Queen Sonja Opens Munch-Picasso Show in Málaga on First Trip Abroad Since King Harald's Death
Queen Sonja of Norway opened the "Munch-Picasso" exhibition in Spain on 29 October 2026. It was her first trip abroad since the death of her husband, King Harald. She is the widow of the late king, and the trip marked a new step in her public life. Town & Country reported the visit.
The show is held at the Museo Picasso Málaga, in the southern Spanish city of Málaga. It pairs works by two artists who never met in the way the pairing suggests. Edvard Munch, the Norwegian painter best known for "The Scream," is shown alongside Pablo Picasso, the Spanish painter who helped shape modern art. The exhibition was set up as a dialogue between the two, with works placed side by side so visitors can compare themes and methods.
The opening was not a routine ceremony. Before she gave her speech, Queen Sonja offered condolences for the people killed in a train accident near Toledo, a city in central Spain. Royal Court of Norway published the text of her speech. A gala dinner planned during the Spain visit was canceled because of the crash, according to Town & Country.
The queen also visited a Norwegian school in Arroyo de la Miel, a town in the municipality of Benalmádena on the Costa del Sol. The school serves Norwegian families living in the area, many of whom have moved south for the warm winters. Queen Sonja met students and staff there during the trip.
Norway is a constitutional monarchy, which means the king and queen take part in state and cultural life while elected lawmakers run the government. Official trips like this one carry the country's name abroad. They also give the royal household a chance to celebrate Norwegian art and the Norwegians who live overseas.
For readers in the United States, the story is a useful reminder that royal families still travel with a clear purpose. A visit to a museum opening can also be a visit to a school, a memorial, or a community far from home. Queen Sonja's trip to Málaga combined all three in a few days.
