Accademia di Brera Celebrates 250 Years with Year-Long Program

The Accademia di Brera in Milan, founded on January 22, 1776, will celebrate its 250th anniversary throughout 2026 with a series of exhibitions and events organized in collaboration with the Pinacoteca di Brera and Grande Brera. The program begins with an honorary degree awarded to artist Giulio Paolini at the opening of the academic year. Major exhibitions include a selection of student sculptures opening June 30, a new media art show on July 2 at the former church of San Carpoforo, and open studios during summer months. In autumn, the Scuole di Grafica e Decorazione exhibition will be held at the former church of San Vittore in Corvetto, alongside a show of recent graduates in the Cortile della Magnolia. Two institutional exhibitions are planned for autumn 2026: one dedicated to Francesco Hayez, organized with the Pinacoteca, and 'Brera Modern and Contemporary' at Palazzo Citterio's Sala Stirling, highlighting professors such as Lucio Fontana, Marino Marini, Luciano Fabro, Grazia Varisco, and Ugo La Pietra. A permanent photo exhibition 'Brera svelata' will open in summer in the public spaces of Palazzo di Brera. The Accademia, Italy's largest with 4,500 students and 400 faculty, will also publish the first volume of 'La Storia della Scuola di Pittura dell'Accademia di Brera' and unveil a new logo by The Branding Letters based on a medal by Giuseppe Bossi. Milan's culture assessor Tommaso Sacchi described the Brera system as 'unique in the world.'