London Exhibitions of 2026
London’s 2026 exhibition calendar presents a remarkable convergence of art, fashion, history, and cultural identity. From major museum retrospectives to fashion and photography landmarks, the city offers a year defined by intellectual depth and visual excellence. These exhibitions explore global narratives — from Japanese warrior culture and modern British art to iconic figures who shaped the twentieth century and beyond.
At Carsons Travel Concierge, each exhibition can be experienced through a private guided tour, offering expert-led insight, historical context, and a deeper understanding of the works on view. Below is a carefully curated selection of London’s most significant exhibitions of 2026, designed for travelers who value culture experienced with intention and depth.
THE BEST EXHIBITIONS IN LONDON 2026
1. Samurai – The British Museum (3 February – 4 May 2026)
This major exhibition explores the history, philosophy, and visual culture of the samurai, tracing their evolution from medieval warriors to enduring symbols of discipline, honor, and aesthetic refinement. Through armor, weaponry, textiles, and ceremonial objects, the exhibition reveals how martial identity in Japan was inseparable from art, ritual, and moral codes. It examines the political power of the samurai class while also addressing their influence on poetry, calligraphy, and material culture. Rare objects and contextual narratives illuminate how the samurai shaped Japan’s social structure for centuries. The exhibition offers a nuanced understanding of a warrior tradition often mythologized but seldom explored in full cultural depth.
A private guided tour offers an expert-led visit that situates each object within its historical, philosophical, and artistic context, allowing for a deeper insight into samurai culture beyond popular imagery.
2. Lucian Freud: Drawing into Painting – National Portrait Gallery (12 February – 4 May 2026)
This exhibition examines Lucian Freud’s drawings as the foundation of his distinctive approach to painting, revealing the intensity and discipline behind his figurative practice. By focusing on works on paper alongside related paintings, the exhibition traces how observation, line, and repetition informed Freud’s uncompromising realism. It highlights drawing not as a preparatory step, but as a continuous method of inquiry that shaped his understanding of flesh, presence, and psychological depth. The exhibition offers rare insight into Freud’s working process and artistic rigor, shedding new light on one of Britain’s most influential painters of the twentieth century.
An expert-led private guided tour provides a curated experience, unpacking Freud’s techniques and artistic evolution while offering deeper insight into the relationship between drawing and painting in his work.
3. Tracey Emin: A Second Life – Tate Modern (17 February – 31 August 2026)
This exhibition presents a reflective and deeply personal survey of Tracey Emin’s recent work, exploring themes of survival, vulnerability, and renewal. Spanning painting, sculpture, and installation, the exhibition reveals how Emin’s artistic language has evolved while remaining rooted in autobiographical truth. It addresses intimacy not as confession, but as a means of confronting pain, resilience, and the human condition. The works reflect a renewed urgency and emotional clarity, positioning this period as a significant chapter in Emin’s career and in contemporary British art.
A private guided tour offers a thoughtful, expert-led visit that provides context for Emin’s practice, encouraging deeper insight into the emotional and conceptual layers of her work.
4. Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art – Victoria and Albert Museum (28 March – 1 November 2026)
This landmark exhibition examines the revolutionary vision of Elsa Schiaparelli, whose work redefined fashion through its dialogue with art, surrealism, and modernity. Presenting garments, accessories, and archival material, the exhibition explores her collaborations, bold symbolism, and lasting influence on twentieth-century and contemporary fashion. It positions Schiaparelli not only as a couturier, but as a cultural innovator who challenged conventions through wit, experimentation, and intellectual rigor. Rarely assembled works illuminate her enduring impact on design, creativity, and visual culture.
A private guided tour delivers a curated experience led by a fashion expert, offering deeper insight into Schiaparelli’s artistic legacy and her role within the broader history of fashion.
5. Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style – Buckingham Palace (10 April – 18 October 2026)
This exhibition explores the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II through the lens of dress, symbolism, and personal style. Garments worn across decades reveal how fashion functioned as diplomacy, continuity, and quiet authority. From early royal appearances to later ceremonial roles, the exhibition traces how clothing reflected historical moments, national identity, and evolving public expectations. Rarely displayed pieces provide an intimate perspective on a figure whose visual presence became globally recognized.
A private guided tour offers an expert-led visit that contextualizes each ensemble within royal history, protocol, and cultural significance, allowing for deeper insight into the visual language of monarchy.
6. Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait – National Portrait Gallery (4 June – 6 September 2026)
This exhibition examines Marilyn Monroe through the portraits that shaped her public image and enduring legacy. Moving beyond celebrity, it explores how photographers and artists constructed an icon while revealing moments of vulnerability and control. The exhibition considers Monroe’s role in visual culture, gender politics, and twentieth-century media, positioning her as both subject and collaborator in the creation of her image. Rare works offer a layered portrait of a figure whose influence continues to resonate.
A private guided tour provides a curated experience, offering expert insight into the cultural and artistic significance of Monroe’s image across decades.
7. Frida: The Making of an Icon – Tate Modern (25 June 2026 – 3 January 2027)
This exhibition examines how Frida Kahlo became one of the most recognizable figures in modern art and global culture. Through paintings, photographs, and archival material, it explores the construction of her identity, the political dimensions of her work, and her lasting influence on visual and popular culture. The exhibition moves beyond mythology to consider how Kahlo consciously shaped her image while engaging deeply with issues of pain, heritage, and self-representation. It offers a critical perspective on the making of an artistic icon.
A private guided tour delivers an expert-led visit that provides deeper insight into Kahlo’s artistic language and cultural significance within twentieth-century art.
8. The 90s – Tate Britain (1 October 2026 – 14 February 2027)
This exhibition explores the cultural, artistic, and social transformations of the 1990s, a decade marked by experimentation and shifting identities. Through art, media, and design, it examines how artists responded to political change, globalisation, and new forms of expression. The exhibition situates the decade as a pivotal moment in recent history, tracing its lasting influence on contemporary culture and visual language. It offers a critical framework for understanding the 1990s beyond nostalgia.
A private guided tour offers a curated experience with expert insight, contextualising the works within their historical moment and broader cultural significance.
Luxury Tailored Experiences with Carsons Travel Concierge
London’s exhibitions of 2026 offer more than moments of visual discovery — they invite reflection on history, identity, and artistic legacy. Experienced thoughtfully, they become an essential part of understanding the cultural pulse of the city.
With Carsons Travel Concierge, these exhibitions can be explored through private guided tours led by experts, allowing for a deeper, more meaningful engagement with each subject. Whether shaping a cultural journey around a single exhibition or weaving several into a bespoke London itinerary, each experience is designed with discretion, insight, and care.
If you decide to stay overnight in London, book with us a top choice hotel – Royal Lancaster London, and enjoy plenty of perks and bonuses, such as:
◊ 100 USD hotel credit
◊ Upgrade whenever possible
◊ Breakfast daily
Nestled in the heart of London, Royal Lancaster London is a refined five-star hotel offering breathtaking views over Hyde Park and the city skyline. Combining mid-century glamour with contemporary sophistication, the hotel boasts elegantly designed rooms and suites, impeccable service, and exceptional dining experiences, including award-winning Nipa Thai. Just moments from Mayfair, Knightsbridge, and West End, it’s the perfect retreat for discerning travelers seeking luxury, convenience, and classic British hospitality.
Ideal for luxury travelers, business stays, and romantic getaways.
Contact us now to plan your London fashion experience for 2025. Indulge in the art of fashion with an unforgettable journey of Fashion Exhibitions in London.
Book private tours for the most-wanted Exhibitions of 2026 in London with Carsons Travel Concierge.
Private Tour of Marie Antoinette Style at V&A London 2025–2026
Private Tour of Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art in London 2026
Luxury Valentine’s Day Itinerary in London 2026
Cartier Exhibition 2025 London: Private Tour & Sold-Out Tickets
Top 5 Activities for Kids and Parents for Family Adventure in London
