Exhibitions not to be missed in Bologna during the ArteFiera and ArtCity 2026 weekend

Thanks to the 49th edition of ArteFiera, Bologna returns to being a cultural epicentre of primary importance in the contemporary art scene. Alongside the fair itself, which will open its doors to the public with its usual vernissage on Thursday 5 February, the ArtCity programme, promoted by the Municipality and the Civic Museums, offers numerous events in the heart of the city. Let's discover the main and most significant ones together.

Galleria Cavour returns to the forefront of the art scene with the photographic exhibition “Marco Glaviano – Fashion portraits”, which, in the setting of Palazzo Vassé Pietramellara, will host more than one hundred works by the famous photographer, a renowned fashion portraitist, enriching the exhibition with an area dedicated to the genius of Helmut Newton.

The exhibition, curated by Contemporary Concept and Deodato Art Gallery, is sponsored by Gioia Martini. It will be open until 4 April and will open on Wednesday 4 February with an exclusive cocktail party hosted by Eleonora Abbagnato. Tickets for the exhibition can be purchased on TicketOne. In the nearby Casa Morandi, meanwhile, within the walls of the home-studio that has now become an acclaimed museum, the works of Concetto Pozzati dialogue with those of the famous owner. This is a precious and intimate comparison between two masters of the 20th century: truly unmissable.

At the Pinacoteca Nazionale, a dialogue between historical and contemporary works comes to life thanks to the “More than this” project curated by Daniele Capra and presented by the Coppola Foundation. This is how we realise that central themes such as the body, devotion and power have always been at the heart of human questions, even centuries later.

The MAMbo museum becomes the setting for the world of John Giorno, a poet and artist who transformed words into a physical experience. In a context dominated by audio recordings that fill the space, archival documents and surprising works, visitors will be guided on a journey of discovery of how poetry can live beyond the pages of writing.

Palazzo de’ Toschi hosts “Francisco Tropa – Miss America”: an exhibition with a strong conceptual impact that showcases the works of the renowned Portuguese artist, famous for his sculptures as much as for his experimental performances. The former church of San Nicolò is set to be one of the most evocative stops of the weekend, especially in the evening atmosphere.

With installations, light displays and site-specific works, all the exhibitions vibrate in the emptiness of the location's unfinished parts. The MAST Foundation confirms its status as the nerve centre of the international art scene with another major photographic exhibition dedicated to Jeff Wall. The centre stage is dominated by images by the renowned artist, famous for his ability to convey great emotional and social tension through his photographs. The luxury hotel industry is not standing idly by either: I Portici Hotel is hosting “Future Food”, a project dedicated to the transformation of food between technology and nature.

All these exhibitions, as well as the many others taking place around the city, demonstrate how Bologna continues to be a place of knowledge, encounter and experimentation, confirming its centuries-old cultural tradition.

Ph: Marco Glaviano, "Cindy Crawford", 1989 (ufficio stampa Contemporary Project)