The Joanneum is bursting into BLOOM!

Flowers are desired, loved and traded. They are seen as a symbol of peace, of life’s fragility and of enlightenment. These facets, and others, form the starting point for the Universalmuseum Joanneum and the Kunsthaus Graz to present the flower in all its facets in 2026: titled BLOOM, ten exhibitions show how flowers connect cultures, though also drive colonialism; how they inspire scientists and thereby create myths; and how they accompany humans from the cradle to the grave. From spring through to autumn, BLOOM invites visitors to delve deeper into the flower and its close relationship with humans. The high point is the festival month in June 2026, when the eight locations come into bloom with a wide range of events.

BLOOM is an invitation, a brightly coloured bouquet of themes urging visitors to discover the irresistible charm of flowers – their allure for both humans and animals, their radical capacity for adaptation, and their function as a mirror of society.

The exhibitions are complemented by a variety of educational programs across all eight locations, ranging from low-threshold formats to evening events in cooperation with partner institutions.

On 14 June, the Flower Power Festival will take place at the Austrian Sculpture Park as part of BLOOM.

At the Alte Galerie, the programme Expensive Flowers (21 May – 31 October 2026) is dedicated to the depiction of flowers in Old Master art – from magnificent bouquets in Baroque still lifes to symbolic blossoms in religious scenes.

At the park of Schloss Eggenberg, the education programme A Flourishing Age in Eggenberg (21 May – 31 October 2026) explores floral motifs in state rooms and garden landscapes and invites visitors to special guided tours of the historic Rose Hill.