Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki announces 2026 exhibition highlights

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki is delighted to announce its programme of major exhibitions for 2026 featuring a presentation of contemporary Chinese art, a survey of Queer lens-based art in Aotearoa New Zealand and a solo exhibition of Pablo Picasso.

“In 2026 the Gallery will continue to make a vital contribution to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s vibrant arts scene, connecting communities with art and ideas.” says Dr Sarah Farrar, Head of Curatorial and Learning at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. “This year’s programme showcases the first comprehensive survey of Queer lens-based art in Aotearoa and two international exhibitions: a survey of contemporary Chinese art and a Picasso exhibition developed with Musée national Picasso-Paris and designer Sir Paul Smith. It also includes an exhibition of major New Zealand works from the promised gift of Auckland collector Greg Moyle.”

“Alongside these new exhibitions, our collection displays remain a core part of our programme, presenting much-loved New Zealand and international artworks alongside recent acquisitions. Three of our own projects are touring to audiences beyond Auckland to venues in New Zealand and Australia.”

Auckland Art Gallery Members will be able to visit all these exhibitions for free.

Forever Tomorrow: Chinese Art Now 永远的明天:中国艺术进行时
2 May–23 August 2026
Ticket on-sale date to be announced

Forever Tomorrow: Chinese Art Now offers a major survey of contemporary Chinese art shaped by the profound transformations that followed the late-1970s Open Up reforms. From the experimental breakthroughs of the early avant-garde to today’s digitally fluent creators, the exhibition examines how rapid urbanisation, globalisation and shifting social values have reshaped artistic practice.

Presenting powerful works by Ai Weiwei, Xu Zhen, Xiao Lu and Yang Fudong, alongside artists exhibiting in New Zealand for the first time — including Lu Pingyuan, Pu Yingwei, Xiyadie, and 2023 Sigg Prize winner Wang Tuo — the exhibition reveals the conceptual range and imaginative force of Chinese art today. Through performance, photography, sculpture and new media, Forever Tomorrow captures the human experience of a world in accelerated change. The exhibition is proudly supported by the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation, New Zealand Government’s Events Boost Fund, and China Southern Airlines.

In Trust for Tomorrow: The Greg J Moyle Foundation Bequest
Opens 23 May 2026
Free entry

This exhibition celebrates the promised gift of 20 major works of New Zealand art to Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki from Auckland collector and philanthropist Greg Moyle. The collection provides an overview of fascinating moments from New Zealand’s twentieth century art history, featuring significant paintings by artists including Rita Angus, Jacqueline Fahey, Louise Henderson, Frances Hodgkins, Ralph Hotere, Raymond McIntyre, John Pule and Michael Smither.

Family Album: Queer Aotearoa
4 July 2026–28 February 2027
Free entry

Family Album: Queer Aotearoa reveals the power of the lens as a tool for artistic exploration and as a device for challenging societal norms, amplifying Queer identities and celebrating the richness of lived experience. Bringing together historical photographs and contemporary art, it is the first major exhibition to provide a comprehensive view of Queer lens-based art in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Timed to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Homosexual Law Reform Act and Auckland Pride 2027, Family Album: Queer Aotearoa responds to the need for greater recognition and engagement with Queer art. By showcasing the diversity of Queer artistic expression, the exhibition aims to foster greater public awareness and cultural understanding in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

Picasso: Designed by Paul Smith
10 October 2026 – 1 February 2027
Ticket on-sale date to be announced

Pablo Picasso remains one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century, yet it has been over 30 years since a major solo exhibition of his work has been seen in Aotearoa New Zealand. Drawn from the outstanding holdings of the Musée national Picasso–Paris, the exhibition brings together key paintings, sculptures, ceramics, prints and drawings that trace pivotal moments in his career, including the Blue and Rose periods and Cubism. It offers a rare opportunity to encounter the breadth and depth of Picasso’s creativity here in Aotearoa New Zealand.

In a special collaboration, celebrated British designer Sir Paul Smith reimagines the presentation of these works through a contemporary lens, underlining the ongoing relevance of his work. Experimenting with light, wall colour, vinyl wallpaper, carpet and his signature stripes, Smith creates playful and imaginative environments that respond to different chapters in Picasso’s life and art, inviting visitors to experience these iconic works anew. The exhibition is organised by Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki in collaboration with the Musée national Picasso–Paris.

Collection displays and touring exhibitions

The Gallery’s collection exhibitions programmed through 2026 include Taimoana | Coastlines: Art in Aotearoa, Giacometti Without End, Ngā Taonga Tūturu: Treasured Māori Portraits and Threads of Time: Travel, Trade and Textiles with regular changeouts of works to refresh the displays.

The Robertson Gift: Paths through Modernity celebrated the monumental gift to the Gallery of major modern works from New York philanthropists Julian (1932–2022) and Josie Robertson (1943–2010). The exhibition closed on 8 February with 492,755 visitors. From 23 May, works from this gift will tour to Shepparton Art Museum, alongside other modern highlights from the collection, giving audiences beyond Tāmaki Makaurau the opportunity to experience the Gallery’s exceptional collection.

In March, the Auckland Art Gallery developed exhibition Mark Adams: A Survey | He Kohinga Whakaahua will tour to Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, while Robin White: Tuituia | Something Is Happening Here, co-developed by Te Papa and the Gallery, opens at Te Manawa.

Media contact:
Lesl van der Voorn
Communications Advisor
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki / Tātaki Auckland Unlimited
lesl.vandervoorn@aucklandartgallery.com
+64 21 548 480