6 October 2026·6 min readFor business & creators

Exhibitions in Moscow: How to Choose, Where to Go and Where to Eat Afterwards

Exhibitions are one of the most common answers to "what to do in Moscow". Dozens of shows run in the city at any given time, and choosing one can be harder than actually going.

Types of exhibitions

Classics – painting, sculpture, major museum projects.
Contemporary art – installations, video art, work by young artists.
Photography – from documentary to fashion.
Immersive exhibitions – with projections, sound and light, where you can "step into" the painting. A great choice for a first date and for photos.

The main venues

The Pushkin Museum on Volkhonka – classics and major international exhibitions.
The Tretyakov Gallery in Lavrushinsky Lane and the New Tretyakov on Krymsky Val – Russian art from icons to the avant-garde.
Garage Museum of Contemporary Art in Gorky Park – contemporary art and large-scale projects.
GES-2 on Bolotnaya Embankment – a large cultural centre next to Red October.
Muzeon – an open-air sculpture park.

How to choose

Look at three things: the theme, the length (an hour-long show or half a day) and the format – a calm classical exhibition or a loud immersive one. For popular shows it's best to buy tickets in advance and go on a weekday.

Exhibitions in Moscow in autumn and October 2026

Autumn is the main exhibition season: museums and galleries open new projects in September and October, and major shows run until the end of the year. To find what's on right now, check museum listings a week ahead – almost every one has a "today's exhibitions" section.

Free exhibitions

There are several ways to see exhibitions in Moscow for free: many museums are free on a set day of the month, some city galleries and exhibition halls are always free, and outdoor photo exhibitions run along the boulevards and in parks.

Contemporary art and galleries

Contemporary art is easiest to find in art clusters – former factories and plants where several galleries share one roof. There are usually cafés and bookshops there too, so a visit easily turns into a whole day out.

What to see in the centre today

If you've decided to go to an exhibition today, start in the centre: Prechistenka and Volkhonka, Lavrushinsky Lane near Tretyakovskaya, Manezhnaya Square, Gostiny Dvor. You can walk between them and see two exhibitions in one day.

Where to go afterwards

An exhibition is a good reason to carry on the evening: there are plenty of cafés and restaurants near the central museums. After the Pushkin Museum and the Tretyakov, head to Zamoskvorechye and Ostozhenka; after Garage, to the cafés of Gorky Park; after GES-2, to the bars of Red October.

Invitations to exhibitions and events

In the private INVITN club, besides restaurants and bars, there are invitations to exhibitions, festivals and events. The creator gets a pass, attends and tells their audience about the event.

Join the club as a creator · For organisers – find creators