Munich Highlights 2026: Classical Modernity in Focus

<p>When the Munich Residence transforms itself once again from October 15-18, 2026 into one of the most exclusive art exhibition platforms in the German-speaking world, one theme takes center stage: Classical Modernity. The Munich Highlights, one of the leading international art fairs, sets a clear thematic focus in its upcoming edition – and thus lets German Expressionism shine in new splendor.</p>

<h2>German Expressionism in Focus</h2> <p>As reports on the fair state, German Expressionism "triumphs" at the Munich Highlights 2026. This thematic emphasis reflects an ongoing trend in the international art market: works of Classical Modernity are considered value-stable and attract both institutional collectors and private art lovers. The fair itself describes itself as a place where "rare antiques meet modernity" – a spectrum of tension that will also run through the entire exhibition program in 2026, from Gothic to the present.</p>

<h3>Berlin as an Artistic Resonance Space</h3> <p>A content highlight is set by the Samuelis Baumgarte Gallery from Bielefeld and Zurich, which presents a select collection of museum masterpieces at booth 12. The center of the presentation features significant works from the exhibition "BERLIN – City of Extremes. From Ernst Ludwig Kirchner to the Present". The concentrated selection follows the extraordinary spectrum of this exhibition and makes Berlin tangible as one of the most formative artistic resonance spaces of the 20th and 21st centuries.</p> <p>Represented works include:</p> <ul> <li>Ernst Ludwig Kirchner</li> <li>Emil Nolde</li> <li>Oskar Schlemmer</li> <li>Erich Heckel</li> <li>Karl Schmidt-Rottluff</li> <li>Renée Sintenis</li> <li>Heinrich Zille</li> <li>Norbert Bisky</li> <li>Rainer Fetting</li> </ul> <p>Starting from the expressive Berlin of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, the gallery's presentation spans an art historical arc over the socially critical acuity of the Weimar Republic, the existential experiences of dictatorship, persecution and war, as well as the contradictory realities of the divided city through to multifaceted positions of the present. The works shown are understood as more than historical testimonies – they become, according to the gallery, <strong>"seismographs of a metropolis"</strong> in which the great political, social and cultural movements of their time are reflected with particular intensity.</p>

<h2>Broad Spectrum of Classical Modernity</h2> <p>Alongside the Berlin focus of the Samuelis Baumgarte Gallery, Classical Modernity is strongly represented at the Munich Highlights 2026 overall. Additional positions by renowned artists such as Gustav Klimt, Gabriele Münter and Sophie Taeuber-Arp complement the picture of an era that is still considered particularly influential for the development of modern art in Europe. This breadth underscores the fair's ambition to offer a comprehensive panorama of art history – from Gothic works to contemporary positions that enter into direct dialogue with historical works.</p> <p>It is precisely this dialogue between historical and contemporary works that makes a special appeal of the Munich Highlights. In the elegant atmosphere of the Munich Residence, epochs meet that at first glance seem far apart, yet are closely intertwined in content. Themes such as social upheaval, political tensions and creative renewal run as a common thread through the exhibited works – regardless of whether they were created a century ago or only recently.</p>

<h2>A Place for Collectors and Art Enthusiasts</h2> <p>For collectors and institutional visitors, the Munich Highlights 2026 thus offer not only the opportunity to experience museum quality firsthand, but also to engage with the historical and social contexts that have shaped the exhibited works. The focus on Classical Modernity and especially German Expressionism positions the fair as an important meeting point for all those interested in the intersections of art, history and society.</p>

<h2>Conclusion and Outlook</h2> <p>With its clear thematic focus on Classical Modernity, the Munich Highlights 2026 send a strong signal in the international art fair calendar. The combination of high-caliber individual presentations – such as the Berlin focus of the Samuelis Baumgarte Gallery – and a broad historical spectrum from Gothic to the present makes the fair from October 15-18, 2026 at the Munich Residence a must-visit for art lovers, collectors and professionals. It remains exciting to observe how this focus on Classical Modernity will further develop in future editions of the fair and what new dialogues between past and present will emerge.</p>