Culture vultures of the capital gather around, as London's art scene is alive and well with a kaleidoscope of exhibitions, each offering a glimpse into the city's creative spirit. From centuries-old masterpieces in museums to immersive works, these showcases feature something for everyone.
Whether you're a sucker for the avant-garde or a traditionalist at heart, there's a feast of gorgeous art waiting to entice your senses, and you can dive into a realm of inspiration with our guide to the best exhibitions London has to offer for 2026.
EDITOR'S PICK FOR NOVEMBER: winter is a brilliant time to mosey around one of these fabulous exhibitions. Here are three of my favourites taking place this month in London:
- Freddie Mercury: Splendid Things at V&A South Kensington
- Agatha Christie at The British Library
- The Bayeux Tapestry at The British Museum
This guide is written by a local, and exhibitions are selected based on interest, unique concepts and themes. Find out more about how Kiera created our guide in our Editorial Policy.
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30 London Exhibitions For November 2026: Our Essential Art Guide
1. The 90s At Tate Britain
Revisit a decade defined by rule-breaking creativity with The 90s, a major exhibition exploring the cultural forces that reshaped Britain. Curated by fashion trailblazer Edward Enninful OBE, the show charts a moment of rebellion and optimism as art, fashion, music and design collided to create a bold new visual language.
Bringing together iconic photography by Juergen Teller, Nick Knight, David Sims and Corinne Day alongside works by artists including Damien Hirst, Gillian Wearing and Yinka Shonibare, the exhibition also spotlights era-defining fashion from Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen and Hussein Chalayan.
- Location: Millbank, SW1P 4RG
- When: 8th October 2026 - 14th February 2027
- Tickets: £22 per person
- Website: tate.org.uk
2026 is all about the 90s.
2. Freddie Mercury: Splendid Things
Freddie Mercury: Splendid Things takes over the V&A for a special free display honouring the global superstar. Developed alongside his close confidante Mary Austin, the trail showcases eight legendary looks spanning his stellar career - including the famous 'Mercury Wing' catsuit, the 1986 Magic Tour crown and cloak, and standout music video outfits.
Staged across six thematic stops throughout the museum, the trail combines iconic costumes, personal accessories, lighting, and sound to celebrate Mercury’s passion for art, fashion, and pure showmanship.
- Location: V&A South
Kensington, Cromwell
Road, SW7
2RL
- When: from 24th October 2026
- Tickets: free entry
- Website: vam.ac.uk
Freddie Mercury (pictured).
3. LAIKA presents Wildwood: The Exhibition
LAIKA presents WILDWOOD: The Exhibition offers a rare, immersive look into the meticulously crafted universe of the renowned stop-motion animation studio. Coinciding with both the studio's 20th anniversary and the theatrical release of Wildwood on the 23rd October 2026, the exhibition traces the complete creative process behind the film, from early concept sketches and character design to advanced rapid 3D prototyping, intricate costume details, full-scale puppets, and sprawling miniature sets.
Set within the Helene and Johannes Huth Gallery on Level 2, this deep dive highlights two decades of Oscar-nominated artistry and technological innovation from the visionaries behind Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings.
- Location: 224-238 Kensington High Street, W8 6AG
- When: 15th October 2026 - 10th January 2027
- Tickets: from £15.29 per person
- Website: designmuseum.org
LAIKA presents WILDWOOD: The Exhibition.
4. Frameless
Frameless is the UK’s largest permanent immersive art experience, located in the heart of Marble Arch. With 42 masterpieces spanning four distinct galleries, this multi-sensory journey redefines how we experience art.
Featuring iconic works from legends like Van Gogh, Monet, Dalí, and Rembrandt, each piece is digitally remastered and set to a captivating surround-sound soundscape, blending classical and contemporary music. You can explore the galleries at your own pace, immersing yourself in art from different genres. After soaking in the masterpieces, unwind at the café bar or visit the shop for a unique memento.
- Location: 6 Marble Arch, W1H 7EJ
- When: ongoing
- Tickets: from £20 per person
- Website: DesignMyNight.com
Take around two hours to explore all four galleries at Frameless.
5. David Bowie Centre
The new V&A East Storehouse museum in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is playing host to an exhibition of epic proportions in 2025: the David Bowie Centre. For the first time ever, this archive of 90,000+ items will be accessible to all and totally free to enter.
Highlights of the event include iconic stage costumes for the likes of Ziggy Stardust, lyrics for songs including Fame and Heroes, and even audio-visual installations to create an all-encompassing and immersive feel.
- Location: The V&A East Storehouse, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, East Storehouse, V&A, Parkes Street, E20 3AX
- When: ongoing
- How
much: free (optional £5
donation)
- Website: V&AEast.uk
Experience the music icon through these archives.
6. Spencer House
Discover Spencer House, a hidden gem of Georgian elegance, where centuries of history and stunning art come to life. Originally built for Lord and Lady Spencer, this exquisite palace once served as both a family residence and a private gallery.
Today, its remarkable collection of paintings, furniture, and decorative objects gives a fascinating glimpse into 18th-century aristocratic life. Marvel at pieces original to the house, alongside those generously loaned from renowned institutions like the V&A and Tate. Book your tour now to experience this unique piece of London’s heritage.
- Location: 27 St James’s Place, SW1A 1NR
- When: ongoing
- Tickets: from free
- Website: DesignMyNight.com
Check out the likes of paintings, furniture and bronze lanterns.
7. Davie Bowie: You're Not Alone
On the hunt for exhibitions in London now? Strut over to this immersive spectacular. David Bowie: You’re Not Alone offers an immersive descent into the visionary mind of an icon who redefined modern culture. Produced by Lightroom and directed by 59’s Mark Grimmer and Tom Wexler, this multimedia spectacle utilises 11-metre-tall projected walls, rare archival footage, and a cutting-edge HOLOPLOT spatial audio system to craft an intimate self-portrait.
With Bowie serving as the show’s sole voice through a narrative woven from five decades of interviews, the exhibition spans his transcendent career, inviting you to experience the boundless curiosity and transformative power of an artist whose legacy continues to connect generations.
- Location: Lightroom, 12 Lewis Cubitt Square, King's Cross, N1C 4DY
- When: until 10th January 2027
- Tickets: from £25 per person
- Website: lightroom.uk
David Bowie: You're Not Alone at Lightroom in King's Cross.
8. Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends
To celebrate their 50th anniversary, Aardman are bringing Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends to Young V&A. It's one of the best exhibitions in London right now, and you can expect a behind-the-scenes look at some of your favourite stories, including Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Morph, to see how the team use clay to bring these modern classics to life on film.
From the initial sketch through to set building and the final effects, this exhibition follows all aspects of Aardman's production. To round it all off, it's interactive too, so you can have a go at all the elements of stop-motion animation on your visit.
- Location: Young V&A, Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green E2 9PA
- When: 12th February - 15th November 2026
- Tickets: £11 per person (some concessions available)
- Website: vam.ac.uk
9. The Burberry Trench: Crafting An Icon
The Burberry Trench: Crafting an Icon is a free, drop-in display exploring the fascinating evolution of a wardrobe staple. The exhibition charts the journey of the famous trench coat from its humble beginnings as practical military outerwear to its status as a global luxury fashion symbol.
In the Prince Consort Gallery, you can view rare pieces ranging from a 1930s womenswear catalogue and a 1979 car coat owned by British designer Hardy Amies, to bold, contemporary runway designs like the Winter 2025 purple baroque-print fringe coat.
- Location: V&A South Kensington,
Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL
- When:
until 3rd January 2027
- Tickets: free
- Website: vam.ac.uk
Women's purple baroque-print fringed trench coat, Winter 2025 (pictured left), and men's metallic silk trench coat, SS13.
10. Frida: The Making of an Icon
Step into the life and legacy of revolutionary artist and global icon Frida Kahlo at Tate Modern. The exhibition will showcase over 30 of her most iconic works that introduce her ‘many selves’, from the dedicated wife and the intellectual to the modern artist and the political activist.
Her art is displayed alongside treasured garments, jewellery, photographs and memorabilia, along with over 200 works by her contemporaries and the artists she inspired from later generations. Finally, the show culminates with ‘Fridamania’, charting Kahlo’s transformation into a global brand through hundreds of commercial objects that encompass her art, image, style and persona.
- Location: Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG
- When: 25th June 2026 - 3rd January 2027
- Tickets: TBC (free for members)
- Website: Tate Modern
Get to know one of the most influential artists of all time at Tate Modern.
11. Julio Le Parc
For almost a whole year, the Tate Modern will be showcasing the work of Julio Le Parc, an Argentinian-born artist who's known for his bold, colourful work. This immersive exhibition will be displaying his interactive installations, sculptures and large-scale op art paintings.
His career began back in the 1950s, and you can see his work from then right up to the 2010s. His kinetic sculptures use light, movement and mirrored surfaces to entice the viewer, and he is best known for these, though his paintings are equally impressive.
- Location: Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG
- When: 11th June 2026 - 3rd May 2027
- Tickets: £15 per person (free for members)
- Website: tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/julio-le-parc
Explore colour and sculptures at this exhibition.
12. Mundo Pixar Experience
Ever wanted to step inside your favourite Disney stories? With the Mundo Pixar Experience, you can. This is the world’s largest immersive Pixar exhibition, as seen in Madrid, Barcelona and Brussels previously. They're bringing all their most iconic films to life, from Inside Out to Toy Story and Finding Nemo.
Expect life-sized scenes like Andy's bedroom in Toy Story and Carl's floating house from UP. There are plenty of photo opportunities across the 3,500 square metres of space, great for making memories with friends or family. Plus, they've even unveiled a brand-new room, created exclusively for London.
- Location: Wembley Park, Fulton Road, Wembley, HA9 0TF
- When: until 3rd January 2027
- Tickets: £26 per person (£20 for children)
- Website: disneytickets.co.uk/mundo-pixar-experience-tickets
See all your favourite films come to life.
13. Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art
This year, the V&A Museum in South Kensington is hosting the UK's first-ever exhibition on Elsa Schiaparelli. Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art spans the 1920s to the modern day, exploring the influence that this innovative designer has had on the fashion world.
Discover the origins of the fashion house and how it has evolved under current creative director Daniel Roseberry. From jewellery to dresses and drawings, you can see it all here.
- Location: V&A Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL
- When: until 15th November 2026
- Tickets: from £28 per person
- Website: vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/schiaparelli
Find out more about this iconic fashion house.
14. The Music is Black: A British Story
Charting 125 years of Black music-making in Britain, The Music is Black is coming to V&A East this April. This one-of-a-kind landmark exhibition explores how Black British music has shaped British culture.
Spanning four continents and 12 decades, this is a story of excellence and struggle, resilience and joy. Tickets start from just £22.50, unless you're a member - then you can stroll in for free.
- Location: V&A East, 107 Carpenters Road, London, E20 2AR
- When: from 18th April 2026 - 3rd January 2027
- Tickets: weekday £22.50 / weekend £24.50 (free for members)
- Website: V&A
Take a step back in time through 125 years of Black music-making in Britain.
15. Henry Moore: Monumental Nature
Henry Moore: Monumental Nature at Kew Gardens is a major outdoor exhibition celebrating one of Britain’s most iconic sculptors, Henry Moore. Spanning the gardens’ vast landscapes, the showcase features around 30 monumental sculptures placed among trees, lawns and historic vistas, creating a striking dialogue between art and the natural world.
Inside the Shirley Sherwood Gallery, you’ll find over 90 smaller works, including drawings, models and rarely seen pieces, offering a deeper look into Moore’s fascination with form, growth and the rhythms of nature.
- Location: Kew Gardens, Richmond
- When: 9th May 2026 - 31st January 2027
- Tickets: included with garden entry
- Website: kew.org
Large Reclining Figure 1983-84 Photo by Errol Jackson.
16. Jurassic Oceans: Monsters Of The Deep
Dive beneath the surface at the Natural History Museum with Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep, a thrilling exhibition exploring the giants that once ruled prehistoric seas. From the fearsome pliosaur to the sleek ichthyosaur and the mighty mosasaur - often dubbed the T. rex of the ocean - this immersive showcase brings ancient marine predators back to life through fossils, interactive displays and hands-on experiences.
Designed for curious minds and fearless adventurers, it’s a family-friendly exhibition packed with discovery, from touching real fossils (and even fossilised poo) to uncovering the science behind these ocean-dwelling giants.
- Location: Natural History Museum (Waterhouse Gallery), Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD
- When: 22nd May 2026 - 3rd January 2027
- Tickets: from £15 (off-peak) per person
- Website: nhm.ac.uk
This exhibition is for children eight years and over.
17. Lost Music Venues
This exhibition at the V&A this year has a slightly sad, yet comforting nostalgia. Lost Music Venues highlights the places we've danced the night away in over the years that now cease to exist.
It's all about celebrating music venues and their cultural contributions, as well as the challenges the sector has faced over the years. You can expect to see collages of tickets and press cuttings relating to The Rainbow Theatre, as well as handwritten lyrics by Noel Gallagher, plus so much more.
- Location: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL
- When: until 22d May 2027
- Tickets: free
- Website: vam.ac.uk
White Heat indie night at Madame Jojo’s, 13 April 2005, photographed by Gregory Nolan.
18. Ana Mendieta
Tate Modern’s landmark exhibition of Ana Mendieta - her first in-depth UK showcase in over a decade - reclaims the legacy of a trailblazing figure who fundamentally altered the course of contemporary art. Active in the 1970s and early ’80s, the Cuban-born American artist used her work to confront enduring, deeply modern questions surrounding identity and displacement.
This major survey pairs her iconic Silueta Series - ephemeral film and photographic documentation of the human form merged with natural elements like fire, water, and flowers - with newly remastered films, early paintings, and late sculptures making their UK debut. In a fitting tribute to Mendieta’s visceral, elemental relationship with the environment, the exhibition breaks free of traditional constraints by extending beyond the gallery walls, reinforcing her standing as one of the 20th century's most vital and transformative forces.
- Location: Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG
- When: 15th July 2026 - 17th January 2027
- Tickets: from £18 per person (free for members)
- Website: tate.org.uk
Ana Mendieta Imágen de Yágul 1973 Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (Chicago, USA) ©The Estate of Ana Mendieta Collection, LLC. Licensed by Artist Rights Society (ARS), New York / DACS, 2026 / Courtesy Marian Goodman Gallery and Alison Jacques, London.
19. Agatha Christie At The British Library
Celebrate the Queen of Crime with a landmark exhibition celebrating the life and legacy of Agatha Christie, the bestselling novelist of all time. From grand English country houses to sun-drenched archaeological digs and glamorous journeys aboard the Orient Express, discover the places and experiences that fuelled her imagination and inspired some of the most unforgettable stories ever told.
Through evocative photographs, personal letters, family memorabilia, notebooks, manuscripts and never-before-seen drafts, the exhibition reveals the real Christie behind iconic characters like Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Highlights include her 1937 Remington typewriter (used to compose And Then There Were None), handwritten notes for Witness for the Prosecution, a teenage typescript of her very first short story, and study notes from her 1917 pharmaceutical exam.
- Location: British Library, 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB
- When: 30th October 2026 - 20th June 2027
- Tickets: from £25 per person
- Website: events.bl.uk
Credit: The Christie Archive Trust.
20. The Bayeux Tapestry
For the first time in nearly a thousand years, the Bayeux Tapestry is making its way back to the UK. The 70-metre embroidered masterpiece - which famously chronicles the Norman Conquest and the Battle of Hastings - will go on display at the British Museum’s Sainsbury Exhibition Gallery from September 2026 to July 2027. Long housed at the Bayeux Museum in Normandy, this marks the first-ever loan of the UNESCO-recognised artefact, which is widely regarded as one of the most important works of medieval art in existence.
Featuring 58 detailed scenes with more than 600 figures, 200 horses and 40 ships stitched into its linen, the tapestry is both a work of extraordinary craft and a vivid visual history of 1066. It comes as part of a cultural exchange that will also see treasures from the British Museum head to France.
- Location: British Museum, Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, WC1B 3DG
- When: September 2026 - July 2027
- Tickets: from £27 per person
(off-peak)
- Website: britishmuseum.org
The Bayeux Tapestry.
21. Modern Painting from the Courtauld and Reuben Collections
Begin a journey through the evolution of modern art with this fresh display at The Courtauld Gallery. Bringing together pioneering masterpieces from two world-class institutions, Modern Painting from the Courtauld and Reuben Collections traces how radical artists upended traditional painting in the early-to-mid 1900s.
You can admire Cézanne’s vivid landscapes and Modigliani’s revolutionary nudes alongside monumental Cubist works by Fernand Léger and iconic Surrealist compositions by René Magritte, including The Intimate Friend and The Dominion of Light.
- Location: Courtauld Gallery, Somerset House, WC2R 0RN
- When: from 18th September 2026
- Tickets: this display is included in the Permanent Collection or Permanent Collection + Exhibition ticket
- Website: courtauld.ac.uk
René Magritte, The Intimate Friend.
22. Nature And Us: Natural History Museum
Discover inside a forgotten piece of museum history at the Natural History Museum’s newly unveiled Nature and Us exhibition. Hidden away in the iconic Waterhouse building since 1943, this stunning historic space reopens as an experimental
You can touch a replica jaw of a 14,300-year-old domesticated dog, admire early dinosaur models, and share feedback that will directly shape the permanent gallery’s grand return in 2029.
- Location: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD
- When: from 16th September 2026
- Tickets: free
- Website: nhm.ac.uk
As a Herbarium in 1950 ©The Trustees of the Natural History Museum London.
23. Salman Toor: Someone Like You
Salman Toor: Someone Like You marks the first major European museum exhibition for the Pakistani-born, New York-based painter. Set within The Denise Coates Exhibition Galleries at Somerset House, the exhibition features 19 figurative paintings, never before seen in Britain, that examine themes of love, community, visibility, and estrangement through the lens of queer, immigrant experiences.
Drawing rich inspiration from Baroque and 18th-century art traditions, Toor directly dialogues with the Courtauld’s collection through works like The Bar on East 13th (a riff on Manet). The exhibition also includes a dedicated companion display of Toor's intricate drawings, offering an insightful look into the creative process of one of his generation's most sought-after artists.
- Location: Courtauld Gallery, Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 0RN
- When: 2nd October 2026 -10th January 2027
- Tickets: from £16 per person
- Website: courtauld.ac.uk
Salman Toor: Someone Like You.
24. Van Eyck: The Portraits
For the first time in history, the National Gallery brings together Jan van Eyck’s complete surviving portraiture for a landmark, once-in-a-lifetime show. Widely credited with launching portraiture as we know it, van Eyck transformed Western art with his astonishing precision and lifelike realism, capturing subtle stubble, delicate wrinkles, and flushed cheeks with detail.
Gathering all nine of his known painted portraits from collections across Europe alongside his sole surviving drawing, this exhibition tells a deeply human story focused not on monarchs or aristocrats, but on merchants, craftsmen, and the artist’s own inner circle.
- Location: The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN
- When: 21st November 2026 - 11th April 2027
- Tickets: from £18 per person
- Website: nationalgallery.org.uk
Van Eyck: The Portraits.
25. Nan Goldin: You Never Did Anything Wrong
Marking her first UK institutional exhibition since 2002, Nan Goldin: You Never Did Anything Wrong caps off the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary year with a profound exploration of human, animal, and environmental existence.
Renowned for her unflinching, intimate record of queer subcultures, addiction, and personal relationships over five decades, Goldin’s major solo show showcases four pivotal recent films alongside photographic stills and archival images. Highlighting landmark works such as Memory Lost alongside the public debut of You never did anything wrong Part II, where Goldin turns her lens toward animal consciousness and nature, this exhibition offers a vital look at how personal intimacy and political action intertwine.
- Location: Hayward Gallery, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX
- When: 24th November 2026 - 14th March 2027
- Tickets: from £19 per person
- Website: southbankcentre.co.uk
Joey On David's Bed In Brooklyn by Nan Goldin.
26. Constantinople to Istanbul: One City, Two Empires
Embark on a journey through 1,600 years of artistic brilliance with Constantinople to Istanbul: One City, Two Empires, a major UK-first exhibition. Set within Galleries 38 and 39, this landmark show offers a compelling new perspective on a metropolis shaped by the rich cultural legacies of both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires.
From exquisite masterworks of design to rare historical treasures, the exhibition celebrates over a millennium of extraordinary craftsmanship and global influence.
- Location: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL
- When: from 7th November 2926
- Tickets: from £25 per person
- Website: vam.ac.uk
Constantinople to Istanbul: One City, Two Empires.
27. Practically Magic: William Morris At Home in Hammersmith
Head to Kelmscott House, the riverside Hammersmith home where William Morris, designer, poet, craftsman, socialist, and environmentalist extraordinaire, lived and created for eighteen years. To mark the William Morris Society’s 70th anniversary, a new exhibition celebrates his genius, from hand-drawn wallpapers and textiles to rare books crafted in pursuit of ‘the ideal book.’ You can explore the house as the Morris family knew it, wander through the flourishing garden, and peek into the library where ideas flowed as freely as the Thames outside.
But Morris’s magic wasn’t a solo affair. The exhibition also shines a light on the friends, family, and colleagues whose creativity and collaboration shaped his world, including fellow members of the Socialist League. Together, they turned Kelmscott House into a buzzing hub of artistry, activism, and inspiration - a space where beauty, politics, and imagination collided.
- Location: William Morris Society & Museum, Kelmscott House, W6 9TA
- When: ongoing
- Tickets: £7.50 entry, free for local residents
- Website: williammorrissociety.org
Sunflower wallpaper printing block, William Morris, manufactured for Jeffrey & Co. 1879 ©
28. Ramses: The Exhibition
Discover iconic Pharaoh King Ramses II (also known as Ramses the Great), who ruled Egypt for nearly 67 years, at this exhibition named after the man himself. From his monuments to his military strategy, diplomacy, and 100 children, experience Ramses' life in person.
Not only is there a once-in-a-generation opportunity to see the pharaoh’s original sarcophagus, but also towering sculptures, mummies, silver coffins, jewellery and more.
- Location: Battersea Power Station
- When: until Friday 1st January 2027
- Tickets: from £27.24 (including booking fee) per adult
- Website: ramsestheexhibition.co.uk
Limestone Colossus at Ramses: The Exhibition.
29. Banksy Limitless
Banksy Limitless is an immersive exhibition that drops you headfirst into the world of the elusive street artist. For a limited run only, expect to find over 250 artworks, spanning originals, large-scale installations, sculptures, murals (including seven created in war-torn Ukraine), and even an Infinity Room where his sharp social commentary reflects at you from every angle.
You’ll also step into recreations of some of his most iconic works, from Cinderella’s Carriage to the Louise Michel room, inspired by the refugee rescue ship he decorated.
- Location: 79 - 85 Old Brompton Road, SW7 3LD, SW7 3LD
- When: ongoing
- Tickets: £19 per adult, £15 per student, £14 per child
- Website: banksylimitless.com/london
Immerse yourself in Banksy's artworks.
30. Larger Than Life: Starring Wallace & Gromit, Shaun and More
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the four-time Oscar-winning studio, Larger Than Life brings the anarchic, hand-crafted world of Aardman Animation to King’s Cross space Lightroom on a massive scale. This 50-minute looping experience charts the journey of school friends Peter Lord and David Sproxton from their humble kitchen-table beginnings to a global stop-motion powerhouse.
Created in close collaboration with Aardman’s Bristol production team and studio founders alongside Nick Park, the show features brand-new, bespoke stop-motion animation sequences crafted exclusively for Lightroom’s 360-degree canvas. You'll be able to enter iconic cinematic scenes - like the famous model-train chase from The Wrong Trousers - while discovering the meticulous art of claymation, tiny props, and towering set builds.
- Location: Lightroom, 12 Lewis Cubitt Square, King's Cross, N1C 4DY
- When: 14th October 2026 - 4th January
2027
- Tickets: from £25 (family
discount)
- Website: lightroom.uk
Larger Than Life gives you the chance to get up close with the likes of Shaun the Sheep and more.
Brilliant London Exhibitions Coming Soon For 2027
1. Monet: Painting Time
Experience Claude Monet like never before at Tate Modern’s landmark new exhibition, its first-ever solo showcase dedicated to the master of Impressionism.
At its heart, the exhibition examines Monet’s deep fascination with time and modern progress. As France modernised with railways, bustling cities, and standardised timekeeping, Monet reflected this speed by seizing the fleeting moment, captured brilliantly in works like Arrival of the Normandy Train, Gare Saint-Lazare (1877). You can trace this evolution through his iconic series, such as Poplars on the Epte, where repeating subjects allowed him to freeze exact, transient instances of light and atmosphere.
The journey culminates in Monet’s intimate retreat from modern frenzy into the natural world. By immersing himself in his beloved garden at Giverny, he found a subject in constant seasonal shift, ultimately giving life to his world-famous Water Lilies cycle.
- Location: Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG
- When: 25th February - 27th June 2027
- Tickets: £26 per person
- Website: tate.org.uk
Claude Monet Nymphéas 1914-1917 Legs Michel Monet, 1966. Inv. 6085 © Musée Marmottan Monet / Studio Christian Baraja SLB.
2. Matisse: Joy
Bringing over 60 years of Henri Matisse’s pioneering portfolio to life on a colossal scale, Matisse: Joy transforms King’s Cross space at Lightroom into a 360-degree, 11-metre-high canvas of pure colour, shape, and movement. Directed by Tom Wexler and created in consultation with art historian Ann Dumas MBE, the immersive show projects everything from early paintings like The Dance to iconic paper cut-outs such as The Snail and the Blue Nudes, alongside a digital recreation of the serene Matisse Chapel in Vence.
Bridging past and present, the exhibition frames Matisse’s vision through a generation-spanning dialogue with British-Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori MBE. Featuring new works, bespoke commentary, and a vibrant soundtrack curated by Peter Adjaye alongside voiceovers from Matisse’s personal journals, this state-of-the-art experience offers a deeply joyful, contemporary lens on two master artists united by a passion for bold, deceptive simplicity.
- Location: Lightroom, 12 Lewis Cubitt Square, King's Cross, N1C 4DY
- When: opens 27th January 2027
- Tickets: TBC
- Website: lightroom.uk
Explore Matisse's most uplifting paintings.
FAQs
Do I need to book tickets for London art exhibitions in advance?
While general admission to London’s permanent national collections (like Tate Modern, the National Gallery, and the V&A) is free and often accepts walk-ins, temporary, major exhibitions almost always require booking in advance. Landmark retrospectives, high-profile artist showcases, and immersive experiences frequently sell out weeks ahead - especially for weekend slots.
Are there any free exhibitions on in London right now?
Yes, and you can discover free exhibitions here, as well as in the guide above.
Which London exhibitions stay open late?
If you want to visit after hours, several major London galleries host late-night openings. For example, Tate Modern and the National Portrait Gallery regularly stay open until 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays, while the Science Museum and V&A South Kensington host themed, adults-only 'lates' on select Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.
