Madrid is establishing itself as a global art hub in 2026. Below, we detail the must-see exhibitions currently on display in the capital, including their location, closing date, and a brief description of what you’ll find at each.

PhotoEspaña

Place: https://phe.es/exposiciones/mapa/
Latest date: 13-9-2026

Every summer, Madrid solidifies its position as the international epicenter of photography and the visual arts. From May 13 to September 13, 2026, its 29th edition unfolds an extensive program in the city’s main museums, galleries, and exhibition spaces, allowing the public to discover both avant-garde trends and the latest projects by internationally renowned artists.

The 2026 program combines retrospectives of historical masters and leading figures in photojournalism with exhibitions by contemporary artists (such as Talia Chetrit, Laia Abril, Bego Antón, Rafał Milach, and José Quintanilla).

Among the most important exhibitions of this edition are:

• Viviane Sassen (Fernán Gómez): The Dutch photographer presents LUX & UMBRA, a poetic retrospective designed exclusively for the festival that spans thirty years of her career and marks her first major solo exhibition in Spain.

• Richard Avedon and Alejandro Cartagena (Fundación MAPFRE, Sala Recoletos): This exhibition features Avedon’s legendary series In the American West (1985), a pinnacle of modern portraiture, alongside Ground Rules, which reviews two decades of work by photographer Alejandro Cartagena.

• Robert Frank (Telefónica Foundation Space): Presents the complete and, for the first time in the country, Robert Frank’s influential 1950s American series, The Americans.

• Isabel Azkarate (Serrería Belga Cultural Space): The pioneer of photojournalism and street photography exhibits her work in the exhibition Azkarate vs. Azkarate, sharing the spotlight with other key figures on the national scene such as Colita and Isabel Muñoz.

• Mexican Photography (Casa de México Foundation): Brings together seven prominent Mexican photographers in the exhibition Specters: Enigmas of the Gaze.

• Contemporary Installations: Highlights include Greta Alfaro’s Offertory at Matadero Madrid, focused on urban rituals, and Gema Polanco’s Whole House Is an Altar at the National Museum of Decorative Arts, which connects the domestic with the symbolic.

 

Carmen Laffón. Variaciones

Place: Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
Latest date: 27-9-2026

The Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza presents the first major monographic exhibition of Carmen Laffón’s work since her passing, spanning six decades (1956–2021) and focusing on poetic figuration, landscape, and still life. The exhibition brings together 77 pieces—including oil paintings, charcoal drawings, and sculptures—that trace the artist’s evolution from realism toward a lyrical abstraction characterized by glazes and recurring thematic series, such as cradles, wardrobes, and the Coto de Doñana. Further details are available on the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza website..

 

Madrid between eras

Place: Museo de Historia de Madrid (calle de Fuencarral, 78)
Latest date: 4-10-2026

The exhibition by Valentín Andrés Pérez Serén (@elpasadodemadrid) merges the past and present of the capital in images that blend black and white with color. This work creates a visual dialogue between present-day Madrid and that of past generations, showcasing the city’s evolution and transformation over time.

 

Street art. The origins of Banksy.

Place: Fundación Canal
Latest date: 26-7-2026

This exhibition traces the global consolidation of urban art as a key contemporary language, showcasing its evolution from the late 1960s through more than sixty works by leading international and Spanish artists. The exhibition is structured into five historical stages and highlights the figure of Banksy with a dedicated section on his symbolic impact. Visit the exhibition website for more information.

 

Robert Frank.

Place: Fundación Telefonica
Latest date: 1-11-2026

As part of the 29th edition of PHotoESPAÑA, Espacio Fundación Telefónica presents Robert Frank & The Americans, an exhibition that brings together—for the first time at this venue—the complete set of images from one of the most iconic and influential projects in 20th-century visual culture.

Considered a cornerstone of contemporary photography, The Americans revolutionized visual language by challenging the narratives of post-war American prosperity. Curated by David Campany and organized in collaboration with the Maison Européenne de la Photographie, the exhibition displays the 83 original images alongside previously unseen material documenting the artist’s creative process. Further information is available at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie.

 

Ricardo de Madrazo

Place: Museo del Prado
Latest date: 13-10-2026

The Prado Museum presents the first monographic exhibition dedicated to Ricardo de Madrazo, the least celebrated member of this great artistic dynasty. From October 13, 2026, to January 17, 2027, the museum will display a selection of his drawings, watercolors, and personal notebooks, recently acquired by the institution. Curated by Pedro J. Martínez Plaza, the exhibition reflects the artist’s wanderlust throughout Europe and North Africa. Unlike the academic style of his father (Federico de Madrazo), Ricardo favored Orientalism, landscapes, and genre scenes, characterized by luminous light and a free brushstroke.

 

Ewa Juszkiewicz

Place: Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza
Latest date: 6-9-2026

The Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum presents, from May 26 to September 6, 2026, an exhibition of Ewa Juszkiewicz’s work focused on her contemporary and subversive reinterpretation of the classical female portrait. This solo exhibition, drawn from the collection of Blanca and Borja Thyssen-Bornemisza, showcases works that deconstruct traditional beauty through meticulous technique.

 

Historias revestidas de Hanbok

Place: Galería Han-ul del Centro Cultural Coreano de Madrid
Latest date: 31-7-2026

The Korean Cultural Center in Madrid presents Wooh Nayoung’s first solo exhibition in Spain. From May 14 to July 31, the Han-ul Gallery will display 25 pieces in which the digital artist fuses Western pop culture with the Korean tradition of the hanbok. The collection includes digital displays, large-format works, and reinterpretations of Disney and Marvel icons such as Spider-Man and Mickey Mouse. Highlights include her versions of classic tales like Cinderella and a previously unseen work that transports Don Quixote to 17th-century Korea. Nayoung, who trained in Fine Arts and has a background in the video game industry, achieves a unique visual language that blends comics with traditional Korean painting.

 

Carteles de San Isidro. La imagen de las fiestas

Place: Museo de San Isidro
Latest date: 20-9-2026

The San Isidro Museum is revisiting the visual history of Madrid’s festivals through their posters. From May 13 to September 20, the exhibition brings together 51 historical pieces and a large mural with 15 recent designs that show how the city’s image has changed. Since the first festival in 1947, these works have reflected the balance between traditionalism and modernity. The collection ranges from traditional painting to the creative explosion of the Movida Madrileña and contemporary design. It features works by historical figures such as Manolo Prieto and Isabel Quintanilla, alongside contemporary creators like Naranjalidad and El Chico Llama, who continue to revitalize local folklore.