Exhibitions in London
February 2026
February 2026 at a glance: 12 exhibitions opened, 0 closed, and 18 more were on view across the city.
Opened in February
Samurai3 FebBritish Museum · Past
The reality of Japan's armour-clad warriors over 1,000 years, with around 280 items many shown for the first time.
Pantanal6 FebScience Museum · Free · Past
Photography revealing the fragile beauty of the world's largest wetland and the threats to its wildlife.
Lucian Freud: Drawing into Painting12 FebNational Portrait Gallery · Past
The first major UK exhibition of the celebrated portrait artist's works on paper, with rarely shown preparatory studies.
Encounters: Giacometti x Lynda Benglis12 FebBarbican Centre · Free · Past
Never-before-shown sculptures by Lynda Benglis paired with historic works by Alberto Giacometti.
Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends12 FebVictoria and Albert Museum
A behind-the-scenes look at Aardman's stop-motion animation, revisiting Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Morph. At Young V&A.
Seurat and the Sea13 FebCourtauld Gallery · Past
The first exhibition dedicated to Georges Seurat's seascapes, and the first UK Seurat show in almost 30 years.
Chiharu Shiota: Threads of Life17 FebHayward Gallery · Past
Large-scale intricate web-like installations woven floor-to-ceiling, alongside drawings, videos, and photographs.
Yin Xiuzhen: Heart to Heart17 FebHayward Gallery · Past
The first major UK survey of the Chinese artist's immersive installations and sculptures.
Gesture and Being18 FebSaatchi Gallery · Free · Past
Six recent Royal College of Art and Slade graduates explore gender, the body, and identity through figurative painting. Free entry.
Beatriz González25 FebBarbican Centre · Past
A retrospective charting the Colombian artist's prolific six-decade practice exploring the politics of everyday images.
Tracey Emin: A Second Life27 FebTate Modern · Past
A major survey of four decades of Tracey Emin's work across painting, video, textiles, neons, sculpture and installation, with works never shown before.
Rose Wylie: The Picture Comes First28 FebRoyal Academy of Arts · Past
The largest ever UK survey of Rose Wylie's vibrant figurative paintings spanning art history, cinema, and celebrity culture.
Was on view in February
Candice Lin: g/hostito 1 MarWhitechapel Gallery · Free · Past
An immersive labyrinth of painted cardboard panels depicting a fantastical world of creatures, commissioned for the gallery. Free.
Joy Gregory: Fierce and Fearlessto 1 MarWhitechapel Gallery · Free · Past
An immersive textile installation of printed and embroidered panels celebrating women in folklore and myth, with participatory storytelling. Free.
Joy Gregory: Catching Flies with Honeyto 1 MarWhitechapel Gallery · Past
First major survey spanning four decades of Joy Gregory's photography, film, and textiles exploring identity, race, and beauty.
- Julia Phillipsto 19 Apr
Barbican Centre · Past
A major survey of the German sculptor's visceral, body-centred practice exploring power, care, and institutional systems.
The Long Now: Saatchi Gallery at 40to 26 AprSaatchi Gallery · Past
A landmark group show celebrating 40 years of the gallery, featuring new commissions and Richard Wilson's iconic oil-filled room, 20:50.
Legacies: London Transport's Caribbean Workforceto 5 JulLondon Transport Museum · Past
Celebrates the contribution Caribbean people have made to London's transport and British culture since the 1950s, through personal stories, photography, posters and film.
Sufi: life and artto 26 JulBritish Museum · Free · Past
Explore this mystical Islamic movement through objects ranging from alms bowls to calligraphic works, miniature paintings and wall tiles.
ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Yearto 3 AugNational Maritime Museum · Past
Over 100 of the world's best space photographs - galaxies, auroras, the Moon and more - shown on glowing lightboxes, from the 17th annual competition.
Wes Anderson: The Archivesto 16 AugDesign Museum · Past
The first retrospective of filmmaker Wes Anderson, with over 700 storyboards, sketches, puppets, costumes and props spanning three decades of his films.
The Barber in London: Highlights from a Remarkable Collectionto 31 AugCourtauld Gallery · Past
Masterpieces from Birmingham's Barber Institute, including works by Hals, Rubens, Turner, Rossetti and Degas, on extended loan during its refurbishment.
Future of Foodto 1 SeptScience Museum · Free · Past
Explore how science could transform the way we grow, cook and eat, from a 3,500-year-old loaf to lab-grown meat, across 100+ objects in this family-friendly exhibition.
To the Stars: Illuminating the Art Collection in 50 Worksto 1 SeptRAF Museum · Free · Past
Fifty key works by 20th-century British and European artists, marking the museum's 50th anniversary and exploring flight, conflict and RAF operations through art.
Future Observatory: Tools for Transitionto 20 SeptDesign Museum · Free · Past
Free display of four UK research projects showing how design-led innovation tackles housing, healthcare and resources for a sustainable green transition.
The RA Collectionto 29 Jan 2027Royal Academy of Arts · Free
Diploma Works and treasures from the RA Collection spanning over 300 years, shown free in the historic John Madejski Fine Rooms while the main Collections Gallery is expanded. Closed on select dates (21 Jul, 11 Aug, 4 Sep, 2 Oct, 6 Nov, 4 Dec 2026).
By Appointment Only: Romani Art, Culture & Heritageto 31 Jan 2027London Museum · Free
A rotating display in the Reflections Room featuring British Romani artists Corrina Eastwood, Delaine Le Bas and Dan Turner, celebrating the livelihoods, creativity and craft of Romani communities alongside a historical timeline from 500 CE to 2022.
Gathering Groundto 7 Mar 2027Tate Modern · Free
A collection display bringing together works by artists including Abbas Akhavan, Abel Rodríguez and Zheng Bo, exploring the connection between environmental and social justice.
Art deco: the golden age of poster designto 30 Apr 2027London Transport Museum
Over 100 original London Transport posters mark the centenary of art deco, with work by design greats like McKnight Kauffer and Jean Dupas, plus Charles Holden's Tube architecture.
American Photographsto 16 May 2027Victoria and Albert Museum · Free
A free display drawn from the V&A's US photography collection, revealing the breadth of the country's photographic traditions from early prints to contemporary work.
Image credits
29
- SamuraiT. Enami, Public domain
- PantanalBernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Lucian Freud: Drawing into PaintingGualdimG, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Encounters: Giacometti x Lynda BenglisAnnette Giacometti, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and FriendsCourtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum
- Seurat and the SeaGeorges Seurat, Public domain
- Chiharu Shiota: Threads of LifeChris Olszewski, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Yin Xiuzhen: Heart to HeartRobin Stott, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Gesture and BeingAnthony O'Neil / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Beatriz GonzálezGaleria Nouvelle, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tracey Emin: A Second Life© Tracey Emin. Photo credit: Courtesy The Saatchi Gallery, London / Photograph by Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd. Lent by The Duerckheim Collection
- Rose Wylie: The Picture Comes FirstCharlotte Major Wylie, Public domain
- Candice Lin: g/hostiGrindtXX / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Joy Gregory: Fierce and FearlessGrindtXX / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Joy Gregory: Catching Flies with HoneyGrindtXX / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Long Now: Saatchi Gallery at 40Anthony O'Neil / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Legacies: London Transport's Caribbean WorkforceCourtesy of London Transport Museum
- Sufi: life and artCourtesy of British Museum
- ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the YearCourtesy of National Maritime Museum
- Wes Anderson: The Archives© Luke Hayes for the Design Museum
- The Barber in London: Highlights from a Remarkable CollectionCourtesy of Courtauld Gallery
- Future of FoodCourtesy of Science Museum
- To the Stars: Illuminating the Art Collection in 50 WorksCourtesy of RAF Museum
- Future Observatory: Tools for TransitionPhotos Luke Hayes
- The RA CollectionCourtesy of Royal Academy of Arts
- By Appointment Only: Romani Art, Culture & Heritage© London Museum
- Gathering Ground© Abel Rodriguez, courtesy of the artist and Instituto de Vision
- Art deco: the golden age of poster designCourtesy of London Transport Museum
- American PhotographsCourtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum
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