The Ateneum Art Museum presents a diverse programme throughout the year, combining major temporary exhibitions on the third floor with its permanent collection on the second floor. Visitors can explore Finnish and international art across different periods and themes, take part in guided introductions and workshops, and enjoy interactive experiences designed also for children, including the Children’s Path within selected exhibitions.
Modern Classics Series: Elga Seseman
18.8.2026–8.8.2027
The first exhibition in the series focuses on Elga Sesemann.
Sesemann’s career offers a compelling example of a professional female artist working in Finland. She remained active throughout her life, with her artistic expression evolving until the mid-1990s, and produced an extensive body of work. Although she participated in nearly one hundred exhibitions during her lifetime, broader recognition of her work has grown in recent years. Since the early 2000s, institutions such as the Ateneum and Tampere Art Museum have presented her work in major exhibitions.
Arcana Borealis – Northern Women and Esotericism
23.10.2026–28.2.2027
Arcana Borealis – Northern Women and Esotericism explores how Northern European women artists have engaged with spiritual and esoteric ideas since the late 19th century. The exhibition highlights both artistic networks and the importance of collaboration across the Nordic region and internationally.
Key themes include the relationship between humans and nature, the connection between spirit and matter, and broader questions about existence. While Hilma af Klint is widely recognised in this context, the exhibition expands the perspective to include a broader range of artists. Among those featured are Anna-Eva Bergman, Sonja Ferlov Mancoba, Maja Fjaestad, Iria Leino, Outi Pieski, Laila Pullinen, Elga Sesemann and Ellen Thesleff, spanning more than a century of artistic work.
Guided Introductions
On the third Sunday of each month, the Ateneum offers an introduction to the exhibition in Finnish, Swedish, English and Russian. Held in the Ateneum Hall, the presentation lasts approximately 30 minutes and provides visitors with a visual overview before they continue exploring the exhibition independently.
The Permanent Collection: A Question of Time
On the second floor, the museum’s current collection exhibition, A Question of Time, presents Finnish and international art through three thematic perspectives. The Age of Nature considers environmental change, Images of a People explores representations of Finnish identity and Modern Life reflects on contemporary experiences.
To deepen the experience, visitors can explore the artworks through the Ateneum Guide. This audio guide offers additional perspectives and descriptions, allowing you to engage more closely with selected works in the exhibition. It works directly in your phone’s internet browser and is easy to use: simply scan a QR code or enter the artwork number found on the exhibit label to access the related audio. The main view of the guide also provides an overview of all audio-described works included in the exhibition.
Alongside the exhibition, The Flow of Time – Ateneum art and history offers a broader context for the artworks. This interactive timeline, available on-site at the museum, connects Ateneum’s collection with the history of the building as well as key events in Finnish and world history. Featuring more than 200 works from the collection, many of which are also part of A Question of Time, the timeline spans from the 1700s to the 1990s, creating meaningful connections across different periods and themes.
Visiting with Children
The Studio on the second floor offers a relaxed and creative space for visitors of all ages. Located near the main exhibition hall, it functions as a place to pause, reflect and spend time together. The artworks in the Studio change regularly, and the space invites visitors to draw, read, rest or simply enjoy a quiet moment between exhibitions.
The Children’s Ateneum Guide is for spotting, solving, colouring and customising – a visit to the museum is a shared adventure. Collect a stamp at the ticket desk and bring the guide along on your next visit too. You can get your own guide at the museum.
Ateneum Bistro and Café Höijer – Enjoy Food and Coffee During Your Visit
At the Ateneum Bistro, visitors can take a relaxed break in an atmospheric setting, enjoying seasonal bistro-style lunch ranging from weekday lunches to à la carte options, as well as sweet and savoury treats served with coffee or tea, all following the museum’s opening hours. Afternoon tea is also available, offering a selection of small delicacies for a more leisurely experience. Higher up, on the third floor, Café Höijer provides a more intimate café experience in the middle of the exhibition spaces, accessible to museum visitors, where classic café products, wines and coffees are served to the table in a refined setting. Together, these spaces complement a visit to the Ateneum Art Museum, offering moments to pause, reflect and continue the experience beyond the galleries.
Exploring Ateneum
Together, these exhibitions and experiences make the Ateneum Art Museum a destination that can be explored in many ways, whether through major retrospectives, thematic collections or quieter moments of observation. The programme for 2026 invites visitors to spend time with art at their own pace, moving between different periods, ideas and perspectives.
Located in the heart of Helsinki, the Ateneum is easy to include as part of a wider visit to the city, whether as a focused cultural experience or a place to pause during the day. With its combination of exhibitions, interactive elements and spaces to relax, the museum offers a well-rounded experience that connects art, history and everyday life.
