Messina Biennale – Expo Arte Messina
The major contemporary art exhibition spanning both shores of the Strait
About Messina Biennale
An art biennale for the city on the Strait
The Messina Biennale, also known as Expo Arte Messina, is the most significant contemporary art event in the Peloritan capital. Promoted by the Messina Foundation for Culture, the exhibition turns Messina, Sicily, into a true open-air gallery: for weeks, works by hundreds of artists occupy the city's museums, institutional buildings, churches, and theaters, creating a widespread exhibition route that invites the public to rediscover the most evocative spots in the city center.
Disciplines and exhibition route
The Biennale is inherently multidisciplinary: it hosts painting, sculpture, photography, installations, video art, graphic design, and digital arts. Alongside the sections dedicated to visual arts, there is a film section featuring short films, classical music performances, conferences, and workshops. The heart of the route is the "Maria Accascina" Regional Museum of Messina, joined by prestigious venues such as the Cathedral Crypt, the Vittorio Emanuele Theater, Palazzo Zanca, the Monte di Pietà, and Palazzo dei Leoni.
An event looking toward the Strait
Conceived as a cultural bridge between the two shores of the Strait, the exhibition increasingly engages with Messina's metropolitan dimension and opens a dialogue with nearby Reggio Calabria. Each edition adopts a guiding theme that directs the selection of works and the artists' reflections, offering visitors not just an exhibition, but a choral narrative on contemporary Mediterranean art.
Who it is for
The event is aimed at both art enthusiasts and first-time visitors to Messina: it is an opportunity to discover the emerging art scene of Southern Italy, meet established names, and experience the city's historical and architectural heritage in a new light. Artists participate through open calls, a sign of an event committed to showcasing talent, from emerging under-30s to established professionals.
Messina and its province
Capital of the province of the same name and overlooking the Strait, Messina is the gateway to Sicily for those arriving from the mainland. The Biennale strengthens the city's cultural vocation and joins a rich autumn calendar of events, helping to place the Peloritan capital on the map of Italian contemporary art.
Messina Biennale — edition 2026
2026 Edition — "Connections"
The second edition of the Messina Biennale, presented as "Expo Arte of the Two Seas", is scheduled from September 26 to October 25, 2026. The chosen theme is "Connections", a reflection on the dialogue between art, territory, and community that ideally links the two cities overlooking the Strait, Messina and Reggio Calabria.
The edition is divided into several sections — visual arts, visual arts under 30, architecture, and short films — open to emerging and established artists through free participation calls. As of the publication date of this sheet, the calls for architecture and short films are still open (deadlines expected in July 2026): for this reason, the final program, the list of selected artists, and the exhibition venues have not yet been communicated in detail.
Programme Messina Biennale 2026
The detailed program for the 2026 edition and the list of selected artists will be announced at the end of the selection process, expected from the end of summer 2026. The event will be divided into visual arts, visual arts under 30, architecture, and short film sections, with exhibition venues in Messina and Reggio Calabria. It is recommended to check the official website biennaledimessina.it for updates.
Highlights Messina Biennale 2026
Theme of the edition: "Connections". Extension of the project to the city of Reggio Calabria, on the other shore of the Strait. Sections dedicated to visual arts, artists under 30, architecture, and short films.
Practical information — Messina Biennale
Getting there
Messina is accessible by train (Messina Centrale station), by car via the A20 (Messina-Palermo) and A18 (Messina-Catania) motorways, and by sea via ferries connecting the city to Villa San Giovanni and Reggio Calabria. The nearest airport is Reggio Calabria; alternatively, Catania-Fontanarossa Airport is about an hour away.
Main venue
"Maria Accascina" Regional Museum of Messina, Viale della Libertà 465, 98121 Messina. Works are also distributed across other venues in the historic center (Cathedral Crypt, Vittorio Emanuele Theater, Palazzo Zanca).
Tickets and information
Access to museum venues follows the hours and rates of the individual sites. For the updated program, opening hours, and entry procedures, please consult the official website biennaledimessina.it and the event's social media channels. Accascina Museum phone: +39 090 361292.
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Where does it take place — Messina Biennale
Museo Regionale di Messina "Maria Accascina"
Viale della Libertà 465, 98121 Messina