Top 10 exhibitions in London (updated for 2026)

A stroll through Tracey Emin: A Second Life is an evocative experience. Positioned as a 40-year retrospective through the pioneering artist’s vast and varied repertoire, the show lays bare Emin’s life through her distinct and often unsettling art, from career highs – such as the iconic, Turner Prize-nominated ‘My Bed’ (1998)– to stark personal lows in work depicting her experiences with sexual violence, abortion and recent life-threatening illness.

Why go: This exhibition perfectly encapsulates Emin’s defiant approach to life and her ability to turn traumatic experiences into mesmerising art. You’ll leave feeling emotionally rung out, but struck by the realisation that ‘Mad Tracey from Margate’ is truly a force to be reckoned with.

From still lifes of plump, waxy lemons to monumental saints, bloodied martyrs and ecstatic Virgins, Baroque master Francisco de Zurbarán did it all. He painted vast multi-canvas scenes that once lined the walls of convents and monasteries across Spain, worked for private patrons, the court of Philip IV of Spain and clients across the Spanish Americas, where more than 100 of his paintings ended up. And now, improbably, many of them are here, in the artist’s first UK exhibition, thanks to loans from institutions including the Louvre Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museo del Prado. 

Why go? Zurbarán painted to inspire devotion with a total conviction, whether it was the flesh of Christ, the rough folds of a monk’s robe or the bloom on a lemon. Four centuries later, the paintings still inspire that same kind of awe and fixation in the people standing before them.

A first major solo show dedicated to Turner Prize-nominated painter Hurvin Anderson, this Tate Britain exhibition brings together more than 60 of his vibrant paintings. Dating from 1995 when he was an art student at the Royal College of Art up to this year (some he even finished off once they’d been hung), it’s a vibrant portrayal of his experiences as a Black British man of Caribbean heritage. 

Why go: This is a big show of big paintings. Big, energetic, vibrant, happy paintings which are just as enjoyable to stand in front of as one can imagine they were to make.

There are some absolute treasures to be found in the first British exhibition dedicated to Italian fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli, who became famous in Paris during the World Wars for her surreal designs and stunning creations. More than just a dressmaker, Schiaparelli was a close collaborator with Surrealists Salvador Dalí, Man Ray and Leonor Fini, whose works are displayed alongside the clothes. 

Who go: Spanning the 1920s to present day, this exhibition documents the dazzling and sometimes bizarre clothes created by Schiaparelli and her predecessor, current Schiparelli Creative Director Daniel Roseberry. You’ll see dresses worn by Ariana Grande and Dua Lipa, and world-famous artworks like Dalí’s lobster telephone. And the clothes are very, very pretty. 

Until relatively recently, few art historians believed that paintings bearing Michaelina Wautier’s signature could possibly have been made by a woman, instead attributing them to her brother or other male artists. Rediscovered after her painting ‘The Triumph of Bacchus’ was found in storage at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, the 17th century Flemish artist is the subject of a first major exhibition at the Royal Academy this spring. 

Why go: Wautier did it all; flowers and still lifes, portraits and large-scale history paintings. The twenty-five pieces featured in this landmark exhibition demonstrate her mastery of subjects typically reserved for her male peers, and demonstrate that she has more than earned her place in the annals of art history. 

This long-overdue retrospective of Windrush generation  ceramicist and painter Donald Locke concludes its three-venue UK tour at the Camden Arts Centre. Spanning painting, drawing, sculpture, and ceramics, it examines the legacy of colonialism in the Guyanese-British artist’s hometown via some of his most celebrated works, including large scale mixed media piece ‘Trophies of Empire’.

Why go: Donald Locke shows don’t come around often, so don’t miss the chance to get up close to these angry, claustrophobic yet beautifully crafted works, ranging from wild, black paintings to intricate assemblages of found objects and ceramic pieces that suggest cages or instruments of violence.

The V&A East’s first exhibition explores the trailblazers, visionaries and unsung heroes of Black music in the UK from the 1900s to the present day. From swing and jazz, to jungle, grime and trip hop, no genre goes uncovered. More than 200 objects from the V&A’s collection are displayed, with photographs, instruments, fashion, sheet music and artworks on show. 

Why go: This exhibition is a comprehensive and triumphant ode to some of the best music to come out of this small island. You’ll see everything from Stormzy’s Union Jack-print stab vest, to Shy FX’s clunky ‘90s synthesiser. And the highlight: everyone gets a personal pair of headphones that plays tracks corresponding with the display. 

French painter Georges Seurat was dead by 31, but in fewer than 50 canvases he left an indelible mark on art history. By applying thousands of dots and dashes of pure colour right next to each other, he pioneered the technique of Pointillism, which in turn birthed Neo-Impressionism. Focusing on his landscapes, this show features stoic visions of the sea from towns along the northern French coast. Painted over five summers between 1885-90, it tracks you through each stop Seurat made along the coast, as his style becoming more refined with each sojourn.

Why go: There’s an undeniable bliss that comes from being next to a large body of water. If the cold London winter has left you craving a day trip to the seaside, this is the next best thing. 

For the first time, the man behind Bape and Human Made, and the creative director of Kenzo since 2021, has his own London retrospective. The Design Museum’s exhibition features 700 objects – 600 of which come from Nigo’s personal archive – including records, toys, magazines, music videos and a whole lotta clothes, spanning the ‘80s to the present day. 

Why go: If streetwear is a religion, Nigo is one of its deities, and he has a lot to be credited with. Here you’ll get a peak into the origins of ‘scarcity by design’ hype culture, as well as a look into Harajuku street style, hip-hop culture and Japanese design.  

Spanning the 60s to the present day, Paint! Pattern! Print! documents the exuberant textile creations of sisters Sarah Campbell and Susan Collier. For 50 years, the design duo created bold, colourful, and brash hand-painted textile prints featuring everything from vivid still lifes to tropical scenes, pretty flowers, and folk figures. They collaborated with the likes of Terrance Conran, John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, and fashion houses Yves Saint Laurent, Jaeger and Liberty.

Why go: If you’re someone who has mastered the art of dopamine dressing, this will be right up your alley. Paint! Pattern! Print! is a feast for the eyes, with explosions of colour at every turn.