The exhibitions you must see in 2026
From Agatha Christie to Aphrodite, the Pre-Raphaelites to the Post-Impressionists – here's our guide to over 40 exhibitions you won't want to miss in 2026.
New Year, new you? It’s tempting to pile on the self-improvement pressure and think of an overwhelming number of ways to ‘fix’ yourself when another year comes around. So, why not forget the fitness fads and crash diets, and prioritise the things that actually make you feel good in 2026?
Visiting an exhibition is the perfect way to get out of the house, learn something new, or spark some creative inspiration and this year is jam-packed with some major must-sees. Don't know where to start? From winter to spring, summer to autumn, here’s our guide to some of the best exhibitions you should see in 2026. They’re already in our diaries – time to get them in yours.
And don't forget to pack a National Art Pass to make savings year-round.
Winter
Inject some colour into your January with the Holburne Museum’s exhibition dedicated to trailblazing fashion designer Zandra Rhodes. Later in the month, experience striking photographs of Roman sculptures and conflict zones by photojournalist Don McCullin.
The final letter written by Mary, Queen of Scots before her execution for treason in 1587 will be showcased at Perth Museum. Having been acquired by the National Library of Scotland in 1918 with Art Fund support, this will be the first time that this remarkable document is displayed north of Edinburgh.
Looking for family-friendly exhibitions? Step into the wonderful world of Wallace and Gromit at the Young V&A in London. Or, marvel at prehistoric sculptures, skeletons and fossils of post-dinosaur creatures at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.
And if you’re in Edinburgh: pop into Dovecot Studios to experience their exhibition spotlighting the iconic fashion brand Biba, whose leopard print coats and sequinned bodices sparked a shopping revolution in the 1970s.
For fans of portraiture: Welsh painter Gwen John gets a 150th birthday anniversary retrospective at National Museum Cardiff. This exhibition will tour to the Modern in Edinburgh in August. In London, Lucian Freud’s lesser exhibited works on paper go on display at the National Portrait Gallery.
2026 marks 300 years since the death of English Baroque architect John Vanbrugh. In February, Blueprints of Power at Blenheim Palace will take visitors on an immersive journey through his life. Keep your eyes peeled for more events throughout the year, including an exhibition at the Sir John Soane’s Museum in March.
A trailblazer in contemporary art and figurehead of the Young British Artists, Tracey Emin’s personal and confessional works reveal a portrait of the artist in her blockbuster exhibition at Tate Modern.
At the National Portrait gallery, Catherine Opie’s photographic portraits documenting home, identity and family will go on display. This exhibition will tour to the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh over summer.
In Manchester, two leaders of Japanese woodblock printing – Hokusai and Hiroshige – will make waves at the Whitworth in an exhibition unveiling the enduring legacy of this revolutionary creative technique.
Spring
Step into spring and the colourful world of Hurvin Anderson at Tate Britain, whose vibrant landscape paintings draw from his personal experiences of moving between the UK and the Caribbean.
For fans of more traditional painting: later in the season, Tate Britain will present a major retrospective of the influential modern painter, James NcNeill Whistler, while Gainsborough’s House will celebrate 250 years since the birth of John Constable with an exhibition examining the rise of landscape painting in Britain. Three more exhibitions marking his birth will take place at Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich throughout the year.
Fashion exhibitions? For spring? These really are groundbreaking. Witness the first UK exhibition on Elsa Schiaparelli, an innovative fashion designer who embraced Surrealism and eccentricity at V&A South Kensington. At V&A Dundee, celebrate 100 years of the catwalk with some of fashion’s biggest names including Chanel, Dior, Alexandra McQueen, Prada and more.
Pop culture is also having a moment this season. At the new branch of the V&A, V&A East opens with its inaugural exhibition The Music is Black: A British Story, spotlighting the importance of Black British music – from jazz and reggae to grime and drum and bass.
Somerset House deep-dives into the power of fandoms and our obsession with pop culture, while National Portrait Gallery celebrates the 100th birthday of a timeless pop culture icon: Marilyn Monroe.
Speaking of new museums – in May, the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration (FKA the House of Illustration) opens its new permanent home in Clerkenwell with an exhibition spotlighting kaleidoscopic works of illustration by Murugiah.
At the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, experience a group exhibition investigating gender identity across cultures and an immersive installation from the Vencie Biennale by John Akomfrah. And did you know? Both exhibitions were supported by Art Fund.
More seasonal highlights include the British Library bringing the magic of fairy tales to life, a new sculptural installation by Veronica Ryan at Mount Stuart, and Barbican’s exploration into Pan-Africanism, featuring works by Chris Ofili, Marlene Dumas and Kerry James Marshall.
Summer
Some people say the art world slows down over the warmer months. And while there are less openings, next summer promises some major exhibitions that are not to be missed.
Encounter works of art by two iconic women artists who continue to inspire and influence contemporary art in Tate Modern’s two blockbusters: Frida Kahlo and Ana Mendieta.
Dive into the creative world and vision of a legendary American musician, bandleader of Parliament-Funkadelic collective and pioneer of Afrofuturism, George Clinton at Somerset House. Discover how he’s inspired musicians such as Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg and marvel at his fantastical paintings and creative eye for fashion and design.
Experience the first UK museum exhibition dedicated to Es Devlin, who collaborates with musicians on major public events and performances, from the Olympic ceremonies to the Superbowl half-time show.
Photography lovers must not miss Polly Braden's exhibition at Arnolfini in Bristol, documenting the impact of poverty on coastal communities. The exhibition will tour to Firstsite in Colchester in the autumn.
And before summer officially comes to a close, see the world through Sunil Gupta’s lens at Kettle’s Yard. Often moving, personal and boundary-pushing, Gupta’s photographs are an extension of his commitment to queer rights in India and the UK.
Autumn
Autumn 2026 may seem like forever away, but the passing of time stops for no one, and neither will these must-see exhibitions.
Kick off cosy season with a celebration of British culture from the 1990s at Tate Britain. This significant period in recent history saw the flourishing of optimism, creativity and the radical blending of high art and pop culture. Curated by fashion editor Edward Enniful, this must-see exhibition will spotlight trailblazers across art, fashion and photography.
Big painting shows are having a moment in autumn. Discover how the French Riviera inspired generations of painters, from the Impressionists to the Modernists, at the RA. Marvel at the romantic storytelling of the Pre-Raphaelites at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. And experience two major painting exhibitions at the National Gallery: Renoir and Love and Van Eyck: The Portraits.
Who doesn't love a whodunit? Agatha Christie is under the spotllight in a landmark exhibition at the British Library, revealing the people and places that inspired the Queen of Crime. Meanwhile the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford examines the mythology and iconography of goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite.
And last (but certainly not least) – The Hepworth Wakefield delve into Marc Chagall's fascination with the circus, and introduce contemporary Norwegian artist Ida Ekblad with a series of new oil paintings in two spectular exhibitions.
