Date
5 November 2026 – 21 February 2027
Location
» KunstpalastAdmission: 16 € / concessions 12 €
Children / young people under 18: free
Members of Friends of the Kunstpalast: free

The Kunstpalast collection is always in motion, and for the GeSoLei centenary we’re taking that literally – installing a sports circuit at the heart of the galleries.
In 1926, the Ehrenhof complex and its surroundings hosted the Great Exhibition for Public Health, Social Welfare and Physical Exercise (GeSoLei), the largest fair of the Weimar Republic, which attracted roughly 7.5 million visitors. Sport formed one of its key areas, a strand we pick up a century later and translate into a contemporary format. Rings, a rowing machine, a ping-pong table, a balance board and more will be placed throughout the collection galleries. Visitors are invited to use the equipment: a way to experience the exhibition differently and to set their own physical rhythm in dialogue with the art on view.
Picture credits
Picture credits
Date
5 July – 9 Aug 2026
Location
» Kunstpalast & NRW-ForumAdmission: 16 € / concessions 12 €
Children / young people under 18: free
Members of Friends of the Kunstpalast: free

DIE GROSSE is Germany’s oldest and largest sales exhibition organised entirely by artists. Organised by the VzVvK e.V., it is traditionally held at the Kunstpalast and also at the NRW-Forum Düsseldorf.
It is an important platform for promoting and selling contemporary art in the region. Every summer, works of art from all disciplines are presented in four halls and in the outdoor area. Approximately 180 artists, selected by a rotating jury of experts, participate in the exhibition. To this day, DIE GROSSE remains a reliable reflection of developments in art and is considered a meeting place for professionals in the industry.
Organisation: Verein zur Veranstaltung von Kunstausstellungen e.V.
Picture Credits
Picture Credits
Niki de Saint Phalle
Dream Machine
10 September 2026 – 7 February 2027
Date
10 September 2026 – 7 February 2027
Location
» KunstpalastAdmission: 16 € / concessions 12 €
Children / young people under 18: free
Members of Friends of the Kunstpalast: free

The work of Niki de Saint Phalle (1930–2002) mounts a radical challenge to the discrimination of women and asserts a new, monumental vision of femininity. The Kunstpalast presents her iconic female figures, shooting paintings, happenings, sculptures and films, along with models for large-scale outdoor works, with particular attention to how she carved out artistic autonomy within a male-dominated field. “Nana Power!” – seen from today’s vantage point, her singular practice and her determination to upend gender relations place her squarely within the sphere of feminist activism, even if she never claimed the term herself.
The exhibition places de Saint Phalle’s work in dialogue with selected pieces by her contemporaries. Encounters with artist friends such as Jean Tinguely, Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg, as well as Yayoi Kusama and Dorothy Iannone, sharpen the contours of her position and illuminate the enduring impact of her artistic legacy.
Curator: Heike van den Valentyn
Photo Credits
Photo Credits
Date
25 September 2026 – 10 January 2027
Location
» KunstpalastAdmission: 16 € / concessions 12 €
Children / young people under 18: free
Members of Friends of the Kunstpalast: free

Jörg Immendorff (1945–2007) was hailed internationally in the late twentieth century as one of the most influential German artists of his generation. A self-styled Malerfürst (“painter prince”), he cultivated a combative persona and led a notoriously contentious life. All the more striking, then, that the exhibition planned for autumn 2026 will be his first full retrospective in Düsseldorf: the city where he studied, taught and worked for decades.

Developed in collaboration with the artist’s estate, the project follows every stage of his career, from his early years at the academy to the works produced in his final Düsseldorf studio. Around 100 objects – including major painting cycles, wood and bronze sculptures, and previously unseen drawings and archival material – chart the breadth of his practice. Beyond the sheer range of his output, the exhibition foregrounds Immendorff’s persistent interrogation of the artist’s place in society, as well as his responses to the political urgencies of his era and the contradictions that fuelled his public image.
Curators: Felicity Korn and Westrey Page
Picture Credits
Picture Credits
Date
15 October 2026 – 7 February 2027
Location
» KunstpalastAdmission: 16 € / concessions 12 €
Children / young people under 18: free
Members of Friends of the Kunstpalast: free

In autumn 2026, the Kunstpalast will stage a major exhibition dedicated to Düsseldorf artist Winfried Gaul, featuring around 120 paintings and works on paper from the collection donated by Willi Kemp in 2011. Spanning 1955 to 1997, the show offers a wide-ranging survey of Gaul’s practice and highlights the close relationship between the artist and his collector.

Winfried Gaul (1928–2003) helped shape post-war art in Germany through his conviction that non-objective painting offered a path to renewal. His work shifts between openness and rigour, expression and sign, rootedness and distance; each brushstroke tests the interplay of colour, line and surface. A two-time documenta participant, he navigated the space between the free gesture of Art Informel and the strict order of geometric form. The works on view span more than four decades – from spontaneous wipe paintings and signal-like road signs to variations on colour-field painting – revealing an artist who, until his death, continually reinvented his approach to colour.
Picture Credits
Picture Credits
Smells like Branding
How scent shapes brands and emotions
Buy Tickets
Please choose a date:

Please note that the event will be held in German.
‘There is a persuasive power in scent that is stronger than words, sight, feeling and will.’ This famous quote from Patrick Süskind’s classic novel ‘Perfume’ describes the seemingly irresistible power of scent. But can ambient scents really influence consumer behaviour in the long term? Can the use of ambient scents improve the perception of services, for example? Do ambient scents also have an effect when we are not consciously aware of them? And how do we react when a familiar ambient scent is suddenly discontinued?
After short guided tours of the exhibition ‘The Secret Power of Scents’, Prof. Marko Sarstedt will address these and many other questions in his lecture.
In a subsequent panel discussion, Sarstedt, Dr Katharina Baumgarten-Sudmann from Henkel and Robert Müller-Grünow, curator of the exhibition, will talk about how smell shapes brands and influences emotions.
The event is being held in cooperation with the Marketing Club Düsseldorf. After the discussion, there will be an opportunity for further exchange in the bar in the Creamcheese Room.
Schedule
6:00 p.m. Short tours of the exhibition ‘The Secret Power of Scents’
6:45 p.m. Lecture by Prof. Marko Sarstedt
7:05 p.m. Panel discussion and Q&A
7:45 p.m. Networking
Marko Sarstedt is Professor of Marketing at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich and Associate Professor at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj, Romania. His research focuses on improving statistical analysis methods to better understand consumer behaviour. In March 2022, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Babeș-Bolyai University for his research achievements and international cooperation.
Dr Katharina Baumgarten-Sudmann is Vice President Research & Development at Henkel Consumer Brands Europe. The Persil brand also belongs to Henkel. Washing with Persil has been part of everyday life in German households for over a hundred years. Its characteristic smell brings back childhood memories for many people.
Robert Müller-Grünow is a pioneer in fragrance technologies, author of the book ‘Die geheime Macht der Düfte’ (The Secret Power of Fragrances) and curator of the exhibition of the same name, which can be seen from 29 October 2025 to 8 March 2026 in the Kunstpalast’s collection tour.
Sparda’s Palastrauschen
Bühne für digitale Medienkunst, Performances und Musik.
Diesmal im NRW-Forum

Es rauscht wieder: diesmal im NRW-Forum!
Bei Sparda’s Palastrauschen wird das NRW-Forum zur Bühne für digitale Konzertformate, Performances und Installationen. Studierende des Instituts für Musik und Medien der Robert Schumann Hochschule präsentieren ihre Arbeiten. Begleitet wird der Abend durch zwei DJ-Sets, live gestreamt von Callshop Radio, der unabhängigen Onlineradiostation.
Sparda’s Palastrauschen wird ermöglicht durch die Unterstützung der Stiftung der Sparda-Bank West!
Hinweis:
Einlass ab 18 Jahren
Bei unseren Veranstaltungen werden Foto- und Filmaufnahmen gemacht, die für nachfolgende Veröffentlichungen verwendet werden.
Fabian Köster
Comedy
Gastveranstaltung
Tickets online kaufen
Date
Fri 13 Mar 2026, 20:00
Location
» Robert-Schumann-SaalTicket-Preise
35,45 € zzgl. Servicegebühren

Fabian Köster – LIVE
Seit 10 Jahren ist er bekannt für seine scharfsinnigen Fragen, pointierten Kommentare und seine charmante Hartnäckigkeit als Reporter der heute-show.
Jetzt geht Fabian Köster live auf die Bühne!
Mit schelmischem Grinsen und beißendem Sarkasmus analysiert er das aktuelle politische Geschehen und plaudert zudem über seine seine Erlebnisse aus 10 Jahren im Dienste der “Lügenpresse“.
Fabian Köster gewährt erstmals exklusive Einblicke hinter die Kulissen seiner Begegnungen mit Politikerinnen und Politikern. Wie reagiert der Kanzler, wenn die Kameras aus sind? Welche Interviews liefen völlig aus dem Ruder? Und welche Momente sind nie im Fernsehen gelandet?
Mit gewohntem Witz und einer gehörigen Portion Selbstironie erzählt Fabian von seinen Erlebnissen, zeigt seine Lieblings-Interviews und natürlich alle Essens-Posts von Markus Söder auf Instagram.
Ein Abend voller skurriler Anekdoten, unerwarteter Wendungen und jeder Menge Lacher – man könnte es auch anders formulieren:
10 Jahre Reporter – fast – ohne Grenzen
Eine linksversiffte Systemhure packt aus!
Verpasst nicht die erste Live-Show von Fabian Köster!
Veranstalter: HIGHlive Entertainment GmbH
Informationen zum Ticketkauf
Tickets direkt online kaufen
Scent & Science
Lecture by Prof. Hanns Hatt
The secret power of scents
Cancelled

Im Rahmen der Ausstellung freuen wir uns, Prof. Hanns Hatt begrüßen zu dürfen, einen der weltweit führenden Geruchsforscher und Professor für Zellphysiologie an der Ruhr-Universität Bochum. Er widmet sich seit Jahrzehnten der Erforschung des menschlichen Geruchssinns. Gemeinsam mit seinem Team entdeckte Prof. Hatt, dass Duftrezeptoren auch außerhalb der Nase in allen Zellen des menschlichen Körpers vorhanden sind.
In seinem Vortrag nimmt der promovierte Zoologe, Humanphysiologe und Mediziner uns mit auf eine faszinierende Reise durch die Welt der Düfte: Wie beeinflussen Gerüche unsere Emotionen, Entscheidungen und sogar unsere Gesundheit? Welche Rolle spielen sie in der Zellkommunikation? Und wie lassen sich diese Erkenntnisse für Medizin, Kosmetik und Kultur nutzen?
Nobuyuki Tsujii, Klavier
Klavier-Festival Ruhr
Gastveranstaltung
Tickets online kaufen

Peter I. Tschaikowsky
Nussknacker-Suite (Arr. Mikhail Pletnev)
Frédéric Chopin
Nocturnes Nr. 7 in cis-Moll & Nr. 8 in Des-Dur, Op. 27
Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise brillante in Es-Dur, Op. 22
Edvard Grieg
Aus den Lyrischen Stücken:
– Arietta & Valse aus Buch 1, Op. 12
– Erotikk aus Buch 3, Op. 43
– Trolltog („Zug der Zwerge“) & Notturno aus Buch 5, Op. 54
– llupsdag på Troldhaugen („Hochzeitstag auf Troldhaugen“) aus Buch 8, Op. 65
Claude Debussy
Rêverie
Images, Buch 1
Tsujii, geboren 1988 in Tokio, ist längst eine Legende: Seit seinem Sieg beim Van Cliburn International Piano Competition 2009 begeistert er weltweit mit einer Kunst, die technische Brillanz und emotionale Tiefe vereint. Seine Fähigkeit, Musik auswendig zu lernen und mit unvergleichlicher Ausdruckskraft zu gestalten, macht jedes Konzert zu einem Ereignis. „Ich möchte, dass die Musik direkt ins Herz spricht“, sagt Tsujii – und genau das gelingt ihm.
Veranstalter: Stiftung Klavier-Festival Ruhr

















