Sydney’s museum and gallery scene is set for a spectacular year in 2026, with a lineup for every art lover, history enthusiast and curious mind. From the Art Gallery of NSW’s blockbuster exhibitions and the Museum of Contemporary Art’s exciting First Nations-led lineup to groundbreaking openings at the new Powerhouse Parramatta, the city is brimming with creativity, culture and discovery.
We’ve picked out some of the best upcoming exhibitions that will define Sydney’s cultural calendar in 2026.
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Art Gallery of NSW
The Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) is currently thrilling visitors with the confronting yet incredible Encounters, an exhibition by famed Australian sculptor Ron Mueck. It’s a tough act to follow, but AGNSW’s 2026 lineup proves there’s plenty more to come, with a slate of free and ticketed exhibitions set to excite Sydney’s art lovers.
1. Super Nature
This free exhibition marks the start of AGNSW’s exciting 2026 calendar, exploring four thematic spaces: the intersections between people and the environment, the role of gardens as memorials, the wild nature that lives alongside (and sometimes within) us, plus the cultivation of nature for survival and sustenance.
Exciting new acquisitions will be shown for the first time, including four colourful paintings by Butcher Cherel Janangoo that tell of the medicinal properties of bush foods and their cultural significance to Gooniyandi people. New and exciting digital media will also be displayed, including teamLab’s computer-generated interactive animations Flowers and people – gold 2025 (pictured above), where flowers slowly bud, blossom, grow, and decay on digital screens.
Where: Art Gallery of NSW, Nalla Nura building, Lower level 2.
When: February 7, 2026, February 2027.
2. Avatar: Forms of Vishnu
This exhibition brings together a striking range of art and storytelling from South and Southeast Asia, celebrating Vishnu, the Hindu deity revered as the preserver of cosmic order. Meaning ‘descent’ in Sanskrit, Avatar describes the many forms Vishnu takes to descend from the heavens to restore balance on earth. Using a variety of media, from sculpture, paintings, textiles, photographs and films, this exhibition follows the ways artists have envisioned Vishnu’s various avatars, from Matsya the fish, Kurma the tortoise and the beloved Krishna.
The exhibition will showcase new works created specifically for the occasion by talented artists Desmond Lazaro, Gitanjali Das, Kalam Patua and Sumakshi Singh, alongside breathtaking contemporary and historical pieces from renowned collections around the world.
Where: Art Gallery of NSW, Naala Badu building, Lower level 2.
When: June 20- October 5, 2026.
3. Nolan: Origins
One of the leading Australian artists of the 20th century, Melbourne-born artist Sidney Nolan, is best known for his perceptive and enduring depictions of bush life in Australia, representing myths, histories, peoples and creatures. This October, AGNSW will display around 100 major works produced by Nolan before he relocated to the United Kingdom in 1953. Including his infamous series of paintings on bushranger Ned Kelly (1946-47), the exhibition will examine how Nolan interrogated the idea of ‘Australia’ through his depictions of St. Kilda, Wimmera, K’gari, Central Australia and north-eastern Victoria.
Where: Art Gallery of NSW, Naala Nura Building, Lower level 2.
When: October 3, 2026- February 7, 2027.
Museum of Contemporary Art
The MCA’s jam-packed 2026 program brings together more than 50 artists from Australia and around the world, showcased across 10 powerful new exhibitions and three major new artist commissions. With a focus on First Nations artists and multidiscplinary activations, the museum is ready to draw in both tourists and locals to its prime location in Circular Quay.
4. Tony Albert: Not a Souvenir
Headlining the MCA’s winter season is Tony Albert, who presents his largest exhibition to date, spanning a wide range of media. One of Australia’s most prominent First Nations artists, Albert is known for his incisive, often humorous work that challenges stereotypes and representations of Aboriginal people.
Tony Albert: Not a Souvenir brings together works across sculpture, photography, installation, painting and assemblage, alongside significant new commissions. The exhibition examines the commodification and misrepresentation of Aboriginal people and culture, while powerfully affirming First Nations’ survival, resilience and cultural pride, cementing Albert’s reputation as one of the most fearless and influential voices in Australian contemporary art.
Where: Museum of Contemporary Art, 140 George St, The Rocks NSW 2000.
When: May 21- October 19.
5. Circular Quay Foyer Commission: John Prince Siddon
Walmajarri man of the Great Sandy Desert, Western Australia, John Prince Siddon, has been selected to create a work of art for the annual 2026 MCA Circular Quay Foyer Commission. This temporary site-specific, 15-metre-long work occupies the Museum’s Circular Quay entrance wall and overlooks the view of Sydney Harbour.
Siddon’s work will pop-up in the east coast of Australia for the first time ever, bringing his vibrant, surrealist style to the MCA. Siddon is influenced by the traditional craft of boab nut carving, combining desert iconography, personal narratives and ancestral creation stories with imagery inspired by global current affairs. He challenges conventional notions of Indigenous painting with his work, using art to offer commentary on issues ranging from climate change, endangered species, war, politics and the destruction of sacred sites.
Where: Ground Floor and Level 1 Foyer, Museum of Contemporary Art.
When: April 24, 2026- June 21, 2027.
6. Primavera 2026: Young Australian Artists
Primavera: Young Australian Artists is MCA’s annual exhibition showcasing emerging Australian talents aged 35 and under. The exhibition has showcased the works of over 250 artists since 1992, launching the careers of some of Australia’s most significant contemporary artists. Although no details have been given about this year’s selected artists and works, this year’s Primavera will be curated by MCA Australia Assistant Curator Antares Wells.
Where: South Galleries, Museum of Contemporary Art.
When: July 10- October 26.
7. Loti Smorgon Sculpture Terrace Commission: Nell
Australian artist Nell, whose history with the MCA stretches back to her first exhibition in Primavera: Young Australian Artists in 1999, will create a new sculptural work for MCA Australia’s Loti Smorgon Sculpture Terrace Commission. Known for her signature style, which combines religious iconography, rock ‘n’ roll aesthetics and Buddhist philosophy, the artist is sure to bring something fresh, funky and poignant to the roof terrace this winter.
Where: Level 4 Sculpture Terrace, Museum of Contemporary Art.
When: August 26, 2026- August 23, 2027.
8. Robyn Kahukiwa: My Ancestors Are Always With Me
The MCA presents the first major Australian exhibition of Sydney-born Robyn Kahukiwa (1938-2025 Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti, Ngāti Konohi, Te Whānau-a-Ruataupare), a vibrant and resilient display of her works to be held only a short time after her passing.
One of Aotearoa New Zealand’s preeminent painters, Kahukiwa focuses on Māori life, culture and politics. A recurring theme within her work is the status of Māori women, where she portrays them as nurturers, deities, warriors, leaders, activists, and superheroes: symbols of strength and resilience for Indigenous women across the world. The exhibition speaks to the experience of Indigenous people globally and their struggle for identity, while dealing with the impact of land and language loss, migration and urbanisation.
Where: South Gallery, Museum of Contemporary Art.
When: October 14, 2026- February 7, 2027.
Powerhouse Parramatta
A hugely exciting new addition to Sydney’s cultural scene, Powerhouse Parramatta is set to open in late 2026, making it the largest cultural development in Sydney since the Sydney Opera House. We can’t wait to check out the new museum, which will also become the first major cultural institution to be established in Western Sydney.
9. Task Eternal
Task Eternal will be the ambitious opening exhibition of Powerhouse Parramatta when the landmark $1.4 billion development is realised in late 2026. The exhibition, which was developed over four years, is pitched as an “expansive and immersive” exhibition that tracks one of the most ambitious endeavours in history. It will use various cutting-edge technologies and large-scale works to trace humanity’s persistence in defying gravity, taking flight, and exploring the vastness that exists far beyond our planet.
More than 600 objects will be spread across 2200 square metres of exhibition space in the museum’s largest area, its 18-metre-high PS1. Some very exciting featured objects include Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg’s spacesuit (on public display for the very first time), a prototype of Roo-ver, 1914 Bleriot XI monoplane (one of the world’s earliest aircraft) and the Kosmosuit, a next-gen smart spacesuit developed by an Australian start-up.
Where: 34/47 Phillip St, Parramatta NSW 2150.
When: Late 2026 (the museum has not officially announced its opening date yet).
Museums of History NSW
The Museums of History NSW is the custodian of 12 properties across NSW, but we’re spotlighting what’s on at their Sydney sites this year. From the exciting new upgrades at Hyde Park Barracks to the Museum of Sydney’s remarkable collection of artefacts from Australia’s first Government House, these are two museum experiences you won’t want to miss.
10. Hyde Park Barracks
You might not be familiar with Hyde Park Barracks, but after recent major upgrades, it has become a must-visit museum experience in 2026. Oh, and the best part? It’s completely free!
The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hyde Park Barracks received a major technology upgrade, featuring upgraded geolocational audio technology that seamlessly responds to visitors’ movements, triggering layered soundscapes, evocative visuals and compelling narratives. Stories unfold around visitors as they wander the Barracks’ storied walls, moving through more than 200 years of history. At the heart of the enhanced experience is an archaeological collection of more than 4000 artefacts on display, forming some of the best-preserved examples of 19th century institutional life in the world.
Where: Hyde Park Barracks, Queen’s Square, Macquarie Street.
When: Open daily, 10am-6pm.
11. The Museum of Sydney: Unearthed
Unearthed reveals the extraordinary stories hidden beneath the site of Australia’s first Government House in the heart of Sydney’s CBD. The exhibition showcases a selection of artefacts from around 140,000 objects that were excavated between 1983 and 1991 on one of Sydney’s most historically layered sites.
Among the incredible objects are the delicate remains of Australia’s first printing press, wine bottles repurposed into tools by First Nations people and elaborately decorated crockery. Accompanying the artefacts are original footage of the digs, interviews with those who worked on the site, and First Nations perspectives on the importance of key objects to Aboriginal communities.
Where: Museum of Sydney, corner of Bridge and Phillip streets, Sydney.
When: Opened on December 5, continuing to show throughout 2026.
Biennale of Sydney: various locations
One of Australia’s leading contemporary art events, the Biennale of Sydney returns for a major milestone: its 25th anniversary. Renowned for providing a platform for bold ideas and boundary-pushing art, the Biennale is celebrated for commissioning and presenting extraordinary works from Australia and across the globe, having showcased more than 2400 national and international artists from over 130 countries.
12. Biennale of Sydney 25th Anniversary
Its 25th edition will be titled Rememory, and is set to be presented completely free to the public from March 14 to June 14. The title Rememory is inspired by celebrated author Toni Morrison, exploring the intersection of memory and history as a means of revisiting, reconstructing, and reclaiming histories that have been erased or repressed.
This year, the Biennale will expand its reach across five major exhibition sites: White Bay Power Station, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney, Campbelltown Arts Centre, and Penrith Regional Gallery, giving access to the exhibition to visitors all over Sydney.
Where: White Bay Power Station, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney, Campbelltown Arts Centre, and Penrith Regional Gallery.
When: March 14-June 14, 2026.
