This is what 2026 brings to the National Library

The Austrian National Library looks back on a successful year 2025 - with nearly 1.3 million visitors at all locations such as the Literature, Papyrus, and Globe Museum, as well as the House of Austrian History or the State Hall and in the reading rooms, there was an increase of 20 percent compared to 2024.

And this success story is to be continued in 2026, but under new leadership, as long-time General Director Johanna Rachinger had to be dismissed in November after an accident. The application process for the position of scientific management is still open until December 30.

Love, Thomas Bernhard, Hungarian Uprising

The exhibition program for the coming year is already planned. From March 20, the State Hall wants to explore love with "World Power Love. A Journey Through the Centuries." Thomas Bernhard was not directly on the trail of love, but the Literature Museum will dedicate the special exhibition "Putting the Cap of Spirit on Stupidity. Thomas Bernhard Today" to him from April 30, as the writer's estate has been in the ÖNB since 2023.

In the State Hall, the exhibition "Bridge of Humanity" on the Hungarian Uprising of 1956 will follow from October 14 on the occasion of its 70th anniversary. The Papyrus Museum will take visitors even further east from June 11 with "In Search of Byzantium: Fragments of the Greek Middle Ages," while the State Hall will take an intimate look - specifically into the private life of Emperor Franz II under the title "Highest Family. Private Life and Duty at the Court of Franz II/I." from November 19.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.