Masterpieces and modern icons: exhibition highlights for 2026
200th Anniversary of the Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, Scotland
Throughout 2026
In 2026, the Royal Scottish Academy celebrates 200 years with a nationwide programme of exhibitions, talks, performances and events across more than 70 venues. Central to the celebrations is the 200th RSA Annual Exhibition (9 May to 14 June 2026), showcasing contemporary Scottish art and architecture. Other highlights span major spaces including V&A Dundee and Paisley Museum and Art Gallery, reflecting the RSA’s cultural impact.
Nigerian Modernism, Tate Modern, London, England
Until 11 May 2026
A vibrant showcase spanning painting, sculpture, textiles and poetry at London’s Tate Modern, Nigerian Modernism is a celebration of Nigerian artists. Highlighting works created before and after the country gained independence in 1960, it reveals the cultural and political shifts that shaped the country’s revolutionary artistic movement.
Splendours of the Sikh Raj: Arms and Armour, Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester, England
15 November 2025 to 29 November 2026
Manchester Art Gallery presents intricately designed Sikh arms and armour, offering insight into faith, identity and everyday life during the Sikh Raj. Curated in collaboration with Manchester’s Sikh community, Splendours of the Sikh Raj: Arms and Armour illuminates the artistry and heritage of Sikh history through these ornamental objects.
Wes Anderson: The Archives, Design Museum, London, England
21 November 2025 to 26 July 2026
The Design Museum opens the door to Wes Anderson’s creative world. Featuring more than 600 items – including storyboards, puppets, and costumes – from early projects to blockbuster films, this is the first UK showing of many objects, offering an in-depth look at the director’s imagination and cinematic style.
What are the Odds? Ikon Creative Health, Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, England
21 January to 28 June 2026
Housed off-site at the Library of Birmingham, the Ikon Gallery explores life’s defining moments through photography and installations by a selection of local artists in What Are the Odds? Using a 70s-inspired graphic identity created by Birmingham artist Foka Wolf, the exhibition examines topics such as health, identity and parenthood, inviting viewers to reflect on the unpredictability of life.
Gwen John: Strange Beauties, National Museum Cardiff, Cardiff, Wales
7 February to 28 June 2026
The National Museum Cardiff presents Gwen John: Strange Beauties, the first major exhibition of the Welsh artist’s work in 40 years. Featuring rarely seen sketches and drawings, Strange Beauties marks 150 years since John’s birth, celebrating her pioneering portraits of women and her contribution to early 20th-century art.
Lucian Freud: Drawing into Painting, National Portrait Gallery, London, England
12 February to 3 May 2026
Explore Lucian Freud’s sketches and etchings spanning from the 1930s to the 21st century. The exhibition Lucian Freud: Drawings into Paintings at the National Portrait Gallery in London includes previously unseen works, capturing Freud’s studies of human faces in pencil, ink and charcoal, offering new insight into the artist’s approach to portraiture.
Tracey Emin: A Second Life, Tate Modern, London, England
26 February to 31 August 2026
Tracey Emin: A Second Life is the largest ever survey exhibition celebrating the work of British artist Tracey Emin. The exhibition spans more than 90 works from across four decades – from her provocative early pieces like the installation My Bed to recent explorations of illness, survival and reinvention in bronze, neon, video and textiles.
Titanic Exhibition, P&J Live, Aberdeen, Scotland
28 March to 12 April 2026
Visitors can imagine stepping aboard the RMS Titanic through rare artefacts and immersive displays that tell the story of the doomed ocean liner. From personal belongings of passengers and crew to interactive recreations, the Titanic Exhibition brings the ship’s legacy to life, highlighting both its engineering marvels and human stories.
Catwalk: The Art of the Fashion Show, V&A Dundee, Scotland
3 April 2026 to 17 Jan 2027
Trace over a century of fashion show history in this UK-exclusive exhibition. Featuring designers such as Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Dior, Prada and Louis Vuitton, Catwalk: The Art of the Fashion Show explores the theatricality, creativity, and cultural impact of the fashion show as an art form.
James McNeill Whistler, Tate Modern, London, England
21 May 2026 to 27 September 2027
James McNeill Whistler is a major retrospective, the first in Europe for 30 years, showcasing Whistler’s pioneering work from his early years in St. Petersburg through to his final period in London. Featuring well-known and never-before-seen portraits, landscapes, prints and designs, the exhibition highlights his innovative techniques and influence on 19th-century art.
Wendy McMurdo: The Digital Mirror, Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland
30 May to 25 Oct 2026
Coinciding with the Royal Scottish Academy’s 200th anniversary celebrations, Wendy McMurdo: The Digital Mirror examines childhood and play through digital technology. The work of the pioneering British photographer, the first female photographer to be elected to the Royal Scottish Academy, investigates how the digital age shapes learning and imagination, blending photography and interactive media to reflect on the intersection of technology and identity.
Frida: The Making of an Icon, Tate Modern, London, England
25 June 2026 to 3 January 2027
Frida: The Making of an Icon, is a major retrospective that delves into Frida Kahlo’s life and legacy, featuring more than 130 works, including her well-known self-portraits, photographs and personal memorabilia. It explores her enduring influence on art, politics and identity. The show also highlights Kahlo’s iconic status across diverse communities, offering a comprehensive view of her multifaceted identity.
Catherine Opie: To Be Seen, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, Scotland
8 Aug 2026 to 1 Nov 2026
Explore 30 years of work from American artist Catherine Opie, her first major museum exhibition in Britain. The collection, Catherine Opie: To Be Seen at the Royal Scottish Academy, questions the meaning of home, intimacy, family and identity. It is set to feature more than 80 eclectic works, including some from Scotland’s national collection.
Renoir and Love, National Gallery, London, England
3 October 2026 – 31 January 2027
Visitors can discover more than 50 works in Renoir and Love, the first major UK exhibition of the artist since 2007. Highlights include the British debut of Bal au Moulin de la Galette (1876), alongside masterpieces from the 1860s to 1880s, showcasing Renoir at the height of his artistic career. The exhibition celebrates how imagery of topics such as affection, seduction and conversation evolved throughout this period.
On tour - theatre shows to look out for in 2026 across Britain
Our Town (UK tour)
16 January 2026 to 28 March 2026
Take a journey to a small Welsh town with this new take on the award-winning play, Our Town, by Thornton Wilder. Michael Sheen stars in the production which explores the extraordinary in ordinary lives. The show will tour four venues across Britain, including Swansea Grand Theatre (16 to 31 January 2026), Llandudno’s Venue Cymru (3 to 7 February 2026) and Theatr Clwyd in Mold (11 to 21 February 2026) in Wales, before heading to the Rose Theatre in Kingston upon Thames, London (26 February to 28 March 2026).
SIX, Vaudeville (UK tour)
Until January 2027
Winner of the Tony Award for ‘Best Original Score’ and ‘Best Costume Design’, Six brings the story of King Henry VIII to life as told from the perspective of his six wives. The Tudor queens are reimagined as pop stars, retelling their histories through a feminist lens. The show will tour Britain with limited runs at 23 venues in 2026, including the Manchester Palace Theatre (13 to 17 January 2026) the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (20 to 31 January 2026), Birmingham Hippodrome (31 March to 11 April 2026) and Edinburgh Festival Theatre (15 to 26 September 2026).
From screen to stage (and back again): theatre plays seen on the screen
The Bodyguard Musical
Until August 2026
Based on the blockbuster 1992 film starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, The Bodyguard is the award-winning musical filled with hits like ‘I Will Always Love You’. The story follows ex-Secret Service agent Frank Farmer, hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from a stalker, only for them to fall in love with each other. Tour dates for 2026 include limited runs in 24 venues across Britain including Manchester Palace Theatre (19 to 31 January 2026), Sheffield Lyceum (10 to 14 February 2026), Leicester Curve (12 to 16 May 2026), Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre (18 to 23 May 2026), Venue Cymru in Llandudno (1 to 6 June 2026), Wales Millenium Centre in Cardiff (20 to 25 July 2026) and Theatre Royal in Newcastle (27 July to 1 August 2026).
Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre, London, England
Until 3 January 2027
For those who enjoyed the recent film adaptation, Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre offers the chance to experience the original West End magic. Running until 3 January 2027, this award-winning musical reimagines The Wizard of Oz, following the unlikely friendship of Elphaba and Glinda. First staged in 2006, it continues to draw audiences with its spellbinding score and spectacular staging.
Back to the Future - The Musical (UK-wide)
Until February 2027
Step back in time with Doc and Marty at the Adelphi Theatre in London. Back to the Future – The Musical brings the 1985 film to life on stage, combining catchy songs, a vibrant choreography and visuals to transport audiences back to the iconic time-traveling adventure. The production features original music by multi-Grammy winners Alan Silvestri (Avengers: Endgame) and Glen Ballard (Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror), alongside the movie’s hit songs The Power of Love, Johnny B Goode, Earth Angel and Back in Time. The musical embarks on a UK tour from 8 October 2026, with limited runs at six venues including the Bristol Hippodrome (8 October to 21 November 2026), the Edinburgh Playhouse (2 December 2026 to 2 January 2027) and the Liverpool Empire (12 January to 6 February 2027). Visitors can buy tickets for the London-show at the Adelphi Theatre via the VisitBritain Shop.
Mamma Mia!
Until 7 January 2027
Visitors can sing their heart out to the greatest hits of Swedish pop group ABBA in this musical love story set on a Greek island. The stage sensation that inspired the hit 2008 film Mamma Mia! continues to draw audiences over 20 years after its West End debut at the Novella Theatre. The show Mamma Mia! is also bringing the party to 25 major cities across Britain, including Swansea Building Society Arena (13 to 24 January 2026), Kings Theare Glasgow (13 to 29 August 2026), Manchester Palace Theatre (3 to 21 March 2026), Venue Cymru in Llandudno (21 to 25 April 2026) and the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford (10 to 21 November 2026). Visitors can book tickets for the London-show (until 26 September 2026) via the VisitBritain Shop.
Kinky Boots, London Coliseum, London, England
17 March to 11 July 2026
Step into the spotlight with Kinky Boots, running at the London Coliseum in London, England, from 17 March to 11 July 2026. This hit musical, inspired by real events in Northampton, began life as the acclaimed 2005 film Kinky Boots, before strutting onto the stage. With a show-stopping score by Cyndi Lauper, it follows Charlie, a factory owner who teams up with drag performer Lola to save his family business by making fabulous boots.
FRIENDS! The Musical Parody
Until 2 May 2026
Relive the laughs of Friends in FRIENDS! The Musical Parody, a song-filled comical tribute bringing the beloved US American sitcom to the stage. Set in 1990s New York, it follows Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Joey and Phoebe through their most unforgettable moments – complete with witty one-liners and plenty of inside jokes for die-hard fans. The show will tour Britain with limited runs at 14 major venues including Alhambra Theatre in Bradford (27 to 31 January 2026), the New Theatre in Hull (2 to 7 March 2026), and the New Theatre in Cardiff (28 April to 2 May 2026).
Legally Blonde – The Musical
7 February 2026 to 2 January 2027
Visitors can bend and snap their way into the world of Elle Woods as Legally Blonde – The Musical lights up UK stages from February 2026 to January 2027. Based on the hit 2001 film starring Reese Witherspoon, this feel-good show packed with catchy songs follows Elle’s journey from ‘It Girl’ fashionista to Harvard Law graduate. The show will tour Britain with limited runs at 32 venues including the Sheffield Lyceum (7 to 11 April 2026), The Alexandra Birmingham (31 March to 4 April 2026), King’s Theatre Glasgow (31 March to 11 April 2026), Wales Millenium Centre in Cardiff (16 to 20 June 2026), and His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen (23 to 27 June 2026).
Mean Girls
23 February 2026 to 30 January 2027
Get ready to join the Plastics as Mean Girls – The Musical hits the UK in 2026. Based on Tina Fey’s 2004 film hit, this Tony-Award-winning musical delivers catchy tunes and strong characters. The tour kicks off on 23 February 2026 at Manchester Opera House and runs until January 2027, visiting 32 cities including Cardiff (10 to 14 March 2026), Sunderland (6 to 11 April 2026), Leicester (5 to 9 May 2026), Aberdeen (12 to 16 May 2026), Norwich (13 to 17 October 2026), and Birmingham (14 December 2026 to 2 January 2027).
Dirty Dancing
25 August 2026 to 17 April 2027
Get ready to dance like nobody’s watching as Dirty Dancing returns to the UK. Follow Baby and Johnny from the much-loved 1987 screen romance through the summer of 1963 at a Catskills holiday camp, with hit songs and snappy routines. The tour visits 18 UK venues, including Empire Theatre Liverpool (1 to 5 September 2026), Manchester Palace Theatre (20 September to 3 October 2026) and Edinburgh Playhouse (27 to 31 October 2026).
Annie
23 May 2026 to 14 March 2027
Visitors can join the beloved orphan and her friends as Annie brings its West End magic on tour across the UK. Also widely known through various film adaptations, visitors can sing along to classics like ‘Tomorrow’ and ‘It’s the Hard-Knock Life’ while following Annie’s journey from Miss Hannigan’s orphanage to her new happy home. Tour stops feature 27 venues across Britain, including the Alexandra in Birmingham (2 to 6 June 2026), Manchester Palace Theatre (9 to 20 June 2026) and Newcastle Theatre Royal 4 to 8 August 2026.
