January 2026 was a busy month for museum openings. The Metropolitan Museum of Art presented "The Infinite Artistry of Japanese Ceramics," running from 19 January 2026 to 8 August 2027, tracing more than 13,000 years of ceramic artistry in Japan from its Neolithic origins to the country's dynamic contemporary art scene, with approximately 350 works in three rotations drawn mostly from The Met collection. Louvre Abu Dhabi opened "Picasso, the Figure" on 21 January 2026, a focused yet wide-ranging examination of the artist famed for reshaping how the human body could be seen, imagined, and fractured in modern art, featuring works from the Musée National Picasso in Paris and running until 31 May. The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark opened "Basquiat: Headstrong" on 30 January, the first comprehensive showing devoted to the artist's depictions of the human head, focusing predominantly on works produced from 1981 to 1983, when a 22-year-old Basquiat said "I suppose I would start with a head." Tate Modern announced details of "Frida: the Making of an Icon," running from 25 June 2026 to 3 January 2027, including more than 30 works by Kahlo exhibited alongside photographs and personal artefacts, with "Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird" (1940) shown in the UK for the first time. The National Galleries of Scotland continued the annual "Turner in January" tradition. Tate Britain's "Turner and Constable: Rivals and Originals" was on view through 12 April. MoMA PS1 announced "Greater New York 2026," opening 16 April, the sixth edition of the museum's signature survey of artists living and working in the New York City area, featuring 53 artists and collectives.
January is an overlooked month for art. The major spring exhibitions, the Met Costume Institute, Frieze, the Venice Biennale, dominate the calendar from March onward. But January has its own rhythm. Museums open shows that are quieter, more scholarly, and often more interesting than the blockbusters that follow. This guide covers what opened at major museums in January 2026, including the Met, Tate, Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Louisiana Museum, the National Galleries of Scotland, MoMA PS1, and what to watch for in the coming months. For more on approaching unfamiliar work, see our guide to how to look at art.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. On 19 January 2026, The Met presented "The Infinite Artistry of Japanese Ceramics," tracing "more than 13,000 years of ceramic artistry in Japan, from its Neolithic origins to the country's dynamic contemporary art scene" with "approximately 350 works in three rotations" (The Met). Image via Wikimedia Commons
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Japanese Ceramics and the Spring Program
"The Infinite Artistry of Japanese Ceramics" runs from 19 January 2026 to 8 August 2027. It traces more than 13,000 years of ceramic artistry in Japan, from its Neolithic origins to the country's dynamic contemporary art scene, according to The Met. The exhibition presents approximately 350 works in three rotations, drawn mostly from The Met collection, focusing on works from the Harry G. C. Packard Collection in honor of the 50th anniversary of the landmark acquisition. It is organized across 10 thematic galleries, covering monochrome wares such as elegant early Japanese celadons, ceramics repaired with kintsugi (gold joinery), whimsical blue-and-white porcelains adorned with flowers and insects, and exquisite examples of Nabeshima ware, once produced exclusively for the Tokugawa shogunate.
The Met also announced its spring 2026 program on 26 March. The headline is the first comprehensive, international loan exhibition in the United States on Renaissance master Raphael, widely considered to be one of the greatest artists of all time, bringing together more than 200 of the artist's greatest masterpieces and rarely seen treasures. Also coming: "Costume Art," opening 10 May, the inaugural exhibition in the new nearly 12,000-square-foot galleries adjacent to the Great Hall. "Musical Bodies," opening 7 June, is the first major exhibition to explore the multifaceted relationship between musical instruments and the human body. "Lillian Bassman: Bazaar and Beyond" runs through 26 July. "Gothic by Design: The Dawn of Architectural Draftsmanship" opens 16 April. The Met's director Max Hollein said: "The Infinite Artistry of Japanese Ceramics illuminates the profound ingenuity and aesthetic diversity that are the hallmarks of Japanese ceramics."
Tate: Frida Kahlo, Turner and Constable, and the 2026 Program
"Frida: the Making of an Icon" was announced in January 2026 and opens at Tate Modern on 25 June 2026, running to 3 January 2027. The curators highlighted the late Mexican artist's "impact on women artists across Mexico, the Americas and Europe from 1970 to today," according to The Art Newspaper. More than 30 works by Kahlo will be exhibited alongside photographs and personal artefacts. Key works include "Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird" (1940), shown in the UK for the first time, "My Dress Hangs There" (1933-38), and "The Frame" (1938). The exhibition will travel from the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, where it is on show until 17 May. It is sponsored by Bank of America.
"Turner and Constable: Rivals and Originals" at Tate Britain ran through 12 April 2026. Monocle called it "the richest, most satisfying thing that I've seen hung on London's walls in a while." A cold day in January might have you hankering to explore the drama of the Alpine sublime as Turner captured it. When spring starts to bud, your eye might long for Constable's English pastoral. Tate Britain's 2026 program will also explore the legacy of Bloomsbury Group members Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, and tell the story of the 90s in a show curated by Edward Enninful. For more on specific works, see our guide to famous paintings.
Frida Kahlo. Tate Modern announced in January 2026 that "Frida: the Making of an Icon" (25 June 2026 to 3 January 2027) will include "more than 30 works by Kahlo exhibited alongside photographs and personal artefacts," including "Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird (1940), shown in the UK for the first time" (The Art Newspaper). Image via Wikimedia Commons
Louvre Abu Dhabi: Picasso, the Figure
"Picasso, the Figure" opened at Louvre Abu Dhabi on 21 January 2026 and runs to 31 May. A new exhibition, titled "Picasso, the Figure," offers a focused yet wide-ranging examination of the artist famed for reshaping how the human body could be seen, imagined, and fractured in modern art, according to The National. Featuring works from the Musée National Picasso in Paris, the show explores seven decades of his art and its influence on the world. Louvre Abu Dhabi continues to establish itself as a major cultural destination in the Gulf. With Art Basel Qatar opening in February 2026 and Frieze Abu Dhabi announced for November 2026, the UAE is becoming a significant node in the global art world. For more on the broader calendar, see our guide to the art fairs calendar.
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art: Basquiat Headstrong
"Basquiat: Headstrong" opened at the Louisiana Museum on 30 January and runs to 17 May 2026. It is the first comprehensive showing devoted to the artist's depictions of the human head, focusing predominantly on works produced from 1981 to 1983, according to The Art Newspaper. When a 22-year-old Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-88) was asked how he typically began a piece, his answer was simple: "I suppose I would start with a head." That instinct, almost a reflex, sits at the core of a remarkable group of early works on paper that remained largely unseen during his lifetime. The exhibition brings them to light for the first time in a comprehensive showing. The Louisiana Museum, in Humlebæk, Denmark, is one of Europe's most respected modern art museums. Its exhibitions are scholarly, ambitious, and often surprising. For more on what is current, see our guide to contemporary art trends.
Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988). "When a 22-year-old Basquiat was asked how he typically began a piece, his answer was simple: 'I suppose I would start with a head.' That instinct, almost a reflex, sits at the core of a remarkable group of early works on paper" (The Art Newspaper). "Basquiat: Headstrong" opened 30 January at the Louisiana Museum. Image via Wikimedia Commons
National Galleries of Scotland: Turner in January
The much-loved "Turner in January" exhibition returned to the National Galleries of Scotland in January 2026. The free, annual display of these watercolours is a keenly awaited tradition for many people in Scotland. At the dawning of the New Year, as we leave behind the darkest days of winter, the bright vitality of Turner's watercolours is just what we need, according to the National Galleries of Scotland. Left to the nation by the great art collector Henry Vaughan in 1900, the watercolours have been displayed annually, following Vaughan's strict guidelines, that they are only ever displayed during the month of January, when natural light levels are at their lowest. This constraint protects the fragile works from excessive light exposure and has turned the display into a beloved annual ritual. 2026 also offered the unique opportunity to see Turner's "Norham Castle, Sunrise" in Edinburgh, as the work was on special loan from Tate later in the year.
Some traditions are worth keeping. The Turner in January display has been running for over a century, following Vaughan's guidelines. In an era when museums constantly reinvent themselves, the continuity of this display, same month, same watercolours, same guidelines, is a quiet act of faith. For more on Turner and the prize named after him, see our guide to the Turner Prize.
MoMA PS1: Greater New York 2026 Announcement
MoMA PS1 announced "Greater New York 2026," opening 16 April. It is the sixth edition of the museum's signature survey of artists living and working in the New York City area, featuring 53 artists and collectives. Opening on 16 April 2026, this iteration spans the entirety of the building and features over 150 works, including site-specific installations, new productions, performances, and recent works, most of which have never before been exhibited. In celebration of the museum's 50th anniversary, the quinquennial exhibition is organized for the first time by the full MoMA PS1 curatorial team. Forefronting the perspectives of early and mid-career artists, "Greater New York 2026" emphasizes the forces that shape daily life in the city today, as well as strategies of resistance and adaptation in the face of increased surveillance, accelerating technologies, and system breakdown. A performance program premieres works by eight artists over three dates in May and June: 2 May, 30 May, and 26 June 2026. For more on what is current, see our guide to contemporary art trends.
What to Watch for in the Coming Months
Spring 2026 brings the Met Raphael exhibition, with more than 200 of the artist's greatest masterpieces, the Met Costume Art opening 10 May in the new 12,000-square-foot galleries, and MoMA PS1 Greater New York opening 16 April. Summer 2026 brings Tate Modern's "Frida: the Making of an Icon" opening 25 June, the Venice Biennale running 9 May through 22 November, and Art Basel Switzerland from 18 to 21 June. Autumn 2026 brings Frieze London from 14 to 18 October, Art Basel Paris from 23 to 25 October, and the Turner Prize exhibition at MIMA Middlesbrough opening 26 September. Winter 2026 brings Art Basel Miami Beach from 4 to 6 December and the Turner Prize winner announced on 10 December.
January is the calm before the storm. The spring and autumn are dominated by blockbusters and art fairs. January is when museums take risks, with smaller shows, scholarly exhibitions, and unexpected pairings. If you want to see something surprising, go in January. If you want to see something famous, go in May. For more on the broader calendar, see our guide to the art fairs calendar, and for the Venice Biennale specifically, see our guide to visiting the Venice Biennale.
Final Thoughts
January 2026 opened with "The Infinite Artistry of Japanese Ceramics" at The Met on 19 January, tracing more than 13,000 years of ceramic artistry with approximately 350 works in three rotations. "Picasso, the Figure" opened at Louvre Abu Dhabi on 21 January, exploring seven decades of his art from the Musée National Picasso in Paris. "Basquiat: Headstrong" opened at the Louisiana Museum on 30 January, the first comprehensive showing devoted to the artist's depictions of the human head, with works produced from 1981 to 1983. Tate Modern announced "Frida: the Making of an Icon" for 25 June 2026 to 3 January 2027, with more than 30 works by Kahlo and "Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird" (1940) shown in the UK for the first time. Tate Britain's "Turner and Constable: Rivals and Originals" continued through 12 April, called "the richest, most satisfying thing that I've seen hung on London's walls in a while" by Monocle. The National Galleries of Scotland continued "Turner in January," the free annual display shown during the month of January when natural light levels are at their lowest, following Henry Vaughan's 1900 bequest. MoMA PS1 announced "Greater New York 2026" opening 16 April, with 53 artists and collectives and over 150 works, the sixth edition. The Met announced its spring program: Raphael with more than 200 masterpieces, Costume Art opening 10 May in the new nearly 12,000-square-foot galleries, and Musical Bodies opening 7 June.
Pick one January opening and go. If you are in New York, the Japanese ceramics show at The Met runs through August 2027, so you have time, but go now, before the spring crowds. If you are in Europe, "Basquiat: Headstrong" at the Louisiana Museum runs through 17 May. If you are in the Gulf, "Picasso, the Figure" at Louvre Abu Dhabi runs through 31 May. If you are in Scotland, "Turner in January" runs through 31 January only. Vaughan's guidelines permit no extensions. Go in January. See something surprising. The blockbusters will still be there in May. For more on how art shapes public life, see our guide to art and society.
