Exciting initiatives are coming forward all the time as art and airports seamlessly match up to offer a greater immersive experience for thousands of passengers. Here, Wise Traveller catches up with the latest developments.
Four of the best for JFK
John F. Kennedy International Airport's newest terminal will receive a cultural makeover with the aid of four cultural institutions: the American Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art and Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts.
The installation will bring a "curated experience reflecting the creative spirit of New York City through its world-renowned cultural institutions" to the new $4.2 billion Terminal 6.
Iconic pieces of art will line the walls of the arrivals area, which will be called "museum row," according to the announcement.
"We're honoured to collaborate with such prestigious institutions, icons in the global arts community and deeply rooted in the spirit of New York City," said Steve Thody, CEO of JFK Millennium Partners. "Each installation will reflect and celebrate the vibrant cultural heartbeat of New York as we welcome the world to JFK and beyond."
The artwork is set to be revealed in 2026 alongside a partial opening of the new terminal, which is expected to bring 10 larger gates to the airport with a longer drop-off area, more airport lounges, updated TSA technology and baggage systems.
The Met said it is planning to document 5,000 years of art, while the addition to the airport will include photographs of the "Unicorn Tapestry" from The Cloisters and a Dior bar suit from the Costume Institute.
Yoko Ono will collaborate with MoMA on their installation, which will be inspired by her "PEACE is POWER" work and "invite travellers to engage with the depth and urgency of her voice."
Lincoln Centre plans to create a 140-foot mural, featuring musical artists, theatre, dance, and opera along New York City streets and architecture from their venues. The Museum of Natural History plans to highlight its scientific collection with images of iconic exhibits and feature components from the North America Mammals hall.
The new terminal will also feature artwork from six rotating Queens artists, selected by the Jamaica Centre for Arts & Learning and 19 permanent pieces from the Public Art Fund.
"Terminal 6 will offer arriving visitors from around the world a unique New York experience before they leave the terminal," said Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Executive Director Rick Cotton.
The collaboration is part of a near-$20 billion expansion project. The construction of Terminal 6 is expected to open in two parts, firstly in 2026 and the final four gates by 2028.
The new terminal will also feature a picturesque oculus skylight and a large 3D mural outside along the departures roadway titled JFK Global Panorama. Featuring classic imagery of New York City paired with flight paths to destinations around the world, it will be designed by Ombrae Studios, which has developed new, scientific sculptural imaging technology.
Vilnius Airport: Gateway to Art and Music
As Lithuania celebrates the 150th anniversary of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, the Government has symbolically granted Vilnius Airport the artist's name. In turn, the airport has opened its spaces not only to Čiurlionis' visual works but also to his music.
Arriving visitors are greeted by Čiurlionis' visions of skies and clouds adorning the central arrivals doors, the departures terminal vestibule, the library's relaxation area, boarding gate access zones, and other spaces.
Full of light, symbols, and even fantastical creatures, the artist's works are featured on large digital gallery screens in the new departures terminal. The selected artworks symbolically reflect the passenger experience: a physical and internal flight among the clouds.
In the new departures terminal's waiting and relaxation area, travellers can view a reproduction of the painting The Creation of the World. In this cosmic vision, the artist portrays a world emerging in infinite space, with azure waters appearing from a dark blue backdrop. Painted more than a 100 years ago, the work astonishingly resembles images captured by modern telescopes.
On the second floor of the arrivals terminal, travellers are encouraged to pause at the painting Thoughts, where calm waters ripple beneath a small boat, and grand cloud ships sail above in the sky. In the artist's vision, the clouds are like thoughts, gliding through the sky, carrying dreams into the distance.
His works also fill the airport's VIP terminal. These exclusive spaces feature panoramic windows overlooking aircraft takeoffs and landings. Now, visitors can also admire a reproduction of The Message, where a powerful bird soars through mountains toward the sun in a golden sky.
According to airport staff, passengers have already noticed and shared impressions about the effect of Čiurlionis' music being played in both the arrivals and departures terminals. The composer's music helps travellers relax before or after their flights.
The airport's playlist includes some of Čiurlionis' most renowned symphonic compositions, piano miniatures, and musical landscapes that reveal his universality and deep connection with nature, philosophy, and the cosmos.
The project at Vilnius Airport was implemented in cooperation with the Lithuanian Neighbouring Rights Association AGATA, which ensures that the public performance of musical works is legal and that performers and producers receive fair compensation.
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis is considered one of the most remarkable figures in Lithuanian and European art history. A composer, painter, writer, and photographer who lived at the turn of the 20th century, he was active during a time when new artistic movements were emerging.
Often referred to as Lithuania's most important artist, Čiurlionis's work is characterised by extraordinary talent, powerful imagination, a passion for exploration, and a distinctive touch of Lithuanian melancholy.
Hong Kong's arts and culture festival
Hong Kong International Airport's Arts and Culture Festival 2025 showcases local talent through exhibitions, live music, dance, and interactive art experiences. Running until 8 November, the Festival features a diverse range of artistic expressions across the terminal, with days of live performances.
In collaboration with Attacca Projects, Hong Chi Association, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong Reminiscence, Maison V, Ink and the City, M+, and MobArt Gallery, the Festival highlights Hong Kong's artistic talent and cultural heritage.
In the Arrivals Hall, visitors can explore the city's rich tradition of applied Chinese calligraphy through exhibits including neon signs, movie posters, advertisements, and name cards, accompanied by interactive technology. Guests can also create personalised postcards using specially designed calligraphy stamps.
The airport's giant screen features digital works by various artists, including an animation celebrating travel and Hong Kong's energy, along with paintings by artists with intellectual disabilities from the Hong Chi Association previously shown at Art Basel Hong Kong.
In Departures, a section of public seating has been transformed into an immersive installation inspired by the classic Hong Kong board game "Aeroplane Chess," inviting travellers to engage with local nostalgia while resting.
To mark 100 years of civil aviation in Hong Kong, a photo exhibition traces the development from Kai Tak Airport to today's Chek Lap Kok, enhanced by scene transitions inspired by Kai Tak's iconic split-flap flight displays.
Vivian Cheung, Chief Executive Officer of AAHK, said: "Since we launched the inaugural festival in 2015, the event has grown to become a special platform for leading figures and emerging voices in Hong Kong.
Cultural offerings will be further enriched with the phased opening of Terminal 2 from September.
Andy Probert is an independent journalist who writes about global travel news, airlines, airports, and business. His work has appeared globally on the BBC, and in many national newspapers and magazines.
