London events in February 2026

The Tate Modern kicks off its 2026 programme with a retrospective tracing the 40-year career of Croydon’s finest artistic export, Tracey Emin. Over 90 pieces will be exibited in the landmark exhibition, including some of the Young British Artist’s most defining works, from her famous neons and her controversial Turner Prize-nominated installation My Bed, to painting, video, textiles and never-before-exibited sculptures. Expect plenty of raw, confessional art exploring love, trauma and the female body.

There might not be a more divisive director right now than Emerald Fennell, and her detractors began stretching their Twitter fingers the moment the trailer for her adaptation of Emily Brontë’s beloved 1847 novel dropped. Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie are the toxic lovers at the story’s center, but it’s the soundtrack by Charli XCX that indicates this won’t be your mother’s tale of love, class and vengeance. Will it be any good, though? Expect to hear some very strong opinions on the matter. It’s out in UK cinemas on Friday February 13.

Remember that one-woman Picture of Dorian Gray starring Sarah Snook? Well the Australian team behind it have made a couple of other high-tech one-woman stage adaptations of classic Victorian horror novels. And in 2026 Dracula will come to London with a proper big name at its centre: Cynthia Erivo, in her first West End role in over a decade.

LGBTQ+ history shouldn’t be contained to a single, short month every year. Thankfully, in London you can find some of the best gay bars and queer club nights in the world, along with special events that celebrate LGBTQ+ life, all year round. But things really hit their peak in February, when hundreds of talks, workshops and festivals appear for LGBTQ+ History Month. From film screenings and alt-cabaret to queer history lectures and family-friendly crafts, prepare to be enlightened, inspired and entertained by a rainbow of celebratory events taking place across the capital. Here’s our round-up of our favourites. 

Broadwick Soho landed in 2023 with serious flair and has been delivering a hit of West End glamour ever since. Inside the hotel, Dear Jackie is its seductive Italian dining room, all Murano glow, red silk walls and plush booths made for lingering. Expect refined Italian comfort food, standout pasta and classic cocktails from Bar Jackie to set the mood.

Our exclusive Time Out offer saves you 30% (now £33), for three courses and a cocktail worth up to £14. It’s an indulgent pre-theatre treat or the kind of Soho dinner that could easily turn into a late night.

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Michael Sheen recently put his screen career on hold in order to lead and launch the new Welsh National Theatre. He’ll star in its first production, a revival of Thornton Wilder’s metatheatrical masterpiece ‘Our Town’, which transfers to London after touring Wales.

Wilder’s ahead of its time 1938 play about the lives and – slight spoiler – afterlives of the citizens of the US small town of Grover’s Corner is a classic that’s always welcome. But clearly Sheen himself is the secret ingredient here: who doesn’t want to see him on stage?

Between 1885 and 1890, OG Neo-Impressionist Georges Seurat spent five summers observing the port towns along the northern coast of France, capturing impressive seascapes, regattas and other oceanic activities. Twenty three of these paintings, oil sketches and drawings are to be showcased at the Courtauld from February next year, offering a nautical insight into this elusive French artist. The exhibition will borrow works from world-class galleries including MOMA and the Musée d’Orsay, making it even more worth the peek.

Whether you’re flying solo, newly coupled up, or have been with your other half for decades, London is a great place to be on Valentine’s Day. There’s something for everyone on February 14 no matter what your relationship status: eccentrically themed speed-dating nights, ironic drag show, galentine’s parties or warm, fuzzy date spots for all those loved-up couples out there. We’ll be updating this page with our pick of the best as events are announced.

The NPG will be the UK’s first museum to stage an exhibition focussing on Lucain Freud’s works on paper, including some artworks seen on display for the first time. Focussing on Freud’s mastery of drawing in all forms, Drawing into Painting will look at the artist’s lifelong preoccupation with the human face and figure, from the 1930s to the early 21st century.

The Six Nations Men’s rugby tournament is back for 2026. From February 5, it will be taking over pubs, beer gardens and outdoor screens across London most weekends up until Saturday March 14. 

France took home the title in 2025. In 2026 games take place at venues including Paris’ Stade de France, Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, and London’s very own Twickenham Stadium as England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales try to burst the French team’s bubble.

You’ll find the matches on screens at London’s many rugby pubs and bars, but if you want to watch with the most atmos possible, get yourself to one of our favourite places to grab a seat and a pint and get stuck into all the action.

New festival Equanimity is designed to help Londoners reset and recharge in the heart of King's Cross. The centrepiece is Slomo's pop-up spa, which offers two wood-fired saunas, three cold plunge pools and a roaring fire, offering a corner of Scandinavia in Lewis Cubitt Square. On Sundays, the Slomo tipi will offer somatic breathwork sessions and Reset Retreats. There'll also be yoga, breathwork, meditation and sound healing sessions led by a range of expert practitioners, perfect for adding some relaxation to your lunchbreak.

The Christmas holidays barely feel like they’re over but oh look: here’s our old pal February half-term, back again. Dealing with the little ones for a week in the middle of what is arguably the bleakest month of the year is always a bit of a shock to the system. But fear not! By way of acknowledgement of all this London really steps up with the indoor activities challenge, with the annual Imagine festival at the Southbank Centre as ever leading the way for a week in which there’s in fact plenty to do. Read on for our top tips. 

Groundbreaking Colombian artist Beatriz González gets her first solo UK show – and biggest ever European show – at the Barbican this spring. Famed for her vibrant, Pop Art-influenced depictions of Colombia during the decade-long civil war known as La Violenca and known in her native country as ‘la maestra’, González draws on found images to tell stories about power, grief, conflict, community and more. Featuring over 150 artworks made between the 1960s and the present day and spanning painting, sculpture, furniture and monumental printed curtains, this major will look at Gonzalez’s work not only from a Colombian and Latin American perspective, but a global one. 

British painter Rose Wylie takes on films, celebrities and ancient civilisations in her work. Often focusing on women, she paints colourful bold lines with a punk abandon, depicting figures from Elizabeth I to Nicole Kidman. The Royal Academy of Arts will bring the largest selection of her work to date to the capital this February, showcasing her adventurous, socially observant paintings to a wider audience.

Put a spring in your step with the National Theatre's gorgeous, lively show about three adopted sisters with big ambitions. This family-friendly hit is full of leftfield wit and creativity as it shows how they achieve their dreams of ballet dancing, acting... and being a car mechanic. It returned for the 2025 festive season after a hit run the previous year, but this story is definitely too good to be just for Christmas. 

Straits Kitchen brings a polished hit of Singaporean flavour to the first floor of Pan Pacific London, and it feels like the ideal way to lift the late Winter lull. The room stays calm and elegant, while the kitchen delivers bright Southeast Asian flavours with sharp technique. Adam Bateman’s team cooks with confidence, using British produce to keep everything fresh and vibrant.

This Winter's Time Out offer makes it even easier to treat yourself after the festive fog: a four-course menu with a glass of bubbles and a snack for £39.50 (was £59). It’s a refined escape from grey days and a sharp introduction to one of the city’s more elegant takes on Singaporean-inspired dining.

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After two exhibitions that could loosely fall under the category of ‘world history’ – Japan: Myths to Manga and Making Egypt – the Young V&A’s third temporary exhibition goes for a different tack in offering a celebration of and behind the scenes look at beloved British animation studio Aardman. It’s a journey through Aardman’s numerous iconic characters – from Morph to Shaun the Sheep and of course Wallace and Gromit – with a heavy emphasis on hands on exhibits and learning how the stop motion animation process works: young visitors will even be able to make a little animation of their own. Although all ages are welcome, it’s especially aimed at children aged eight to 14. As ever with Young V&A, paying for admission once allows you to come back any time during the life of the exhibition.

Yes, nobody – apart from possibly children – looks forward to the February half-term, but at least it’s invariably blessed with the Southbank Centre’s Imagine festival, a mix of family-oriented shows and workshops, play experiences and exhibitions, music, art and literature that’ll keep youngsters diverted February 11-21. There are events for kids of all ages (from babies to pre-teens) with many of them free, ranging from communal singalong sessions to dance workshops. 

Highlights of the 2026 edition include the self-explanatory An Evening with Jaqueline Wilson and Rachael Dean (Feb 15) where the legendary childen’s author and her illustrator will discuss their works; Quentin Blake’s Mrs Armitage on Wheels (Feb 18-21) is a new puppet-based musical based on Blake’s book; the Unicorn’s fun The Princess and the Pea (pictured) will be calling in Feb 14-20; The Show for Young Men (Feb 13-15) is a funny, heartfelt physical theatre show for older children about contemporary masculinity; and for young ’uns there’s a day of musical performances from CBeebies stalwarts Andy and the Odd Socks (Feb 15).

There’s plenty more besides including a significant number of free shows – check the Southbank Centre website for full listings.

This heartstring-tugging new musical was a hit at Chichester Festival Theatre, before heading to the West End to brighten up our collective Februaries. It's adapted by Rachel Joyce from her own hit novel-turned-movie about the eponymous 65-year-old man, who walks the length of England to say goodbye to his colleague. The songs in Katy Rudd’s production are by indie musician Passenger, and Mark Addy and Jenna Russell will reprise their roles as Harold and his wife Maureen in this limited run transfer.

It’s with grimly perfect timing that Tom Stoppard’s undoubted masterpiece – the jewel in the crown of one of the most remarkable bodies of work by any playwright ever – gets its first major London revival in ages less than two months after his death. Arcadia is a tremendously witty meditation on the nature of history, truth, sex, mathematics and more that skips between two timelines. Carrie Cracknell directs.

Contemporary dance heads have long been awaiting the UK premiere of Sweet Mambo, an expressionist dance work by the legendary Pina Bausch which explores human emotion in its many forms. Although it was first staged in 2008, this Sadlers Wells outing is the first time it’s been shown in London, so this is a pretty big deal. 

Escape reality through maximum immersion and experience 42 masterpieces from 29 of the world’s most iconic artists, each reimagined beyond belief, through cutting-edge technology. Situated in Marble Arch, Frameless plays host to four unique galleries with hypnotic visuals and a dazzling score. Enjoy 90 minutes of surreal artwork from Bosch, Dalí and more for just £23.60!

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There’s a lot crammed into this landmark British Museum exhibition. Samurai outlines the past 1,000 years through 280 objects and pieces of digital media, following the rise of the samurai from fierce mercenaries in the 1100s, through to their reign as an aristocratic social class from the 1600s to the 1800s. Examining the enduring legacy of the Japanese warriors in the present day, it illustrates how the image of the noble fighter has been mythologised, altered and co-opted over the years, sometimes for nefarious means (as seen in a chilling Nazi pamphlet promoting the relations between Japan and Germany). 

It’s well curated and lays out its narrative chronologically in a simple yet effective manner. The British Museum has done a good job of creating an atmospheric and immersive space – from floor-to-ceiling videos of silhouetted soldiers in battle, to a massive recreation of a shoji room divider. There’s also plenty to entertain kids, who can marvel at the detailed suits of armour, gory illustrations, and will surely be into the large display of samurai video games at the end.

Ever watched Finding Nemo or Inside Out and wondered what it would be like to exist inside those marvelous worlds created by Pixar animation studio? Well, wonder no more – the Mundo Pixar Experience is a travelling immersive show that has been transporting Pixar fans to some of its most beloved universes. And this year, it‘s coming to London. The show essentially a journey through a series of 14 rooms, one dedicated to a different Pixar film. You shrink down to toy size in Andy’s Room from Toy Story, explore the Monster, Inc Scare Floor, race into Flo’s Café from Cars to meet Lightning McQueen, visit the Headquarters of Riley’s emotions from Inside Out 2, and journey from Coco’s Land of the Living to the Land of the Dead. To make the experience all the more ‘immersive’ there will be ‘specially crafted scents’ filling each space. 

For 24 years, Kinoteka has been highlighting the creativity and magic of Polish cinema in London, taking over some of the most-respected cinema locations with offerings from the Slavic country. This year will be no different so get down to the likes of BFI Southbank, the ICA and more to discover some new cinematic treasures. The festival has a tradition of putting on retrospectives of great Polish directors, and in 2026 it’s the turn of Andrzej Wajdas. The opening gala on February 4 will show Wajdas's classic 1958 film Ashes and Diamonds from a 35mm print, and there’ll be Q&As, talks and an exhibition celebrating him in the following weeks. Other programme highlights include the UK premiere Agnieszka Holland's Kafka biopic Franz at BFI IMAX, a screening of The Good Boy starring Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough from Corpus Christi director Jan Komasa and a showing of award-winning documentary Trains from Maciej J. Drygas. 

Designed by the legendary Tom Dixon, Sea Containers Restaurant serves all-day dining on the River Thames, marrying the glamour of transatlantic travel with fresh, local ingredients. This January, shake off the winter blues with three vibrant courses from their new menu, packed with bold flavours and a glass of prosecco. For a little extra indulgence, add a cocktail at the 12th Knot Bar and take in the stunning riverside views. 

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Find out what the UK's most promising fine art graduates have been up to in this annual showcase of up-and-coming talent from across the UK, which is now in its 76th year. Featuring 22 exhibitors selected by renowned artists Pio Abad, Louise Giovanelli and Grace Ndiritu, the London leg of the exhibition this year takes place at Camberwell’s South London Gallery

The Princess of Wales Conservatory at Kew Gardens is taking a voyage to China this February, courtesy of the latest annual mind-bending orchid display that takes over the iconic glasshouse each year. As ever, the exotic display will celebrate the natural beauty and biodiversity of its subject country: China is home to thousands of varieties of orchid, plus vast amounts of other flora and fauna besides.  

Look out for sculptures of dragons and Chinese lanterns, as well as intricately woven plant installations. There’ll also be  ticketed after-hours events with live Chinese music, food, cocktails and dance performances. 

Entry to the display is included in general entry to Kew Gardens.

A new free photography exhibition illustrates the beauty and fragility of the Pantanal – the world’s largest wetland that sprawls across Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay. Over 60 images, captured by two of Brazil’s leading documentary photographers, will be displayed. Visitors will discover the Pantanal’s wonderful biodiversity – which includes jaguars, howler monkeys, caiman and marsh deer – alongside the ravages of wildfires and deforestation. 

Love a roast but want to try something a little bit different? Well the very gorgeous Sessions Arts Club is making Sundays about more than meat, roasties and Yorkshire pudding. Their new Sunday residency programme began this month with a takeover from chef and writer Jago Rackham and will continue on February 22 with a menu from Michelin-starred chef Adam Byatt. Every other Sunday from February 15, Sessions will be serving its new £30 roast menu featuring a duck liver starter, shoulder of lamb main and a rhubarb trifle. 

Although his glory days were undoubedly in the middle of the twentieth century, Arthur Miller’s late works still pack a punch, and none more so than 1994’s Broken Glass, which was his final original play to transfer to Broadway. Revived here a couple of times since to acclaim, it follows a New York Jewish couple with a troubled marriage who are physically stricken down just as the events of Kristalnacht unfold. In his first non-musical production since hitting the big time, rising star Jordan Fein directs a cast headed by Pearl Chanda, Eli Gelb and Nancy Carroll.

The Horniman’s big 2026 temporary exhibition in this globe-trotting Australian show inspired by Jules Verne’s classic novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas. You’ll command the legendary Nautilus submarine and journey to the depths of the oceans, visiting Atlantis, weaving through huge kelp forests and meeting extraordinary aquatic creatures. And while the giant squid you come ‘face to face’ with is presumably not real, there will be actual living sea creatures present courtesy of six aquarium tanks that come with the show. Exclusive to this stop will be a partership with beloved CBeebies show Octonauts and a series of its trademark ‘creature reports’.

In the Barbican exhibition series  ‘Encounters: Giacometti’, living artists will showcase their art in response to the esteemed work of Alberto Giacometti, who passed away in 1966. The upcoming and final sculptor that will be in discussion with Giacometti will be American artist Lynda Benglis. She will present new and old pieces and her personal selection of Giacometti’s sculptures. Known for pouring hot pigmated latex onto the floor and letting it form into a solid structure, Benglis’ work is often colourful, abstract, and holds a mirror to society. 

Fans of drinking huge vats of red wine will remember Charlie Mellor’s Hackney Road Bukowski-esque boozehouse the Laughing Heart fondly. Mellor has now teamed up with ex-Luca sommelier Cameron Dewar to open Osteria Vibrato. They’re calling it ‘an antidote to concept dining’, and frankly we have no idea what that means but we’re excited nonetheless. Opening February 14, expect Italian classics including fresh pasta and whole grilled fish. There’ll also be a cocktail bar that celebrates the ‘golden age of bartending’, and we certainly know what that means. 

Somerset House’s next outdoor large-scale comission will be created by German-Scottish artist and researcher Dana-Fiona Armour. Serpentine Currents will feature large-scale serpentine structures derived from 3D scans of endangered sea snake specimens, illuminated by light patterns triggered by oceanographic data, addressing the looming threat of marine ecosystem collapse. Cheerful stuff!

Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota will bring her mesmirising web-like installation to the Hayward in her first major London solo show. Floor-to-ceiling woven artworks will take over the gallery, engulfing ordinary objects – such as shoes, keys, beds, chairs and dresses – within the huge structures. These will be accompanied by new large-scale sculptures, drawings, early performance videos and photographs. 

After a five-year-long world tour, this blockbuster exhibition on the ancient Egyptians is finally arriving in London. Ramses and the Pharaoh’s Gold will display 180 priceless treasures on loan from the Supreme Council of Antiquities, of which the pinnacle is the coffin of Ramses II, giving Londoners the chance to see an original sarcophagus here in the Big Smoke. Other gems on show will include gold masks,  silver coffins, animal mummies, amulets, jewellery and colossal sculptures. Although superficially sounding quite similar to the recent Tutankhamun immersive exhibition, this one seems a lot more based around Ancient artefacts, with none of the fanciful CGI frippery that’s come into fashion in the world of international touring exhibitions the last couple of years.

Try beers from more than 50 breweries from all over the world at the fourth edition of this two-day wintry festival. Notting Hill's Mall Tavern is letting discerning drinkers discover cult brews including Sureshot from Manchester, Empire Brewing's stout from Huddersfield, Nerd Brewing from Sweden, and sour specialists, Trial & Ale, from the USA. There'll also be a newly enlarged Belgian beers room, plus a new Czech lager room. Tickets are £60, and get you all the beers you can sample during a five hour session in this cosy but capacious pub.