Vienna Press Release – March 2026 250 years of the Albertina

01.03.2026 - Vienna’s major exhibition venue, the Albertina, will celebrate the 250th anniversary of its founding in 2026 with a wide-ranging anniversary program. To mark the occasion, Dürer’s famous “Hare,” last seen in the 2019/2020 exhibition of his work, will once again be on display. A sensation.

In 1776, Duke Albert of Saxony-Teschen (1738–1822) founded what is now the Albertina, which has long been considered one of the most important collections of prints in the world, comprising over a million drawings and prints from the late Gothic period to the present day. Throughout his life, the duke devoted himself to collecting prints and drawings. By the time of his death, the collection had reached a size of around 14,000 drawings and 160,000 prints, forming the basis of today’s Albertina.

Open House on July 4 and 5, 2026

This year’s anniversary will be celebrated in style, with three special exhibitions and an open house with free admission on July 4 and 5, 2026, the Albertina’s anniversary weekend. Visitors can look forward to a varied program of family and educational activities. The founding of the Albertina dates back to July 1776. Duke Albert of Saxony-Teschen, after whom today’s Albertina is named, embarked on an educational tour of Italy with his wife Archduchess Marie Christine, daughter of Empress Maria Theresa. In early July, the imperial envoy Conte Giacomo Durazzo presented the couple with a select collection of prints, which they had commissioned three years earlier, while they were visiting Venice.

Exhibition trilogy for the anniversary

The Albertina’s anniversary year is devoted to the theme “Open to the Future”. The museum has a world-class collection that is constantly being expanded. The three main exhibitions in this anniversary year pursue a change of perspective and address the question of what has not yet been told about the eventful history of the Albertina. The current exhibition “The Fascination of Paper: From Rembrandt to Kiefer” (until March 22, 2026) invites visitors to rediscover the traditional medium of paper. It brings together historical and contemporary works, from etchings to paper sculptures.

The highlight of the year is the anniversary exhibition “Collecting for the Future: 250 Years of the Albertina.” From June 19 to October 11, 2026, it will be dedicated to the beginnings and history of the Albertina. The exhibition explores the different motives of the collectors and the selection of artists. Well-known works such as Albrecht Dürer’s Hare and drawings by Egon Schiele are a must-see. The fact that Dürer’s world-famous hare has been let out of the stable (or rather, the attic) is something of a sensation. For conservation reasons, the work, which dates from 1502, can only be exhibited very rarely.

The exhibition also focuses on a female figure who, despite her importance in establishing the collection, was often overshadowed by her husband: Archduchess Marie Christine. A member of the Habsburg family, she brought her fortune into the marriage, which enabled her husband to acquire a vast collection of art and establish the Albertina. The exhibition highlights the fact that Marie Christine herself was also very talented and involved in the arts from a young age.

The exhibition “Women Artists of the Albertina” (October 30, 2026 – January 17, 2027) also offers a new perspective on the Albertina’s collection. Works by women that have received too little attention to date will be showcased in a dialogue spanning the ages. The presence of female artists is often questioned, especially in historical collections. Yet women have played a decisive role in shaping art, even if their contributions remained invisible for a long time or were even forgotten. The exhibition highlights the diversity of art created by women.

More program highlights in 2026

There’s a lot more to check out at the Albertina and its second location in Vienna, the Albertina modern, in 2026 besides the anniversary program. In the spring, the Albertina is showcasing Honoré Daumier, the French master of political caricature (until May 25, 2026). The two artists of the century, Pablo Picasso and Francis Bacon, both known for their figurative painting, are the focus of the major fall exhibition (September 18, 2026–January 31, 2027). At the Albertina modern, the exhibition “KAWS. Art & Comix” (April 3 – September 27, 2016) presents contemporary art where comics and art converge. Retrospective exhibitions on Franz West (November 6, 2026 – March 29, 2027 at the Albertina modern) and Arnulf Rainer (November 13, 2026 – April 4, 2027 at the Albertina) will also be dedicated to two outstanding Austrian artists.

Albertina, Albertinaplatz 1, 1010 Vienna, www.albertina.at

Albertina modern, Karlsplatz 5, 1010 Vienna, www.albertina.at/albertina-modern