Exhibitions During the Winter Olympics
With the upcoming Winter Olympics Milano-Cortina 2026 (February 6–22, 2026), Italy is preparing to offer not only top-level sports but also a rich cultural and artistic program that extends far beyond the ski slopes. Here are some of the exhibitions not to be missed during the Milano Cortina Olympics.
From contemporary installations to retrospectives of great masters and exhibitions exploring the relationship between art, nature, and sport, here are the unmissable events that transform this Olympic season into a unique opportunity for cultural discovery.
1. Anselm Kiefer. The Alchemists – Palazzo Reale, Milan
Palazzo Reale is at the center of the exhibition programming for the Milano Cortina Olympics. One of the most anticipated exhibitions in the official cultural program is dedicated to contemporary master Anselm Kiefer, set up in the evocative Sala delle Cariatidi of Palazzo Reale.
In this site-specific installation, over forty large canvases explore the themes of alchemy and memory, giving voice to forgotten female figures and intertwining myth, history, and painting material in an immersive and powerful way. The exhibition will be open from February 7 to September 27, 2026 as part of the Cultural Olympiad of Milano-Cortina 2026.
2. The Macchiaioli – Palazzo Reale, Milan
Also at Palazzo Reale, another unmissable exhibition celebrates the movement of Macchiaioli, pioneers of 19th-century Italian painting. With over 100 works, this major retrospective narrates the artistic evolution that anticipated many transformations in modern painting.
3. The Meaning of Snow – MUDEC Museo delle Culture, Milan
This multidisciplinary exhibition explores the cultural, natural, and artistic significance of snow, in line with the winter Olympic theme. Artistic pieces, contemporary installations, Japanese prints, and references to Arctic cultures engage in a suggestive dialogue about the winter landscape and climate change.
4. VETTE. Stories of Sport and Mountains – Palazzo Besta, Teglio (Sondrio)
For those traveling to the Lombard mountains or wanting to explore a more narrative side of the Olympics, this exhibition at Palazzo Besta tells the relationship between winter sports, alpine landscapes, and mountain culture. Open until August 30, 2026, it offers an original perspective on Italian mountain traditions.
5. Italy on Snow and other thematic exhibitions – Milan
In the context of the Olympic celebrations, Milan also hosts thematic exhibitions such as Italy on Snow, which investigates the iconography of winter sports through prints, posters, and historical graphic materials, along with other exhibitions dedicated to alpine landscapes or the artistic narration of sport.
6. Olympic Art and Design – Triennale Milano
In addition to exhibitions in traditional spaces, Triennale Milano proposes events related to design and Olympic culture, such as exhibitions of official Olympic posters created by young Italian artists and other projects related to the future of winter sports through design.
For all the museums and exhibitions in Milan, click here!
On Artsupp you will find the city's full calendar with opening hours and tickets.
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