Exhibition highlights in December

The museums in Vienna are home to spectacular art exhibitions that are just waiting to be discovered. Let yourself be wowed by these new exhibitions.

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21 pictures

Claude Monet: Ice Floes in Twilight, 1893 — Selected masterpieces of French Impressionism are currently on display in Austria for the first time - at the Lower Belvedere as part of “Cézanne, Monet, Renoir. French Impressionism from the Museum Langmatt”. The artworks belong to the collection of the Villa Langmatt outside Zurich, which is currently undergoing renovation. (Claude Monet, Ice Floes at Twilight, 1893) – © Museum Langmatt, Stiftung Langmatt Sidney und Jenny Brown, Baden, Schweiz

Marina Abramović, from the performance Freeing the Voice, 1975 — “Marina Abramović”: The Albertina modern is currently hosting a major retrospective dedicated to the world-known Serbian artist. It explores her most important performances and some of them are being reenacted live. (Marina Abramović, Performance Freeing the Voice, 1975) – © Courtesy of the Marina Abramović Archives / Bildrecht, Wien 2025

Painting by Michaelina Wautier, Der Triumph des Bacchus, 1655-59 — The Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna shines a spotlight on a great but long-forgotten female Flemish Baroque artist in its special exhibition “Michaelina Wautier, Painter”. Almost all of Wautier’s surviving works are on display for the first time. (Michaelina Wautier, The Triumph of Bacchus, 1655–59) – © KHM-Museumsverband

Poster featuring an advertisement regarding Viennese designer Helmut Lang — On the occasion of his 70th birthday: Starting on December 10, 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

Painting by Vicent van Gogh, Skull of a Skeleton with burning Cigarette, 1886 — “Gothic Modern. Munch, Beckmann, Kollwitz”: Modernism meets Gothic art in the Albertina’s major fall exhibition. Around 200 artworks demonstrate that art superstars such as Vincent van Gogh, Gustav Klimt, Edvard Munch, Egon Schiele and Max Beckmann found inspiration in the dark Middle Ages. (Vincent van Gogh, Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette, 1886) – © Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

Photograph of the St. Marx slaughterhouse with meat products, around 1926 — Meat has been a disputed topic in Vienna for centuries. The Wien Museum´s special exhibition “Meat” currently traces the history of Viennese meat from the stable to our plates. (St. Marx slaughterhouse, air transport for meat, around 1926) – © Birgit und Peter Kainz, Wien Museum

Painting by Edvard Munch, Melancholie, 1892 — Around 1900, many artists turned to esotericism or nature. “Hidden Modernism. Fascination with the Occult around 1900” documents, for the first time, at the Leopold Museum the unique blend of art and spirituality in an extensive overview exhibition. (Edvard Munch, Melancholy, 1892) – © Nasjonalmuseet for kunst, arkitektur og design, The Fine Art Collections, Foto: Nasjonalmuseet/Børre Høstland

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

Artwork by Tobias Pils Night on Earth, 2018 — The exhibition “Shh” about the Upper Austrian artist Tobias Pils marks an impressive farewell for Karola Kraus, who served as Director General of the mumok - Museum of Modern Art for 15 years. (Tobias Pils, Night on Earth, 2018) – © Tobias Pils

Painting by Paul Klee, Siblings, 1930 — The Heidi Horten Collection is currently presenting “The Line”, showing how lines have inspired artists for centuries, from drawings to sculptures. Featuring works by Paul Klee, Gustav Klimt, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and many others. (Paul Klee, Siblings, 1930) – © Bildrecht, Wien, 2023

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. (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 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

Photo of the Vienna State Opera construction site in 1955 — The beginning of November marked the 70th anniversary of the reopening of the Vienna State Opera after its destruction during World War II. An exhibition in the balcony gallery commemorates this event with photos and objects. Accessible to opera goers before performances and during intermissions, as well as on selected dates. (Vienna State Opera construction site, 1955) – © Votava - brandstaetter images - picturedesk.com

Photograph, Ágnes Dénes, Wheatfield, A Confrontation: Battery Park Landfill, Downtown Manhattan, 1982 — “Science/Fiction – A Non-History of Plants” at the Foto Arsenal Wien explores the history of plants in photography - from the beginnings to the influence that AI has on today´s images. Featuring the work of 40 artists. (Ágnes Dénes, Wheatfield, A Confrontation: Battery Park Landfill, Downtown Manhattan, 1982) – © Ágnes Dénes Courtesy Leslie Tonkonow Artworks + Projects, New York

Artwork by Julius von Bismarck, Talking to Thunder (Palm Tree), 2017 — German artist Julius von Bismarck explores environmental extremes and captures them in his art. The Kunst Haus Wien currently dedicates a comprehensive exhibition entitled “Julius von Bismarck. Normality bias” to him. (Julius von Bismarck, Talking to Thunder (Palm Tree), 2017) – © Julius von Bismarck, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2025

Vienna Furniture Museum, exhibition view, Josef Frank and the others — “Josef Frank and the Others. New Furniture 1920–1940”: a special exhibition at the Furniture Museum Vienna takes place to mark the architect’s 140th birthday and the 100th anniversary of the Viennese interior design company Haus & Garten. (Exhibition view) – © SKB

Artwork by VALIE EXPORT — The exhibition “You should form your own picture” at the Künstlerhaus takes a look at the relationship between art and religion. With works by Marina Abramović, VALIE EXPORT, Hermann Nitsch, and numerous other contemporary artists. (VALIE EXPORT, The Birth Madonna, 1976) – © VALIE EXPORT/Bildrecht Wien 2025

Model of a house — In its special exhibition “Architecture and Medicine” the Josephinum addresses Vienna´s buildings dedicated to medicine located in the 9th district from its beginnings to the present day. Historical and contemporary photographs show how medical progress has shaped hospital architecture. (Model of the Josephinum) – © Josephinum/Bene Croy

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

Aerial view of the Machu Picchu ruins in the Peruvian Andes, surrounded by misty mountains. — New at the Danube Tower: the international VR exhibition “Machu Picchu: Journey to the Lost City – The Immersive Experience” at the foot of Vienna's landmark. This virtual expedition explores the Incas and combines culture, technology, and emotion as well as history and myth. (Machu Picchu, VR experience) – © 2025 FEVER

Selected masterpieces of French Impressionism are currently on display in Austria for the first time - at the Lower Belvedere as part of “Cézanne, Monet, Renoir. French Impressionism from the Museum Langmatt”. The artworks belong to the collection of the Villa Langmatt outside Zurich, which is currently undergoing renovation. (Claude Monet, Ice Floes at Twilight, 1893) – © Museum Langmatt, Stiftung Langmatt Sidney und Jenny Brown, Baden, Schweiz

“Marina Abramović”: The Albertina modern is currently hosting a major retrospective dedicated to the world-known Serbian artist. It explores her most important performances and some of them are being reenacted live. (Marina Abramović, Performance Freeing the Voice, 1975) – © Courtesy of the Marina Abramović Archives / Bildrecht, Wien 2025

The Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna shines a spotlight on a great but long-forgotten female Flemish Baroque artist in its special exhibition “Michaelina Wautier, Painter”. Almost all of Wautier’s surviving works are on display for the first time. (Michaelina Wautier, The Triumph of Bacchus, 1655–59) – © KHM-Museumsverband

On the occasion of his 70th birthday: Starting on December 10, 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

“Gothic Modern. Munch, Beckmann, Kollwitz”: Modernism meets Gothic art in the Albertina’s major fall exhibition. Around 200 artworks demonstrate that art superstars such as Vincent van Gogh, Gustav Klimt, Edvard Munch, Egon Schiele and Max Beckmann found inspiration in the dark Middle Ages. (Vincent van Gogh, Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette, 1886) – © Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

Meat has been a disputed topic in Vienna for centuries. The Wien Museum´s special exhibition “Meat” currently traces the history of Viennese meat from the stable to our plates. (St. Marx slaughterhouse, air transport for meat, around 1926) – © Birgit und Peter Kainz, Wien Museum

Around 1900, many artists turned to esotericism or nature. “Hidden Modernism. Fascination with the Occult around 1900” documents, for the first time, at the Leopold Museum the unique blend of art and spirituality in an extensive overview exhibition. (Edvard Munch, Melancholy, 1892) – © Nasjonalmuseet for kunst, arkitektur og design, The Fine Art Collections, Foto: Nasjonalmuseet/Børre Høstland

“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

The exhibition “Shh” about the Upper Austrian artist Tobias Pils marks an impressive farewell for Karola Kraus, who served as Director General of the mumok - Museum of Modern Art for 15 years. (Tobias Pils, Night on Earth, 2018) – © Tobias Pils

The Heidi Horten Collection is currently presenting “The Line”, showing how lines have inspired artists for centuries, from drawings to sculptures. Featuring works by Paul Klee, Gustav Klimt, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and many others. (Paul Klee, Siblings, 1930) – © Bildrecht, Wien, 2023

“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. (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

“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 beginning of November marked the 70th anniversary of the reopening of the Vienna State Opera after its destruction during World War II. An exhibition in the balcony gallery commemorates this event with photos and objects. Accessible to opera goers before performances and during intermissions, as well as on selected dates. (Vienna State Opera construction site, 1955) – © Votava - brandstaetter images - picturedesk.com

“Science/Fiction – A Non-History of Plants” at the Foto Arsenal Wien explores the history of plants in photography - from the beginnings to the influence that AI has on today´s images. Featuring the work of 40 artists. (Ágnes Dénes, Wheatfield, A Confrontation: Battery Park Landfill, Downtown Manhattan, 1982) – © Ágnes Dénes Courtesy Leslie Tonkonow Artworks + Projects, New York

German artist Julius von Bismarck explores environmental extremes and captures them in his art. The Kunst Haus Wien currently dedicates a comprehensive exhibition entitled “Julius von Bismarck. Normality bias” to him. (Julius von Bismarck, Talking to Thunder (Palm Tree), 2017) – © Julius von Bismarck, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2025

“Josef Frank and the Others. New Furniture 1920–1940”: a special exhibition at the Furniture Museum Vienna takes place to mark the architect’s 140th birthday and the 100th anniversary of the Viennese interior design company Haus & Garten. (Exhibition view) – © SKB

The exhibition “You should form your own picture” at the Künstlerhaus takes a look at the relationship between art and religion. With works by Marina Abramović, VALIE EXPORT, Hermann Nitsch, and numerous other contemporary artists. (VALIE EXPORT, The Birth Madonna, 1976) – © VALIE EXPORT/Bildrecht Wien 2025

In its special exhibition “Architecture and Medicine” the Josephinum addresses Vienna´s buildings dedicated to medicine located in the 9th district from its beginnings to the present day. Historical and contemporary photographs show how medical progress has shaped hospital architecture. (Model of the Josephinum) – © Josephinum/Bene Croy

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

New at the Danube Tower: the international VR exhibition “Machu Picchu: Journey to the Lost City – The Immersive Experience” at the foot of Vienna's landmark. This virtual expedition explores the Incas and combines culture, technology, and emotion as well as history and myth. (Machu Picchu, VR experience) – © 2025 FEVER

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

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