Major European art shows in 2026 include van Eyck, Björk and Tracey Emin

Museums and biennials across Europe are staging major exhibitions in 2026, from a Jan van Eyck portrait gathering at the National Gallery in London to a Björk survey in Reykjavik and a retrospective of Tracey Emin at Tate Modern in London. At the National Gallery, Jan van Eyck’s 1434 Arnolfini Portrait will be joined by eight other surviving van Eyck portraits, meaning nine of the artist’s extant portraits — about half of his surviving works — can be seen together for the first time.

The pieces are noted in the coverage for their microscopic detail, luminous hues and for marking a shift when portraitists turned their attention to everyday people. The National Gallery of Iceland will mount a Björk exhibition titled “Echolalia,” offering three immersive installations — a film, an audio installation and an as-yet-undisclosed work tied to an upcoming album — to coincide with the Reykjavik Arts Festival.

The Moderna Museet in Stockholm will present Brassaï’s Paris photography, and the Venice Biennale will proceed with a show planned by the late Koyo Kouoh; her team says they are following a plan inspired by writers such as Toni Morrison, Patrick Chamoiseau and James Baldwin and by themes including musical improvisation and “listening to the lower frequencies.” Other highlights named include Louise Nevelson’s retrospective “Mrs.

Key Topics

Culture, Jan Van Eyck, Tracey Emin, Björk, Venice Biennale, National Gallery