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Great news, culture vultures; it’s the start of a brand new year, and that means a host of new exhibitions to look forward to.
January is pretty quiet for new openings – we’re all too busy watching The Traitors and trying not to spend any money – but there’s plenty of unmissable culture on the horizon in the capital, from flashy fashion and design retrospectives to deep-dives into ageing, fandom and the studio behind everyone’s favourite claymation canine and inventor duo.
Joyless health kicks got you feeling glum? Stop meal prepping and start planning an enriching cultural diet instead, with our guide to the biggest and best museum openings coming up over the next year.
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The 8 best museum exhibitions coming to London in 2026
1. The Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum
Huge news for British history buffs; for the first time in 900 long years, the Bayeux Tapestry is going on display in Britain this autumn. The intricately embroidered 70-metre-long artwork depicts the 1066 Battle of Hastings, when William the Conquerer took the English throne. Although it’s believed to have been embroidered in Canterbury, the tapestry has resided in Bayeux, Normandy for the past nine centuries, so this is a super rare chance to see it on home soil.
The British Museum. Sep 2026-Jun 2027. More details here.
2. Schiaparelli: ‘Fashion Becomes Art’ at the V&A
Known for her surreal and avant-garde haute couture creations – often with striking silhouettes, gilded accents and unusual appliqués – the groundbreaking fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli gets a big, flashy exhibition at the V&A this spring. It will trace the origins of the house, from its first, paradigm-shifting garments, through to its present-day incarnation in the hands of its creative director Daniel Roseberry.
The V&A. Mar 21-Nov 1. More details here.
3. ‘The Music is Black’ at V&A East
V&A East’s inaugural temporary exhibition is a landmark exploration of how Black British music has shaped culture at home and further afield, featuring a whole bunch of cool artefacts from Joan Armatrading’s childhood guitar and looks worn by Little Simz, newly acquired photography by Dennis Morris and Jennie Baptiste and a ‘sound experience’ from Sennheiser. It’ll also mark the first edition of a new annual festival bringing together the East Bank’s neighbouring cultural institutions, which include the London College of Fashion, the BBC Music Studios, Sadler’s Wells East and UCL East.
V&A East. Apr 18-Jun 18. More details here.
4. Es Devlin at the Design Museum
English artist and stage designer Es Devlin gets her first UK museum show this autumn, when the Design Museum stages a retrospective delving into the Tony and Olivier Award-winner’s s 30-year practice encompassing everything from kinetic stage sculptures to monumental art installations. Developed in close collaboration with the London-based designer, it’ll feature feature some brand new large scale installations conceived especially for the exhibition.
Design Museum. Sep 18-Apr 11 2027. More details here.
5. ‘Holy Pop!’ at Somerset House
If you’ll always carry a torch for your teenage celeb crush, then this one’s for you. From the internet’s impact on beauty trends to all things cute and cuddly, Somerset House’s spring 2026 opening will explore the power of fandom and the world of modern shrines. Through art, memorabilia, letters, photographs, and interactive installations, the pay what you can exhibition will uncover the rituals of idolisation, showing how fandom shapes identity, values, and community.
Somerset House. May 21-Aug 9. Pay what you can. More details here.
6. ‘Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends’ at Young V&A
Young V&A’s third temporary is a must-visit for families, offering a behind-the-scenes look at animation studio Aardman. A journey into the beloved British studio’s numerous iconic characters – from Morph to Shaun the Sheep and, of course, Wallace and Gromit – it will have a heavy emphasis on hands-on exhibits where youngsters can learn the basics about stop motion animation, and even make an animation of their own. As ever with Young V&A, paying for admission once allows you to come back any time during the life of the exhibition.
Young V&A. Feb 12-Nov 15. £11. More details here.
7. The Coming of Age at the Wellcome Collection
With its typical blend of art, science and pop culture, Euston Road institution the Wellcome Collection will be doing a deep-dive into global perceptions of ageing and how societies can age better. The 120+ artworks and objects on display will range from 16th century woodcuts made by German printmaker Sebald Beham to Deborah Roberts’ contemporary collages exploring Black childhood.
Wellcome Collection. Mar 26-Nov 29. Free. More details here.
8. Agatha Christie at the British Library
Agatha Christie is widely regarded as the greatest ever crime novelist, and the Queen of Crime will be under investigation herself during the British Library’s autumn 2026 exhibition. It will delve into the origins of iconic characters Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, while also exploring the the eclectic range of interests that inspired the English author’s works and illustrating the profound impact her oeuvre continues to have on the whodunnit genre.
British Library. Oct 30-Jun 20 2027. More details here.
Start planning an amazing year with Time Out’s ultimate 2026 London preview.
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