The Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, the KMSKA, has set a new visitor record for the third year in a row. A total of almost 570,000 people visited the museum last year. The Hans Op de Beeck exhibition, Nachtreis, attracted an unprecedented number of visitors. It was the most visited exhibition by a contemporary artist ever in Belgium.
2025 got off to a strong start for the KMSKA with the final month of the exhibition ‘Ensor's Wildest Dreams. Beyond Impressionism’. The final month of that exhibition in January attracted almost 60,000 visitors. But the museum continued in the same vein for the rest of the year.
Most visited exhibition by contemporary Belgian artist ever
The popular exhibition by Belgian contemporary artist Hans Op de Beeck was a success. Night Journey attracted more than 250,000 visitors, making it the most visited exhibition by a contemporary artist ever in Belgium. With his tranquil, nocturnal universe, Op de Beeck managed to attract a very diverse audience, both at home and abroad.
Autumn exhibitions
The autumn exhibitions by Marthe Donas and René Magritte also did particularly well. Together, they attracted more than 185,000 visitors, 160,000 of whom visited in 2025 and more than 25,000 in the first weeks of the new year.
‘This record year is no fluke, but the result of a well-thought-out, broad programme that appeals to a diverse audience,’ says general director Carmen Willems.
‘Visitors come for major exhibitions, but they keep coming back for the collection, the Thursday evening nocturnes and our public outreach activities throughout the year. The trust of more than half a million visitors strengthens our ambition and shows that the public has truly embraced the KMSKA.’
KMSKA looks ahead to 2026 with ambition
After a record year, the KMSKA is looking ahead with ambition. In 2026, it will be showcasing Antony Gormley, Philip Aguirre y Otegui and Ossip Zadkine, amongst others. Intimate presentations are planned in the print room as well as public projects for young and old, live restorations and the regular Thursday evening nocturnes of KMSKA LAAT.