Haus der Kunst in Munich: Current exhibitions, tips and information

Why visit Haus der Kunst?

Unlike traditional museums, Haus der Kunst does not maintain its own permanent collection. Instead, it operates solely as an exhibition venue, which is one of its greatest strengths. This approach allows the museum to dedicate ample space to its dynamic and ever-changing programs.

What does it offer? With its exhibitions, performances and music events, Haus der Kunst is one of the world's leading centers for contemporary art. The Haus der Kunst is not only committed to examining the history and stories of contemporary art, but also sees it as its task to bring these stories to a wider public.

What makes it unique? With its program, Haus der Kunst makes it clear that the lines of development of contemporary art do not run within fixed boundaries and categories, but across national borders, social classes and cultural and social milieus. They are global and multi-layered - connecting lines, not borders.
Haus der Kunst works in an interdisciplinary manner and incorporates different points of view. Current social issues of the highest relevance, such as climate change, post-colonialism, feminism or inclusion, are negotiated in the critical context of their historical dimension.

Archive Gallery: Visit the eventful history of the house

The Haus der Kunst has an eventful history: the construction of the museum was originally commissioned by Adolf Hitler to create a “Haus der Deutschen Kunst” (House of German Art). During the Nazi regime, the exhibitions showed art that was perceived as conformist by National Socialist propaganda. The artistic avant-garde of the time was defamed.

If you would like to learn more about the history of the museum, you can visit the free “Archive Gallery” in the central hall. There, documentation provides information about the history of the building. Autonomous archives also present their holdings.

Guided tours and formats

A free audio guide to the exhibition is already included in the admission price. Haus der Kunst also offers many different guided tour formats. These include, among others

• Exhibition tours in German and English
• Exhibition tours in other foreign languages
• Guided tours by curators: First-hand information on the exhibition concept
• Private tours for groups and school classes.
• Inclusive guided tours in sign language, for the visually impaired and people with dementia
• Themed tour “Baby listens in” (for parents with baby / toddler)
• Pop-up yoga in the exhibition

Gastronomy: Golden Bar in the Haus der Kunst

• At the rear of the building, the Goldene Bar welcomes its guests in a historic ambience - and not just during museum hours.
• The basement of the building is also home to Munich's most famous disco: the P1

Admission prices

House ticket Large:

• 15 € regular
• 11 € reduced for pensioners, severely disabled persons, BBK, etc.
• 5 € reduced for students, pupils, trainees, journalists
• House ticket Small:
  10 € regular
  8 € reduced for pensioners, severely disabled persons, BBK, etc.
  5 € reduced for students, pupils, trainees, journalists
• Annual ticket 365 Live: 100 €
• Free admission (“open house”): Every last Friday of the month is Open House with free admission from 4-10 pm.

Exhibition openings, lectures and workshops
The museum offers regular artist talks, panel discussions, workshops, seminars and film screenings for art lovers. Haus der Kunst also organizes concerts and performances.

Museum bookshop and historical archive

• Walther König's museum bookshop picks up on themes from current exhibitions in its changing selection of art, design and children's books.
• The museum's historical archive has also been available to researchers since 2005. Here, you can view source material from exhibitions dating back to the 1930s.

Online offer: #HDKfromHome

• A museum blog (in German) offers a wealth of information about the current and upcoming exhibitions, as well as illustrative video tutorials to help you get creative.
• Lectures, artist talks, curator interviews and performances for all exhibitions are uploaded to the official YouTube channel.
• Haus der Kunst is also on Instagram (@haus_der_kunst) and Facebook (Haus der Kunst).

History: The Haus der Kunst through the ages

Since its opening in 1937 as the “Haus der Deutschen Kunst” (House of German Art), the building served National Socialist art policy and became its most important institution. After the Second World War, the American army initially used the building as an officers' mess, but since 1946 it has also repeatedly hosted art exhibitions. Since then, Haus der Kunst has become an international center for contemporary art exhibitions and is now one of the most renowned museums for contemporary art in the world.