Marilyn Monroe centennial ignites worldwide exhibitions and tributes

In 2026, the 100th birthday of Marilyn Monroe sparked a wave of celebrations across several countries. Major photographic retrospectives opened at London’s National Portrait Gallery and the Academy Museum in Los Angeles, while the Empire State Building in New York was lit in red. A parade featuring 1,037 Monroe look‑alikes took place at Palm Springs Pride, and a plaque honoring her 1949 photo shoot was unveiled on Long Island. Additional events included a bus tour in Los Angeles, a screening at the Chinese Theatre, panel discussions, and a pool‑side party at the Avalon Hotel.

A newly released biographical novel in Slovakia explores Monroe’s early life as Norma Jeane Mortenson, detailing her impoverished upbringing, foster‑care experiences and the pressures of 1940s Hollywood. A Czech‑language article recounts her romantic entanglements, naming figures such as Frank Sinatra, Joe DiMaggio, Arthur Miller, Yves Montand, and President John F. Kennedy, and describing the secrecy surrounding her relationship with the U.S. president.

These cultural programmes and publications underscore the enduring fascination with Monroe’s legacy more than a century after her birth.