As if there weren’t already more to see and do in Rome than one might be able to put a dent in in a lifetime, those who book a vacation rental in Rome will find that summer 2026 will see some remarkable temporary exhibitions held in the city. So, for those who can’t get enough of museum wonders, it is a perfect time to take in both the temporary and the eternal in the Eternal City.
Here’s our guide to the must-see exhibitions in Rome for summer 2026:
Palazzo Bonaparte
Closes 29th of June 2026
This incredibly famous and beloved Japanese painter and printmaker of the Edo period created many of the most enduring and familiar images of Japan and an amazing curation will be on display in the Palazzo Bonaparte until the 29th of June 2026. The largest exhibition dedicated to Hokusai to ever be held in Italy, it is a chance to see some 200 of those iconic works of art with your own eyes.
Galleria Borghese
23rd of June until the 20th of September 2026
In this extraordinary curation of over 80 masterpieces by the likes of Titian, Caravaggio, Rubens, Rodin, and more, we see how some of the greatest artists in history interpreted the work of Ovid, bringing the Antique into their own eras. Just one more great reason to head to this already unmissable museum while you are staying in a villa in Rome.
Palazzo Barberini
Closes 14th of June 2026
Bernini, the genius sculptor and architect with the ability to bring stone to life, already has left a prominent mark of the city at St Peter’s but this exhibition explores the key relationship between the artist and his first patron, Maffeo Barberini, later Pope Urban VIII. Learn how a skilled visionary becomes a master for the ages in this fascinating exhibition.
Robert Mapplethorpe: The Forms of Beauty
Ara Pacis
Closes 4th of October 2026
For something a good deal more modern, we have this exhibition of the work of New York photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Gifted, boundary-pushing, and at times controversial, his portraits, self-portraits, still-life pieces, and documentation of gay BDSM culture are beautiful, challenging, and masterful. For those who love photography or who became enamoured with Mapplethorpe after reading Patti Smith’s Just Kids, it’s a must during a vacation in Rome!
Palazzo Velli
Closes 5th of July 2026
Showcasing over 80 works by this beloved recently deceased Scottish artist, this exhibition presents an opportunity to see originals and learn more about one of the best-selling and most-reproduced artists in the world.
So, if you are heading to one of our amazing holiday rentals in Rome then consider adding some of these stops to your no doubt already full itinerary! While the city is eternal, these amazing showcases are temporary and this will be your chance to take them in...