"Raphael: Sublime Poetry" Becomes The Met's Most Attended Exhibition Since 2018

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's "Raphael: Sublime Poetry" exhibition concluded its three-month run as the museum's most highly attended show since 2018, drawing over 562,000 visitors. Averaging 6,800 visitors daily from March 29 to June 28, 2026, the exhibition accounted for nearly half of all museum visitors during that period.

This landmark exhibition, curated by Carmen Bambach, showcased 237 works, with more than 170 by Raphael himself. It was the first comprehensive international loan exhibition in the United States dedicated to the Italian Renaissance master, uniting drawings, paintings, tapestries, and decorative arts from global collections.

Max Hollein, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director and Chief Executive Officer, said, "This truly extraordinary, landmark exhibition offered an unprecedented look at the brilliance and legacy of Raphael, a true titan of the Italian Renaissance." He added that the museum was "thrilled that such an outstanding number of visitors to The Met seized the chance to experience the breathtaking range of his creative genius."