For a quarter of a century, the MuseumsQuartier Wien has been much more than an ensemble of museums, courtyards, and institutions: it is an urban space of possibilities, a living promise of openness, a cultural biotope. To mark its 25th anniversary in 2026, the MQ will celebrate not only its anniversary under the motto "Generation MQ," but also the people, ideas, and attitudes that have shaped this place since its opening in 2001—and continue to reinvent it.

Since its inception, the MQ has seen itself as the "living room of the Viennese," a "third place" between everyday life and art, between retreat and public exchange. Generation MQ therefore does not refer to an age group, but rather an attitude: a community that enlivens, inhabits, and plays in the area and sees it as a living work of art. "In this way, we celebrate people who have shaped or are shaping the MQ in a unique way—and everyone who finds inspiration here," says MQ Director Bettina Leidl.

Daria Koltsova, Kiosk (2025) and Postcards from Home (2024–25), Courtesy of the artist

The central venue for the anniversary celebrations is the MQ Freiraum, which in 2026 will become a platform for retrospectives and visions of the future. From February 26 to May 31, The Material Show and the solo exhibition Milica Živković – The Roots of Small Fires will set contemporary accents. From June 30, 2026, to January 25, 2027, the major anniversary exhibition Vision and Resistance – How the MuseumsQuartier changed the city of Vienna will be dedicated to the eventful history of the area's development: from the baroque court stables to the exhibition palace to today's cultural complex – told through plans, models, documents, and artistic interventions.
Special attention will be paid to the protagonists of the MQ: photography legend Elfie Semotan is portraying 25 personalities who have shaped the MQ over the decades for the 25th anniversary campaign. The portraits, including personal statements, will be presented in spring 2026. In addition, the eSeL x MQ Moments project, starting in May 2026, invites visitors to rediscover memories, myths, and collective stories of the MQ—as a journey of shared experiences.

Milica Živković, A Life A Flash, 2021, Courtesy of the artist

The birthday itself will be celebrated publicly: on July 2, 2026, the MQ main courtyard will be transformed into a stage for performances, concerts, guided tours, and artistic interventions. The symposium "Museums Shape the Future" on September 29, 2026, at the MQ Libelle will look ahead to the future: questions of social participation, responsibility, and visions for the future of museums will be discussed.
Last but not least, the MQ Artist-in-Residence program remains at the heart of the area. In 2026, up to 60 international artists will continue to work on site—with thematic focuses ranging from art and ecology to international focus studios in Moldova and South Africa.
25 years of the MQ do not mean looking back alone, but living in the present and embracing the future. Generation MQ is not an anniversary milestone – but an ongoing dialogue between city, art, and life.
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