Experiences
The 6 Best Exhibitions in London
The shows worth crossing town for in 2026, from Tracey Emin at Tate Modern to Schiaparelli at the V&A, and the institutions that reliably land the big ones.
In short: our top picks are Tate Modern: Tracey Emin and Frida Kahlo, Royal Academy of Arts: Summer Exhibition and National Gallery: Zurbaran and Renoir. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
London does not lack for art, which is rather the problem. On any given weekend there are forty things on, half of them padding. The trick is knowing which exhibitions actually reward the queue and the timed ticket, and which institutions can be trusted to deliver year after year. In 2026 the calendar is unusually rich: a 40 year Tracey Emin survey, Frida Kahlo, the centenary of the V&A’s first proper Schiaparelli show. We have left out the worthy-but-dull and the Instagram light tunnels. What follows is the handful we would actually book, plus the few addresses worth checking before any trip into town, because their next show is usually the one everyone ends up talking about.
| Place | Area |
|---|---|
| Tate Modern: Tracey Emin and Frida Kahlo | Bankside |
| Royal Academy of Arts: Summer Exhibition | Mayfair |
| National Gallery: Zurbaran and Renoir | Trafalgar Square |
| V&A South Kensington: Schiaparelli | South Kensington |
| Design Museum: Wes Anderson, The Archives | Kensington |
| Somerset House: M.C. Escher | Strand |
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Editor’s choice
Tate Modern: Tracey Emin and Frida Kahlo
Why we pick itTwo of the year's biggest draws sit under one roof on the South Bank. Tracey Emin: A Second Life (27 February to 31 August) traces 40 years of her work, with pieces never shown before, then Frida: The Making of an Icon opens 25 June. Go on a Friday evening when the crowds thin and the Turbine Hall is at its best.
Modern and contemporary art
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Royal Academy of Arts: Summer Exhibition
Why we pick itRun without a break since 1769, the Summer Exhibition (16 June to 23 August) crams nearly 2,000 works across the Burlington House galleries, hung salon-style from floor to ceiling. Ryan Gander curates this year around the theme of interconnectedness. Royal Academicians hang next to complete unknowns, and most of it is for sale.
Open-submission annual show
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National Gallery: Zurbaran and Renoir
Why we pick itSpain's Golden Age master Francisco de Zurbaran gets his first major UK show since 1994, running to 23 August. From 3 October, Renoir and Love brings over 50 works including Bal au Moulin de la Galette, in the UK for the first time. The permanent collection, one of the world's great galleries, costs nothing.
Old Masters and Impressionism
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V&A South Kensington: Schiaparelli
Why we pick itThe UK's first proper Schiaparelli retrospective (28 March to 1 November) runs from the 1920s to Daniel Roseberry's current couture, with over 200 objects and work by Picasso, Cocteau and Man Ray alongside the clothes. The V&A does fashion better than anyone, and this is the show to prove it. Book the weekday morning slot.
Fashion and design
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Design Museum: Wes Anderson, The Archives
Why we pick itClosing 16 August, this is the catnip Wes Anderson fans have been waiting for: props, costumes, models and handwritten notes from across his films, drawn straight from the director's own archive. The Holland Park building is worth the trip on its own. Get there before it ends, because there is no extension coming.
Film and design
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Somerset House: M.C. Escher
Why we pick itEscher's first major London exhibition gathers more than 150 prints in the Embankment Galleries, running to 6 September. It builds chronologically to the famous impossible staircases and tessellations, with interactive bits that let you play with the Penrose triangle yourself. Tickets from £12 make it the best value on this list.
Graphic art and printmaking
Before you book
Book timed tickets ahead for the headline shows; Emin and Schiaparelli will sell out at weekends. Reckon on £22 to £28 for the big-ticket exhibitions, less for Somerset House and the Design Museum. The National Gallery’s permanent collection stays free. Friday and Saturday late openings at Tate Modern (until 21.00) are the calmest slots. Members skip the queues and the ticket price.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
Tate Modern: Tracey Emin and Frida Kahlo is our editor's choice: Two of the year's biggest draws sit under one roof on the South Bank. Tracey Emin: A Second Life (27 February to 31 August) traces 40 years of her work, with pieces never shown before, then Frida: The Making of an Icon opens 25 June. Go on a Friday evening when the crowds thin and the Turbine Hall is at its best. Tate Modern: Tracey Emin and Frida Kahlo, Royal Academy of Arts: Summer Exhibition and National Gallery: Zurbaran and Renoir lead the guide, with 6 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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