Exhibition highlights in April

Spring is peak season in Vienna’s museums, thanks to many new exhibition openings. Spectacular art exhibitions are waiting for you to be discovered.

1 of 20

20 pictures

Oil painting by Belotto, view of Vienna from the Belvedere palace — This spring, the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien takes its visitors on a journey through the urban landscape of the 18th century. “Canaletto & Bellotto” showcases the exquisitely painted cityscapes created by these two exceptional Venetian painters. (Bellotto, Vienna viewed from the Belvedere Palace, 1759/60) – © KHM-Museumsverband

Painting by Gustave Courbet, The Sleepers, 1866 — Now at the Leopold Museum: “Gustave Courbet. Realist and Rebel” honors the most important representative of realism, who is being showcased with a large-scale solo exhibition in Austria for the first time. (Gustave Courbet, The Sleepers, 1866) – © Petit Palais, musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris | Foto: Paris Musées/Petit Palais, Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris

Painting by Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller depicts large Prater landscape with trees — “True to Nature”: The Lower Belvedere is dedicating its major spring exhibition to Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, one of the most important Austrian painters of the Biedermeier period, and his landscape paintings. (Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, Large Prater Lanscape, 1849) – © Belvedere, Wien, Foto: Johannes Stoll

Exhibition view of “Gustav Klimt and Medicine” featuring drawings at the Josephinum — “Gustav Klimt and Medicine. Images of the Flow of Life”: A special exhibition at the Josephinum that, for the first time, focuses on Klimt’s allegories of life and his depictions of birth, life, and death. The exhibition features some of his works as well as medical-historical objects. (Exhibition view) – © Josephinum/Hinterramskogler

Exhibition view of the Vienna Actionism Museum featuring works by Hermann Nitsch — “Hermann Nitsch. 1960 to 1965”: The newly reopened and expanded Vienna Actionism Museum dedicates an exhibition to the early work of one of their key artist. It features Nitsch´s ‘Schüttbilder’ and ´Rinnbilder´ as well as relic montages and includes exhibits never shown before. (Exhibition view) – © Wiener Aktionismus Museum

Exhibition view, United by Queerness with objects related to the Eurovision Song Contest — The countdown is on for the Eurovision Song Contest on May 16 in Vienna: The exhibition “United by Queerness” at QWien Queer Center Vienna uses original objects to explore the queer history of the contest. (Exhibition view) – © QWien / Georg Hofbauer

The dress Conchita Wurst wore when she won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2014 — “Unstoppable! Eurovision Song Contest Highlights at the Museum” at the Haus der Geschichte Österreich also showcases artifacts from the ESC history and explores how closely the contest has always been linked to changes in politics, identities, and society. (Conchita Wurst’s dress from her 2014 Eurovision victory) – © Markus Guschelbauer

The banks of the Danube Island with swimmers — Planned and developed in the 1970s and 1980s as a flood protection project, Vienna’s Danube Island has long turned into a major recreational paradise. The Wien Museum now dedicats a special exhibition to these “13 miles of freedom”. (Shore of the Danube Island) – © Photo: Klaus Pichler. Wien Museum

Poster featuring an advertisement regarding Viennese designer Helmut Lang — On the occasion of his 70th birthday: The MAK – Museum of Applied Arts shows the first exhibition on the work of Viennese fashion designer Helmut Lang. Called “Séance de Travail 1986–2005”, the museum presents key pieces from its own Helmut Lang archive. (Helmut Lang, proof copy of an advertisement for Art in America magazine) – © MAK Helmut Lang Archiv, LNI 566-9-5-1. Courtesy of hl-art

A comic-style bronze figure by KAWS titled “Time Off” — Starting April 3: “KAWS. Art & Comix” at the Albertina modern explores the interplay between comics, graphic novels, cartoons and art. The exhibition places the American artist KAWS in dialogue with selected contemporary works. (KAWS, Time Off, 2021) – © KAWS. Foto: Courtesy KAWS Studio

Excerpt from the video Sowing the Seeds for the Future by Dominique Koch — The "Klima Biennale" is taking place again from April 9 to May 10, with events all over Vienna. The festival’s main venue is the Kunst Haus Wien, which is hosting the exhibition “Seeds. Reclaiming Roots, Sowing Futures” - an exploration of the multifaceted meanings of seeds and seed stock. (Dominique Koch, Sowing the Seeds for the Future, video screenshot) – © Dominique Koch

Artwork by Roy Lichtenstein, Forest Scene, 1980 — In “Animalia. Of Animals and Humans,” the Heidi Horten Collection explores the complex relationship between humans and animals. Featuring over 100 works of art from the 20th and 21st centuries. (Roy Lichtenstein, Forest Scene, 1980) – © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein / Bildrecht Wien, 2026

Piano reduction of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro — In “The Global Power of Love. A Journey Through the Centuries” the Austrian National Library aims to highlight love as a source of artistic inspiration. Among the approximately 100 exhibits are historical love letters. (Piano score for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, 1809) – © Österreichische Nationalbibliothek

Artwork, portrait of a young man in a Superman costume — “Black Jews, White Jews. On Skin Color and Prejudice" at the Jewish Museum Vienna is currently addressing complex and sensitive issues regarding the colors of the skin. The exhibition features a mix of contemporary artworks and historical objects from the museum's collection. Until April 26. (Portrait of a young man, Jason Bard Yarmosky, 2018) – © Jorit Aust

Photo of Sigmund and his brother Alexander Freud — “Documents of Injustice. The Case of Freud” at the Sigmund Freud Museum sheds light on the last months of the Freud family in Nazi occupied Vienna and the years that followed. Newly discovered documents complement this special exhibition. (Sigmund and his brother Alexander Freud, photo from Harry Freud's album, Grinzing, 1937) – © Sigmund Freud Museum

Photograph by Manfred Wakolbinger of a fringed jellyfish — As part of its 25th anniversary, the WestLicht Museum is presenting the photo exhibition “Underwater,” which explores the ocean as both a subject of research and a place of longing. (Manfred Wakolbinger, fringed jellyfish) – © Manfred Wakolbinger

Photograph of the Daegu Church and Pastoral Care Center in 1965 — From April 16: The exhibition “Global – Neutral. Austrian Architecture in Africa and Asia, 1955-1989” at the Az W - Architekturzentrum Wien traces the work of Austrian architects who were active in African and Asian countries between 1955 and 1989, a period of global political upheaval. (Ottokar Uhl, Daegu Church and Pastoral Center, exterior view, 1965) – © Architekturzentrum Wien, Sammlung, Foto: Ottokar Uhl

View of the Vienna City Hall from 1870 — “Monument of the City – Vienna City Hall”: A special exhibition, held at the Vienna City Library at the City Hall, is dedicated to the history of the building, which opened in 1883, and its builders. It remembers the 200th birthday of its architect, Friedrich von Schmidt. (Friedrich von Schmidt, facade view, 1870) – © Wien Museum

Photograph of the auditorium of the Vienna Burgtheater from 1888 — “250 Years of the Burgtheater – A Guest Performance by the Theatermuseum”: A special exhibition featuring posters, stage sets and costumes sheds light on the history of Vienna's famous Burgtheater. The exhibition can be viewed 45 minutes before the start of performances, during intermissions, and as part of guided tours. (Auditorium, 1888) – © KHM-Museumsverband, Theatermuseum

The Legend of the Titanic, Exhibition, Visual — The Titanic is being brought back to life at the moment at Vienna´s Marx Hall. “The Legend of the Titanic – The Immersive Exhibition” combines cutting-edge technology with music, theater and visual effects. – © MAD

This spring, the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien takes its visitors on a journey through the urban landscape of the 18th century. “Canaletto & Bellotto” showcases the exquisitely painted cityscapes created by these two exceptional Venetian painters. (Bellotto, Vienna viewed from the Belvedere Palace, 1759/60) – © KHM-Museumsverband

Now at the Leopold Museum: “Gustave Courbet. Realist and Rebel” honors the most important representative of realism, who is being showcased with a large-scale solo exhibition in Austria for the first time. (Gustave Courbet, The Sleepers, 1866) – © Petit Palais, musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris | Foto: Paris Musées/Petit Palais, Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris

“True to Nature”: The Lower Belvedere is dedicating its major spring exhibition to Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, one of the most important Austrian painters of the Biedermeier period, and his landscape paintings. (Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, Large Prater Lanscape, 1849) – © Belvedere, Wien, Foto: Johannes Stoll

“Gustav Klimt and Medicine. Images of the Flow of Life”: A special exhibition at the Josephinum that, for the first time, focuses on Klimt’s allegories of life and his depictions of birth, life, and death. The exhibition features some of his works as well as medical-historical objects. (Exhibition view) – © Josephinum/Hinterramskogler

“Hermann Nitsch. 1960 to 1965”: The newly reopened and expanded Vienna Actionism Museum dedicates an exhibition to the early work of one of their key artist. It features Nitsch´s ‘Schüttbilder’ and ´Rinnbilder´ as well as relic montages and includes exhibits never shown before. (Exhibition view) – © Wiener Aktionismus Museum

The countdown is on for the Eurovision Song Contest on May 16 in Vienna: The exhibition “United by Queerness” at QWien Queer Center Vienna uses original objects to explore the queer history of the contest. (Exhibition view) – © QWien / Georg Hofbauer

“Unstoppable! Eurovision Song Contest Highlights at the Museum” at the Haus der Geschichte Österreich also showcases artifacts from the ESC history and explores how closely the contest has always been linked to changes in politics, identities, and society. (Conchita Wurst’s dress from her 2014 Eurovision victory) – © Markus Guschelbauer

Planned and developed in the 1970s and 1980s as a flood protection project, Vienna’s Danube Island has long turned into a major recreational paradise. The Wien Museum now dedicats a special exhibition to these “13 miles of freedom”. (Shore of the Danube Island) – © Photo: Klaus Pichler. Wien Museum

On the occasion of his 70th birthday: The MAK – Museum of Applied Arts shows the first exhibition on the work of Viennese fashion designer Helmut Lang. Called “Séance de Travail 1986–2005”, the museum presents key pieces from its own Helmut Lang archive. (Helmut Lang, proof copy of an advertisement for Art in America magazine) – © MAK Helmut Lang Archiv, LNI 566-9-5-1. Courtesy of hl-art

Starting April 3: “KAWS. Art & Comix” at the Albertina modern explores the interplay between comics, graphic novels, cartoons and art. The exhibition places the American artist KAWS in dialogue with selected contemporary works. (KAWS, Time Off, 2021) – © KAWS. Foto: Courtesy KAWS Studio

The "Klima Biennale" is taking place again from April 9 to May 10, with events all over Vienna. The festival’s main venue is the Kunst Haus Wien, which is hosting the exhibition “Seeds. Reclaiming Roots, Sowing Futures” - an exploration of the multifaceted meanings of seeds and seed stock. (Dominique Koch, Sowing the Seeds for the Future, video screenshot) – © Dominique Koch

In “Animalia. Of Animals and Humans,” the Heidi Horten Collection explores the complex relationship between humans and animals. Featuring over 100 works of art from the 20th and 21st centuries. (Roy Lichtenstein, Forest Scene, 1980) – © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein / Bildrecht Wien, 2026

In “The Global Power of Love. A Journey Through the Centuries” the Austrian National Library aims to highlight love as a source of artistic inspiration. Among the approximately 100 exhibits are historical love letters. (Piano score for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, 1809) – © Österreichische Nationalbibliothek

“Black Jews, White Jews. On Skin Color and Prejudice" at the Jewish Museum Vienna is currently addressing complex and sensitive issues regarding the colors of the skin. The exhibition features a mix of contemporary artworks and historical objects from the museum's collection. Until April 26. (Portrait of a young man, Jason Bard Yarmosky, 2018) – © Jorit Aust

“Documents of Injustice. The Case of Freud” at the Sigmund Freud Museum sheds light on the last months of the Freud family in Nazi occupied Vienna and the years that followed. Newly discovered documents complement this special exhibition. (Sigmund and his brother Alexander Freud, photo from Harry Freud's album, Grinzing, 1937) – © Sigmund Freud Museum

As part of its 25th anniversary, the WestLicht Museum is presenting the photo exhibition “Underwater,” which explores the ocean as both a subject of research and a place of longing. (Manfred Wakolbinger, fringed jellyfish) – © Manfred Wakolbinger

From April 16: The exhibition “Global – Neutral. Austrian Architecture in Africa and Asia, 1955-1989” at the Az W - Architekturzentrum Wien traces the work of Austrian architects who were active in African and Asian countries between 1955 and 1989, a period of global political upheaval. (Ottokar Uhl, Daegu Church and Pastoral Center, exterior view, 1965) – © Architekturzentrum Wien, Sammlung, Foto: Ottokar Uhl

“Monument of the City – Vienna City Hall”: A special exhibition, held at the Vienna City Library at the City Hall, is dedicated to the history of the building, which opened in 1883, and its builders. It remembers the 200th birthday of its architect, Friedrich von Schmidt. (Friedrich von Schmidt, facade view, 1870) – © Wien Museum

“250 Years of the Burgtheater – A Guest Performance by the Theatermuseum”: A special exhibition featuring posters, stage sets and costumes sheds light on the history of Vienna's famous Burgtheater. The exhibition can be viewed 45 minutes before the start of performances, during intermissions, and as part of guided tours. (Auditorium, 1888) – © KHM-Museumsverband, Theatermuseum

The Titanic is being brought back to life at the moment at Vienna´s Marx Hall. “The Legend of the Titanic – The Immersive Exhibition” combines cutting-edge technology with music, theater and visual effects. – © MAD

The best from Vienna's museums

You can find further information on current exhibitions and an overview of Vienna's art hotspots at Museums & Exhibitions

Always stay up to date

You can find numerous more exhibitions in Vienna and many other events in our event database - together with all the information you'll need for your visit.