Top Exhibitions in Philadelphia

Philadelphia has a treasure trove of exhibitions that attract science and culture enthusiasts from across the globe. 

Philadelphia museums and exhibitions at a glance

• Many Philadelphia museums are located in clusters either in the Parkway Museums District along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway or Old City neighborhood. 
• Especially for the Semiquincentennial in 2026, museums are examining the ideals of American democracy and freedom. 
• Two new museums are new to explore in 2026, Calder Gardens and the First Bank of the United States. 
• Museum entries range from free to pay-what-you-wish to paid admission. 

From world-renowned museums to cutting-edge galleries, the city offers a diverse range that caters to every taste. Here are some of the top exhibitions in Philadelphia: 

The Franklin Institute

Neighborhood: Center City & Parkway Museums District
Address: 222 N 20th St. 

‘Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition’

Dates: Through September 7, 2026 

This groundbreaking world premiere exhibition at The Franklin Institute offers an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look into the creative and innovative world of themed entertainment through the lens of Universal’s fan-favorite attractions. The exhibit chronicles the major milestones of Universal Destinations & Experiences—spanning from the historic origins of the Studio Tram Tour to the groundbreaking new Epic Universe theme park. Visitors will explore original artwork, detailed models, authentic replicas, and immersive interactive elements. Additionally, the exhibition spotlights the diverse career paths within the industry and the visionary individuals driving the future of themed entertainment. 

The African American Museum in Philadelphia

Neighborhood: Old City
Address: 701 Arch St

‘Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design’

Dates: Through September 6, 2026

Love fashion? Oscar-winner Ruth E. Carter’s designs are on display at the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP). Become immersed in Wakanda and beyond as Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design features over 80 original costumes from blockbuster films, including Black Panther, Selma, Do the Right Thing, Amistad, Dolomite is My Name, Coming 2 America, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Sinners, in addition to the original sketches, personal artifacts, and rare behind-the-scenes materials that share Carter’s in-depth research and creative process behind these famous designs. 

Philadelphia Museum of Art  

Neighborhood: Parkway Museums District
Address: 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy 

‘Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments’

Dates: Through August 2, 2026 

This Philadelphia Museum of Art exhibition asks a compelling question: “In a moment of reckoning and reimagining for monuments, why do millions of people from around the world visit the Rocky statue?” Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments uses the iconic bronze likeness of Philadelphia’s most famous fictional boxer as a lens to explore millennia of sculpture. By juxtaposing the modern “Italian Stallion” with ancient and classical works, the exhibit looks back at how art has depicted boxing, celebrity, and the human form for centuries. It’s a must-see for anyone who has ever run the steps and wondered about the deeper history behind the hero in bronze. 

‘A Nation of Artists’

Dates: Through July 5, 2027 

Celebrating the “richness and diversity of American art,” A Nation of Artists offers a rare public look at more than 120 Masterpieces on loan from the private Middleton Family Collection. Presented in a landmark partnership between the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), this expansive exhibition charts the evolution of American creativity over three centuries. Across both iconic campuses, visitors can explore a stunning array of over 1,000 works spanning early American portraiture and modern masterpieces. Legendary figures like Mary Cassatt, Thomas Eakins, Charles Willson Peale, Horace Pippin, and Mark Rothko are displayed alongside vital, historically underrepresented, Indigenous, and African American voices. 

‘Van Gogh’s Sunflowers’

Dates: Opens June 6, 2026 

Promising to be “A Symphony in Blue and Yellow,” this highly anticipated installation brings together two of Vincent van Gogh’s most celebrated masterpieces. The museum’s own iconic January 1889 Sunflowers canvas will be displayed with its predecessor: the August 1888 iteration, generously on loan from the National Gallery in London. This intimate presentation offers an unparalleled, side-by-side opportunity to examine the subtle differences, expressive brushwork, and revolutionary color techniques the legendary artist used to bring these vibrant still lifes to life. 

Barnes Foundation

Neighborhood: Fairmount & Parkway Museums District
Address: 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway  

‘Freedom Dreams’

Dates: Through August 9, 2026  

To mark America’s 250th anniversary, The Barnes Foundation is highlighting the experiences, dreams, and histories of Black Americans with Freedom Dreams. Utilizing powerful works in film, video, and installation from an cohort of artists—including Arthur Jafa, David Hartt, Garrett Bradley, Ja’Tovia Gary, and Tourmaline—the exhibition dismantles pervasive narratives around race, gender, and class. The immersive display invites visitors to reflect on how Americans of color have shaped cultural identities and “created spaces of resistance, joy, and resilience in the face of systemic oppression.” 

‘Sky Hopinka: Red Metal Dust’

Dates: Through January 18, 2027

Also mounted in honor of the Semiquincentennial, celebrated Native American artist Sky Hopinka was commissioned to create Red Metal Dust, a site-specific installation designed exclusively for the museum’s Annenberg Court. Consisting of 11 striking panels, the meditative landscape series thoughtfully interrogates Indigenous homelands and broader American histories. Access to the Annenberg Court to view Red Metal Dust is free and open to the public.  

Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish

Neighborhood: Old City
Address: 101 S Independence Mall E 

‘The First Salute’

Dates: Through April 2027

Part Pirates of the Caribbean, part Hamilton, the latest exhibition at The Weitzman explores the pivotal role the 18th-century Jewish community on the Dutch island of St. Eustatius played in the American Revolution. “The First Salute“ brings to life a legendary but often-overlooked moment from 1776, when a daring cannon salute to a U.S. naval ship marked the first time a foreign power formally recognized the sovereignty of the United States. This special America 250 exhibit reveals how this tiny Caribbean outpost became a vital lifeline for the Continental Army, proving that the scales of the Revolution were tipped in the most unexpected of places. 

National Constitution Center

Neighborhood: Old City
Address: 525 Arch Street 

‘America’s Founding’

Dates: Permanent collection 

The nation’s 250th birthday is a monumental milestone for the National Constitution Center. The Old City institution’s newest permanent exhibit, America’s Founding, offers a dynamic, interactive exploration of the Revolution and the creation of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Visitors have a rare opportunity to view early foundational documents up close, including an original printing of the Articles of Confederation and a rare first official printing of the U.S. Constitution. 

‘Governing the Nation’

Dates: Permanent collection

Another permanent addition to the museum’s lineup, Governing the Nation, explores how power in the United States is balanced and shared among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Through immersive historical artifacts and interactive, hands-on experiences, visitors can step directly into defining constitutional moments that continue to shape American democracy. 

Museum of the American Revolution

Neighborhood: Old City
Address: 101 S 3rd St. 

‘The Declaration’s Journey’

Dates: Through January 3, 2027 

To mark the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, the Museum of the American Revolution presents The Declaration’s Journey, exploring the history and global impact of the Declaration of Independence. This exhibition highlights how the Declaration’s ideals have shaped independence movements in other nations, becoming one of history’s most influential political documents. Featuring rare documents, artwork, and artifacts , The Declaration’s Journey offers an in-depth look at its legacy. 

Please Touch Museum

Neighborhood: Fairmount Park
Address: 4231 Avenue of the Republic 

‘Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: A Grr-ific Exhibit’

Dates: May 23 – Sept. 13, 2026 

The youngest visitors to Philadelphia have a special treat waiting for them at the Please Touch Museum, located in the historic Centennial District of Fairmount Park. Throughout the summer, the beloved PBS character’s world comes to life with Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: A Grr-ific Exhibit. This immersive experience invites children to step directly into Daniel’s neighborhood to solve problems, play, and—of course—let their imaginations run wild.  

Rodin Museum

Neighborhood: Fairmount & Parkway Museums District
Address: 2151 Benjamin Franklin Parkway 

‘Rodin’s Hands’

Dates: Through January 31, 2027 

Rodin’s Hands highlights the  Auguste Rodin’s mastery in conveying emotion through the sculpting of hands. The exhibition features fifteen bronzes and plasters — many of which are rare or unique to the Philadelphia collection. These join the other masterpieces on view as part of one of the largest Rodin collections outside of Paris.  

Penn Museum

Neighborhood: University City
Address: 3260 South St. 

‘Native North America Gallery’

Dates: Permanent collection 

The Penn Museum collaborated closely with eight Indigenous consulting curators to develop its groundbreaking new Native North America Gallery. Spanning more than 2,000 square feet and featuring over 250 historic and contemporary objects, the interactive exhibition examines the artistic, linguistic, political, and religious self-determination of Native peoples—powerfully demonstrating their enduring story “despite a historic agenda to erase Indigenous identity, culture, and language.” 

Maguire Art Museum (Saint Joseph’s University) 

Neighborhood: Wynnefield
Address: on the campus of Saint Joseph’’s University 

‘Philly Voices: Celebrating the Heartbeat of a City’

Dates: Through August 2, 2026 

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Maguire Art Museum presents Philly Voices: Celebrating the Heartbeat of a City, an exhibition that captures the spirit of Philadelphia through the eyes of 29 local artists. Exploring the city’s neighborhoods, landmarks, culture and communities, the exhibition highlights Philadelphia as a place of creativity, resilience and connection. Through paintings, photography and mixed-media works, visitors can experience the many perspectives that continue to shape the city today. 

New museums in 2026

Calder Gardens

Neighborhood: Fairmount & Parkway Museums District
Address: 2100 Benjamin Franklin Parkway 

 New to explore, Calder Gardens is dedicated to the work of iconic Philadelphia-born sculptor Alexander Calder. The serene space includes a gallery and gardens, featuring a rotating lineup from 50 years of Calder’s work. 

First Bank of the United States

Neighborhood: Old City
Address: 120 S 3rd St
Dates: Opening July 1, 2026 

Chartered under the leadership of Alexander Hamilton in 1791, the First Bank of the United States moved into its permanent Old City home in 1797. Following a massive, multi-million-dollar renovation, this national historic landmark is finally ready to reopen to the public for the first time in 50 years—just in time for America’s Semiquincentennial. The building’s striking blue marble façade gives it a timeless, temple-like grandeur that is hard to match. Once inside, visitors can explore exhibitions that examine the vital impact art and artifacts have had on American history and diplomacy. 

There are plenty of attractions and places to explore in Philadelphia. Check out our discover page for more.