Four decades after its prediction the axion remains the most compelling solution to the strong CP problem and a well motivated dark matter candidate, inspiring several ultrasensitive experiments based on axion-photon mixing. The experimental landscape for axion searches has evolved very fast in the last few years and novel detection concepts promise to open for exploration new ranges of parameter space previously considered unreachable. After reviewing the experimental status of axion searches, I will focus on some recent developments in axion model building showing that the QCD axion parameter space is much larger than what traditionally thought. This is particularly relevant when confronting astrophysical bounds and experimental sensitivities.