Here are the main temporary art exhibitions in Madrid. Browse and find what is right for you!
With its temporary exhibitions Madrid confirms itself more and more as a city of the arts: not only the classical world and great museums, but an increasingly sophisticated focus on contemporary art and photography. After the wonderful exhibition dedicated to Magritte by the Museo Thyssen Bornemisza, Madrid continues to offer numerous temporary exhibitions.
In addition to the very rich permanent collections, both Madrid’s great museums and the spaces dedicated to temporary exhibitions offer a 360° look into the world of art of all times.
Here you will find a selection of current exhibitions in Madrid: browse through the proposals and choose what you like 🙂
So let’s have a look to the following lines!
THE LOST ECCE HOMO BY CARAVAGGIO AT THE PRADO MUSEUM
Until 23 February, 2025 the Prado Museum is showing the work Ecce Homo by the Italian master Caravaggio, a unique opportunity to see this painting of immense value exceptionally coming from a private collection.
The Ecce Homo constitutes one of the greatest discoveries in the history of art of this century, traced in 2021 in an auction house and authenticated by the greatest Caravaggio experts. After extensive research, a rigorous restoration and evaluation of the work’s materials and the conservation history of the painting was carried out, which reaffirmed the attribution to the Italian master.
URBAN ART RETROSPECTIVE
From 4 February to 3 May 2026, the Fundación Canal is hosting a retrospective exhibition on urban art, featuring over 60 works by Spanish and international artists.
The exhibition is organised chronologically, from the early days of urban graffiti to the development of a true contemporary artistic language through the works of Basquiat, Keith Haring, Blek le Rat, JR, Suso33, El Xuoet Negre and many others.
One room is dedicated to perhaps the most iconic artist on the contemporary scene, Banksy, and his works, in which contemporary art achieves a powerful communicative value, even in the political and social spheres.
WHERE: Fundacion Canal, Calle de Mateo Inurria, 2 (District: Castellana)
WHEN: until May the 3rd
METRO: Chamartín (L1, L10), Plaza de Castilla (L1, L9, L10)
FREE ENTRANCE
OPENING HOURS: Everyday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesday: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Vilhelm Hammershøi, the listening eye
The Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza is hosting the first retrospective dedicated to Danish artist Vilhelm Hammershøi (1864-1916) until 31 May 2026. The exhibition features around a hundred works that provide a broad and comprehensive overview of his work.
Through around 100 works, the exhibition reveals the cold and vaguely disturbing genius of this artist, who was much loved in his day but has gradually been forgotten.
His silent and peaceful interiors, precursors of Hopper’s works and in harmony with some of Balthus’s output, are immersed in ambiguous, almost glacial atmospheres, with figures seen from behind or distant in the shadows.
The subtitle of the exhibition, “el ojo que escucha” (the listening eye), refers precisely to silence as a fundamental component of his pictorial production and at the same time recalls the great passion for music that characterised this author.
A beautiful exhibition that we recommend you do not miss, given the rare opportunity to appreciate Hammershøi’s works outside his native land.
WHERE: Museum Thyssen Bornemisza, Paseo del Prado 8 (District: Paseo del Arte)
WHEN: until May the 31st
METRO: Banco de España (L2), Sevilla (L2)
TICKET: full price: 14 €; reduced 10 €; free entrance on Saturday from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
OPENING HOURS: From Tuesday to Friday and Suday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Oliver Laxe. HU/هُوَ. Dance as if no one is watching
Until 20 April 2026, the Reina Sofía Museum is hosting an interesting installation by director Oliver Laxe, winner of several Goya awards this year for his latest film, Sirat, which already won the Jury Prize at Cannes 2025.
The video installation is linked to the film, which tells the story of a father searching for his daughter at a rave, his encounters, and his journey between life and death in a desert space where the music booms louder than ever. Like the film, it is a work of great visual and emotional impact.
The presentation of this new work by Oliver Laxe also provides an opportunity to show a selection of other works by the author (feature films and experimental short films) that testify to the complexity and richness of his cinematic practice, in which the director often acts, demonstrating a personal involvement that is inseparable from the work.
WHEN: Until April the 20th
WHERE: Museum Reina Sofia, Calle de Santa Isabel, 52 (District: Paseo del Prado)
METRO: Atocha (L1), Estación del Arte (L1), Lavapiés (L3)
TICKETS: full tickets: 12€
OPENING HOURS: from Monday to Saturday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Close on Tuesday. Sunday: 10 a.m. – 2.30 p.m.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TEMPORARY ART EXHIBITIONS IN MADRID VISIT THE MADRID TOURIST WEBSITE