Contemporary Art Exhibitions Not to Miss in Summer 2026
Summer 2026 brings an outstanding programme of exhibitions and cultural events by Fondazione Prada, spanning Milan and Venice with a rich selection of contemporary art exhibitions, immersive installations, cinema, new technologies and interdisciplinary research. During the Venice Biennale, the Foundation’s venues host some of the season’s most compelling exhibitions, bringing together artworks, photography, sculptures, paintings, video works and large-scale installations by internationally acclaimed artists.
From the main venue at Largo Isarco to the Osservatorio in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and Ca’ Corner della Regina in Venice, visitors are invited to explore projects addressing some of today’s most pressing issues, including artificial intelligence, climate change, collective memory, technological innovation and the transformation of contemporary society.
Fondazione PRADA, Milano, Via Ripamonti - Largo Isarco area. Photo by DesignerToparchitect Wikimedia Commons, license CC BY-SA 4.0
Cao Fei Explores the Future of Agriculture with Dash
On view in Milan until 28 September, Dash is Cao Fei’s new multimedia project, developed through extensive research conducted across rural regions of China and Southeast Asia.
Combining photography, documentary films, virtual reality, video installations and archival materials, the exhibition investigates how drones, algorithms and intelligent technologies are reshaping the relationship between people, nature and agricultural production.
The immersive installation transforms the Podium into an environment featuring a granary, a plantation, a temple and workstations dedicated to smart farming technologies, encouraging visitors to reflect on climate change, rural depopulation and the growing digitalisation of agriculture.
Cao Fei, Dash, 2026. Multimedia installation Dimensions variable
Courtesy of the artist, Vitamin Creative Space and Sprüth Magers
Mona Hatoum: Installations Between Balance and Instability
Also in Milan, visitors can experience Over, under and in between until 9 November, Mona Hatoum’s site-specific installation created for the Cisterna spaces.
The exhibition unfolds through three distinct environments centred on recurring elements in the artist’s visual language—spider webs, maps and grids—which become metaphors for vulnerability, borders and spatial perception.
Among the highlights are a monumental suspended spider web made of hand-blown glass spheres, a world map composed of more than 30,000 translucent red glass spheres, and a towering kinetic metal structure that continuously oscillates between collapse and reconstruction. Although not traditional sculptures, these installations engage deeply with sculptural language, transforming the exhibition space into a powerful immersive experience.
Cinema Godard Presents the Best of the Season
Until 12 July, Cinema Godard continues its #Flashback programme, bringing back some of the most acclaimed films screened during the previous season.
The programme includes works by directors such as Jafar Panahi, Joachim Trier, Richard Linklater, Lynne Ramsay and Jean-Luc Godard before the summer break, with screenings resuming on 4 September.
Hito Steyerl Brings Science Fiction and Artificial Intelligence to the Osservatorio
At the Osservatorio in Milan, visitors can discover The Island until 30 October, Hito Steyerl’s ambitious exhibition exploring the connections between science fiction, ecology, archaeology and artificial intelligence.
Structured into four thematic chapters, the project combines video installations, 3D scans, interviews, scientific materials and references to popular culture.
Through this multimedia approach, the artist examines the relationship between technological innovation, environmental crises and the imaginative potential of speculative narratives.
Fondazione Prada Venice photo by Delfino Sisto Legnani and Marco Cappelletti
Venice Takes Centre Stage During the Biennale with Arthur Jafa and Richard Prince
One of the highlights of the season is undoubtedly Fondazione Prada’s Venetian venue. At Ca’ Corner della Regina, during the Venice Biennale, visitors can experience Helter Skelter: Arthur Jafa and Richard Prince, curated by Nancy Spector and on view until 23 November.
The exhibition brings together two leading figures of American contemporary art, presenting more than fifty artworks, including photography, video installations, sculptures and paintings.
The project explores the role of images in American culture while addressing themes such as identity, racism, violence, consumerism and the construction of collective imagination.
Arthur Jafa focuses on the African American experience, while Richard Prince investigates the darker side of white American culture through advertising, popular imagery and artistic appropriation. Their dialogue makes this one of the most significant exhibitions taking place in Venice during the Biennale.
Autumn Exhibitions: Antiquity, Urban Space and Neuroscience
Following the summer season, Fondazione Prada will launch a new programme of major exhibitions.
From 5 November 2026, Milan’s Podium will host Global Antiquity, curated by Salvatore Settis and Anna Anguissola, exploring the cultural connections between the Mediterranean, East Africa and Asia in the ancient world. The exhibition challenges traditional historical narratives by highlighting networks of exchange, migration and cultural interaction.
From 3 December, the Osservatorio will present a new project by Cyprien Gaillard focusing on public space, cultural heritage and the ongoing transformation and privatisation of urban environments.
Alongside these exhibitions, Fondazione Prada will continue its interdisciplinary programme with a new edition of Human Brains, as well as musical performances and special events in both Milan and Venice, reinforcing its role as one of the world’s leading institutions for contemporary art, research and cultural innovation.
Bringing together installations, sculptures, photography, paintings, cinema and emerging technologies, Fondazione Prada’s venues in Milan and Venice offer one of the most compelling cultural programmes of the season, making them essential destinations during the Venice Biennale and beyond.
*All images on this blog are used for educational and critical purposes only. Credits and copyrights belong to their respective owners and authors. The gallery remains at the disposal of the rightsholders for any corrections, specific citations, or immediate removals upon request.
