Proposed more than 40 years ago, axions are still the most compelling solution to the strong CP problem of the Standard Model. More recently their physics case has been considerably sharpened, as well as that of similar axion-like particles (ALPs) that generically emerge in diverse high-energy extensions of the Standard Model, notably string theory. Both axion and ALPs constitute very appealing candidates to the dark matter of the Universe, and they are also invoked as a solution of a number of anomalous astrophysical observations. In addition, particular realizations of these type of models appear linked with inflation, dark radiation and even dark energy. These developments, together with the fact that experimental techniques have recently achieved sensitivity to relevant regions of ALP parameter space, are increasing the interest in the search for these particles. I will review the status of the experimental landscape, as well as near term prospect from ongoing experiments, future projects and new detection ideas in the search for laboratory, dark matter and solar axions and ALPs.