Temporary Exhibitions at the Prado Museum: What’s On
Temporary exhibitions at the Prado Museum are included in the standard €15 general admission ticket — no separate entry fee is required. They are typically displayed in the Jerónimos Building and run for three to four months at a time. The Prado stages three to five major temporary exhibitions per year, often bringing significant loans from international collections. Timed-entry slots for temporary exhibitions may be required during peak periods and should be checked at the time of booking.
The Prado’s permanent collection is vast enough that temporary exhibitions can feel like an afterthought — but they are not. The museum stages three to five major exhibitions per year, each typically focused on a specific artist, period, theme, or collection that complements or deepens understanding of what the permanent galleries contain. These are serious curatorial events, not peripheral programming, and they bring works to Madrid that are otherwise inaccessible outside their home institutions.
This guide explains how the Prado’s temporary exhibitions work, where to find what is currently on, and how to plan your visit if an exhibition is part of your reason for coming to the museum.
Top Tickets
Are Temporary Exhibitions Included in General Admission?
Yes. The Prado’s general admission ticket (€15) includes access to both the permanent collection and all current temporary exhibitions. There is no surcharge for temporary exhibitions, which is unusual for a major international museum — the Louvre, the British Museum, and the National Gallery in London all charge separately for their major temporary shows.
The one exception to this rule is occasional special events or preview screenings associated with an exhibition — these may have separate ticketing. Check the museum’s website for any current exceptions.
Where Are Temporary Exhibitions Held?
Temporary exhibitions are primarily displayed in the Jerónimos Building — the contemporary extension connected to the Villanueva Building’s rear. The Jerónimos Building was completed in 2007 (designed by Rafael Moneo) and was specifically conceived to provide flexible gallery space for exhibitions. Its rooms C and D are the main exhibition halls, with a dedicated ticket desk and exit on the south side of the building.
Some exhibitions, particularly those that work in dialogue with the permanent collection, may extend into specific rooms of the Villanueva Building. The museum provides maps of any such installations at the entrance.
What Kind of Exhibitions Does the Prado Stage?
The Prado’s exhibition programme typically falls into several categories:
Monographic exhibitions focused on a single artist
These are often the most significant events in the Prado’s calendar — deep explorations of an artist whose work is strongly represented in the permanent collection or who has a meaningful connection to Spain. Past examples have included major retrospectives of Velázquez, El Greco, Zurbarán, Ribera, and Rubens, often bringing together works scattered across international collections for the first time in decades.
Thematic exhibitions exploring a period or movement
Broader surveys of a specific school, era, or subject — for example, Spanish court portraiture, the influence of the Italian Renaissance on Flemish painting, or the relationship between religious iconography and political power in 17th-century Spain.
Collection exhibitions from international partner institutions
Loans from major museums including the Louvre and from partner institutions in Vienna, London, and New York, and from private collections. These exhibitions bring works to Madrid that would otherwise require international travel to see.
Exhibitions focused on the Prado’s own holdings
Research-driven exhibitions that present newly conserved works, recently acquired pieces, or aspects of the collection that the permanent hang does not fully address — drawings, prints, tapestries, or decorative objects that are not routinely on display.
How Long Do Exhibitions Run?
Most Prado temporary exhibitions run for approximately three to four months. A small number of major exhibitions run for up to six months. Opening dates and closing dates are announced through the museum’s official website (museodelprado.es) and through the museum’s press office.
If an exhibition is part of your reason for visiting Madrid, confirm that it will still be running on your planned travel dates well in advance. Some exhibitions are extended due to popular demand; others close as scheduled regardless of interest.
Do Temporary Exhibitions Require a Separate Timed-Entry Slot?
For most exhibitions, entry is included in the standard timed-entry ticket and does not require a separate reservation. However, during peak periods or for particularly high-profile exhibitions, the museum may implement a separate timed-entry system for the exhibition galleries in addition to the general admission slot.
Check the museum’s website at the time of booking — any additional timed-entry requirement for the current exhibition will be clearly indicated. If a separate slot is required, book it at the same time as your general admission ticket.
How to Find Out What Is Currently On
The most reliable source for current exhibition information is the Prado’s own website. For an overview of what the official website contains and how to navigate it, see our official website guide.
The Exhibitions section of museodelprado.es lists:
- Currently running exhibitions with dates and room locations
- Upcoming exhibitions with announced opening dates
- Recently closed exhibitions with archive material
- Associated events — lectures, guided visits, catalogue launches
The museum also maintains active social media accounts on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) where exhibition announcements, installation photography, and event information are posted.
Planning Your Visit Around a Temporary Exhibition
Book tickets in advance. If a specific exhibition is drawing international attention or coincides with a peak travel period, timed-entry slots for the most popular entry windows sell out. The Prado entry ticket should be booked as early as possible if you have a fixed travel date.
Allocate time separately for the exhibition. A significant temporary exhibition adds at least 45–90 minutes to a Prado visit. If you are planning to see both the permanent highlights and a major exhibition in a single visit, allow at least 4 hours total. See our how long to spend guide for timing advice.
Visit the exhibition at a different time of day from the permanent collection highlights. The Prado’s most visited permanent gallery rooms (Las Meninas in Room 12, Bosch in Room 66) are at their quietest early in the morning. Temporary exhibition galleries are typically accessible throughout the day without the same pressure. A practical approach: visit Las Meninas and the essential permanent highlights in the first 90 minutes, then move to the temporary exhibition in the mid-morning or afternoon when the permanent galleries are busier.
Purchase the exhibition catalogue if available. The Prado publishes substantial scholarly catalogues for most of its major exhibitions, available in the museum shop. These are significant publications in their own right and serve as a lasting record of the exhibition’s content and the research behind it.
The Prado’s Exhibition History: Context
The Prado has been staging major temporary exhibitions since the 1980s, and the programme has grown significantly since the completion of the Jerónimos Building in 2007 provided dedicated space. Previous exhibitions have included landmark events in European museum history — surveys of Velázquez, El Greco, and Goya that brought together works from dozens of international institutions and attracted audiences from across Europe and beyond.
The exhibition programme also serves a research function: exhibitions often prompt new scholarly work on the artists and periods they cover, and the associated catalogues contribute to the field of art history in ways that extend beyond the museum visit itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are temporary exhibitions included in the Prado Museum admission ticket?
Yes — the standard €15 general admission ticket includes access to all current temporary exhibitions at no extra charge. This is unusual among major international museums. Occasional special preview events associated with an exhibition may have separate ticketing; check the museum’s website for current exceptions.
Where are temporary exhibitions held at the Prado Museum?
Temporary exhibitions are primarily held in the Jerónimos Building, the contemporary extension completed in 2007 and designed by Rafael Moneo. Rooms C and D are the main exhibition halls. Some exhibitions may also extend into specific rooms of the Villanueva Building when they are designed to work in dialogue with the permanent collection.
How often does the Prado Museum change its temporary exhibitions?
The Prado stages three to five major temporary exhibitions per year. Each typically runs for three to four months, though some significant exhibitions run for up to six months. Exhibitions do not rotate on a fixed cycle — check museodelprado.es for current opening and closing dates.
Do I need to book a separate timed-entry slot for temporary exhibitions at the Prado?
For most exhibitions, entry is included in the standard timed-entry ticket with no separate reservation required. During peak periods or for particularly high-profile exhibitions, the museum may introduce an additional timed-entry slot for the exhibition galleries. Any such requirement will be clearly indicated on the booking page at the time of purchase.
How long should I allow to see a temporary exhibition at the Prado?
A significant temporary exhibition adds 45 to 90 minutes to a Prado visit. If you plan to see both the permanent collection highlights and a major temporary exhibition in a single visit, allow at least four hours in total. Temporary exhibition galleries are typically less congested than the permanent collection’s most popular rooms and can be visited at any point during the day.
