In the first months of 2026, Bologna turns into a vast open-air museum. With ART CITY Bologna 2026, the city opens the doors of historic palaces, museums, and institutional venues to an exhibition program that weaves together contemporary art, cultural history, and visions of the future.

For lovers of art, photography, installations, and visual research, this edition of ART CITY is an unmissable opportunity to explore the international art scene in one of Italy’s most vibrant cultural hubs.

Below is a guide to the main exhibitions, along with some practical tips for planning an art-focused weekend in Bologna.

Must-see exhibitions in Bologna during ART CITY 2026

More Than This, at the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna

Until April 6, 2026, this exhibition offers a critical survey of Atelier F, one of the most significant presences to emerge in contemporary Italian painting. The exhibition path engages in dialogue with the Pinacoteca’s collection, creating connections between figurative tradition and new artistic practices.

Michael E. Smith – C C, at Palazzo Bentivoglio

Until April 26, 2026, Michael E. Smith—one of the most radical American artists of his generation—brings to Bologna a profound reflection on matter, absence, and presence. Curated by Simone Menegoi and Tommaso Pasquali, the exhibition explores the boundaries between sculpture and installation through a contemporary language of striking visual impact.

“Futurism” and “Return to Order,” at Casa Saraceni (Fondazione Carisbo)

Until July 26, 2026, Casa Saraceni hosts an exhibition spanning the artistic movements of the first half of the Italian twentieth century, from Futurist avant-garde to the return to classicism. The works, drawn from the Fondazione Carisbo collections, recount a fundamental chapter in the history of modern art.

Jacopo Mazzonelli, Persistence, at the Museo d’Arte Lercaro

Until March 8, 2026, visitors will have the opportunity to see a new, site-specific installation by Jacopo Mazzonelli, accompanied by critical contributions from Charles Moore and Saverio Verini. Persistence explores sensory relationships between form, sound, and perception.

IOCOSE – Pointing Nemo. Beyond Space Toward the Abyss, at CUBO Unipol

At CUBO Unipol, in Porta Europa and Torre Unipol, the exhibition curated by Federica Patti will be on view until May 26, 2026. The IOCOSE collective presents a project dedicated to NewSpace and the colonization of space as a future prospect for humanity. A dialogue between science, technology, and imagination—perfect for a curious and wide-ranging audience.

Jeff Wall: Living, Working, Surviving – Fondazione MAST

One of the most anticipated exhibitions of the season. Until March 8, 2026, Canadian photographer Jeff Wall presents 28 works—including lightboxes and large-format prints—created between 1980 and 2021. Often as refined as paintings, the images explore everyday life, labor, and social dynamics through a powerful and immersive visual language.

I preferiti di Marino – Chapter II | Opus Mundi, at the Centro Arti e Scienze Golinelli

Until June 28, 2026, the Centro Arti e Scienze Golinelli will host over fifty works that reflect Marino’s curiosity and vision, bridging art, science, and the future. An exhibition offering an original, interdisciplinary perspective—ideal for those who appreciate cross-pollination of ideas.

Suggested itinerary for an art weekend in Bologna

Day 1 — Contemporary art and the historic center

The first day can begin in Bologna’s cultural heart with a visit to the Pinacoteca Nazionale.

After a lunch break, continue on to Palazzo Bentivoglio, where the atmosphere changes completely with Michael E. Smith’s exhibition.

In the evening, it’s time to slow down. A walk beneath the UNESCO-listed porticoes, among illuminated views and historic shop windows, is already an experience in itself. Then dinner at Ristorante Corbezzoli to end the day on a flavorful note.

Day 2 — Photography, installations, and the future

The second day opens with a stop at Fondazione MAST, a contemporary exhibition space with striking architecture, to see Jeff Wall’s exhibition.

In the afternoon, you can choose the direction of your artistic journey. Those intrigued by technology and future scenarios can head to CUBO Unipol for the IOCOSE project, which reflects on space utopias and the relationship between humanity and new horizons. Alternatively, the Fondazione Carisbo collections at Casa Saraceni offer a journey into twentieth-century Italy, between Futurism and the “Return to Order,” helping to better understand the cultural roots of the present.

If time allows, it’s worth ending with a visit to the Centro Arti e Scienze Golinelli. Opus Mundi brings together art, science, and vision, leaving a sense of openness and curiosity—the ideal conclusion to a weekend that is not just a sequence of exhibitions, but a true journey through ideas, eras, and possibilities.

Why stay at Relais Bellaria for an art weekend in Bologna

To experience ART CITY Bologna 2026 in comfort and tranquility, Relais Bellaria is the ideal base. Surrounded by greenery and well connected to the city’s main access routes, the relais offers elegant rooms, generous spaces, and a relaxing retreat after days dedicated to art and culture.

Book your stay and let Bologna surprise you with a calendar where past, present, and future meet through the power of contemporary art.