Switzerland boasts an impressive 1,104 museums, making it one of the world's most museum-dense countries. To put this in perspective, Austria has only 493 museums for 9 million inhabitants, highlighting Switzerland's exceptional cultural landscape. These institutions are thriving, with official 2023 statistics showing approximately 15 million museum visits, marking a 5% increase compared to pre-pandemic record numbers.
This trend reflects a broader European movement. In 2024, excluding Britain and France (which hosted the Olympic Games), countries like Denmark, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands recorded historic museum attendance records, as did certain Italian and Spanish museums. Against this backdrop, Switzerland's current exhibition offerings are particularly compelling.
The Fondation Gianadda in Martigny presents "From Rembrandt to Van Gogh," featuring masterworks from American physician-turned-businessman Armand Hammer's collection. This extraordinary exhibition showcases approximately 40 paintings spanning four centuries of art history, from Renaissance masters to Romantic and Impressionist works. Remarkably, most of these paintings have never crossed the Atlantic in this direction before, making this a truly unprecedented cultural event. The exhibition runs until December 2, 2025.
Zurich's Kunsthaus presents the world's first major retrospective dedicated to Dadaist artist Suzanne Duchamp (1889-1963), who has long lived in the shadow of her famous brother Marcel, inventor of the readymade. This groundbreaking exhibition features works that combine painting and poetry, spanning from her early abstract pieces through her Dadaist period to later figurative compositions, all infused with ironic and playful undertones. The exhibition continues until September 7, 2025.
The Collection de l'Art brut in Lausanne showcases Chinese artist Ding Liren's work for the first time in Europe. The 90-year-old former entomologist creates meticulously composed insect collages that seem to buzz with life. Developed in collaboration with Shanghai's Power Station of Art, this exhibition runs until October 26, featuring works that are both whimsical and absolutely captivating.
Chur's Bündner Kunstmuseum finally gives Diego Giacometti, Alberto's younger brother, his due recognition. While the Giacometti family dynasty includes the famous sculptor Alberto, postimpressionist painter Giovanni (Alberto's father), and painter cousin Augusto, Diego's complete body of work as sculptor, designer, and artist has never been exhibited in Switzerland. The museum corrects this oversight in the family's home canton, with the exhibition running until November 9, 2025.
Vevey's Musée Jenisch presents the impressive contemporary art collection of Thierry Barbier-Mueller (1960-2023) for the first time. The Geneva art lover from the renowned collector family favored large formats, which he felt symbolized courage and conviction, always focusing on humanity or landscape. The collection features masterworks by Swiss and international artists including Ugo Rondinone, Markus Raetz, Bill Viola, Silvia Bächli, Spencer Finch, Jannis Kounellis, Antony Gormley, and Nan Goldin. The exhibition continues until October 26, 2025.
Freiburg's Museum for Art and History hosts Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota's installation "In the Light," designed to recall forgotten moments. Museums worldwide compete for Shiota's immersive installations, as each location sees her weave a unique narrative web. Her recent Paris exhibition at the Grand Palais attracted approximately 300,000 visitors. This exhibition runs until September 21, 2025.
The Schaulager in Münchenstein near Basel has been transformed by video artist Steve McQueen into a single, overwhelming light and sound installation called "Bass." The British director, who won an Oscar for "12 Years a Slave," returns to the Schaulager 12 years after his last major exhibition there. His current show, which opened during Art Basel, explores how light, sound, and color influence our perception of space and time, continuing until November 16, 2025.
Geneva's Musée Rath celebrates what would have been Jean Tinguely's 100th birthday with an exhibition featuring over 30 mechanical sculptures and works on paper. This marks the first Tinguely exhibition in Geneva in 42 years, with much of the collection donated by the Niki Charitable Art Foundation. The show coincides with Tinguely and Niki de Saint Phalle exhibitions at Paris's Grand Palais and England's prestigious Hauser & Wirth gallery in Somerset. The Geneva exhibition runs until September 7, 2025.
Basel's Museum Tinguely presents French-Swiss artist Julian Charrière's "Midnight Zone," where darkness guides visitors through an underwater world of installations, videos, photographs, and sculptures exploring marine ecosystems. This immersive solo exhibition continues until November 2, 2025.
Locarno's Fondazione Ghisla Art Collection, housed in a striking red building, presents "In Between," featuring 65 works from the Martine and Pierino Ghisla collection. The exhibition creates a dialogue between Italian and American perspectives through significant modern and contemporary artists including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Giuseppe Uncini, Keith Haring, and Giosetta Fioroni. The show runs until January 4, 2026.
Bôle, near Neuchâtel, offers a unique experience at Augustin Rebetez's "Maison totale." The Jura artist transformed an old house at the forest's edge into an enchanted world that's alternately punk, fairy-tale, and nightmarish. This poetic-bizarre art course through house and garden features imaginative curiosities, all just minutes from the train station. Open weekends until September 20.
Lucerne's Museum Sammlung Rosengart houses Switzerland's largest Picasso collection, with over 300 modern art works including 125 by Paul Klee and 180 by Picasso, featuring 54 paintings. Housed in the former National Bank building for 23 years, collector Angela Rosengart notes she could no longer afford to purchase these now extremely valuable late Picasso works. The museum is open daily.
The Gemmi Pass offers art at over 2,000 meters above sea level through the "Passage" exhibition trail between the Sunnbüel and Gemmipass mountain stations. Thirteen temporary artworks line the hiking route, including Valais artist Maëlle Cornut's bearded vulture piece and the collective Fragmentins' 17-meter-high "Markers." Artists primarily from Valais and Bern cantons engage with the pass's historical significance, creating a space for exchange and reflection. The exhibition runs until October 12, weather permitting.
Cully's Kunsthalle Marcel Duchamp claims to be the world's smallest art gallery, with exhibition space measuring just 45 cm wide and 75 cm high. Despite its tiny size, it has showcased major artists including Ai Weiwei, John Armleder, Ugo Rondinone, and Nicolas Party. Currently displaying American artist and writer John Miller's "The Age of Darkness and the Middle of the Day," the gallery operates 24/7 until September 27, 2025.
Burgdorf's Museum Franz Gertsch, located 30 kilometers from Bern, dedicates an entire museum to the late artist (1930-2022), known for his monumental formats and sensitivity toward people and nature. Currently also featuring an exhibition on the Emmental art scene titled "Diverse Emmental," the museum offers a comprehensive look at this significant Swiss painter and graphic artist.
