Albuquerque is home to many unique museums. While these museums have incredible permanent collections that can be enjoyed time and time again, they also curate engaging temporary exhibits throughout the year. Check out one of these exhibits at a museum in Albuquerque in 2026.
516 Arts
516 Arts curates thought-provoking contemporary art exhibits. The current exhibit at the museum is called “The Armor We Wear,” and explores how clothing can become a symbol of identity. The exhibition runs through April 25, 2026.
Albuquerque Museum
Photo Credit: Albuquerque Museum
The Albuquerque Museum will celebrate the Route 66 Centennial with two exhibits in 2026. “Fred Harvey’s Route 66” will feature maps, postcards and brochures from the Fred Harvey Company, famous for operating hotels and Harvey House restaurants in the American West from the early to mid-1900s. This exhibit will run from April 11 to Dec. 6, 2026. “The Other Route 66: 100 Years of People, Identity, and Place in Albuquerque” can be viewed from June 6, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027. This exhibit will feature historic objects, photographs and more focusing on the untold stories of New Mexicans who helped shape Route 66.
From April 4 to Dec. 13, 2026, “High Desert Ballyhoo” will feature images taken during the 1930s to promote tourism in New Mexico. “The Woods Before Sunrise: Environment and Place in New Mexico's Black Contemporary” is an exhibition of nine New Mexico-based contemporary artists who question what makes a landscape. View the exhibition from June 20 to Oct. 18, 2026. Examine historic objects, photographs and more of the New Mexico State Fair from July 11, 2026 to Feb. 14, 2027, at the “Fun at the State Fair!” exhibition.
Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum
The Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum will feature an art exhibition of a black-and-white mural with colorful hot air balloons created by K-12 youth. The exhibit is scheduled to open in June 2026 and will be displayed for about a year.
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
Photo Credit: Jeremy Felipe, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026 and will have special exhibitions to mark the occasion. “Grounded in Clay: The Spirit of Pueblo Pottery” is a national touring exhibit that showcases historic Pueblo pottery. View these pieces at the IPCC from March 20, 2026, to Feb. 21, 2027. Examine 50 objects from the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center’s archives and collections in the exhibit “50 For 50: Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 1976-2026.” The exhibit will run March 20, 2026, through Feb. 15, 2027.
National Hispanic Cultural Center
The National Hispanic Cultural Center will host an exhibition titled “Nuclear Past, Present, and Future: Art in Action” from April 10, 2026, to Jan. 24, 2027. This collaboration with the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium will examine the impacts of nuclear technologies on communities.
National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
Photo Credit: Facebook
See 90 black and white photographs captured by Darin Boville while he explored nuclear weapon displays across the country. “American Nukes: A Photography Exhibit” will be on display at the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History through July 5, 2026.
Beginning March 6, 2026, museum visitors will be able to visit the Museum Artifact Center that houses a collection of 40 nuclear artifacts from the Manhattan Project through the Cold War. Admission into the Museum Artifact Center is a $10 add-on to a general admission ticket for adults and $5 for youth ages 6-17.
New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science
The New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science is expected to reopen April 4, 2026, after a months-long renovation project. Guests will be able to explore some new amenities, including a redesigned box office and expanded gift shop, and some familiar favorites like Bella, the animatronic Bisti Beast.
