Silence, where a burned piano and seats entangled in threads evoke the echo of silence after destruction.
When: October 22nd 2025 – June 28th 2026
Where: MAO (Museo d’Arte Orientale), Turin
