Leading British artists among 2026 Tate exhibition highlights

Tracey Emin, Frida Kahlo and James McNeill Whistler are among the artists which will be showcased in the programme of 2026 exhibitions across Tate Modern and Tate Britain, plus a dive into the rebellious artwork of the 90s.

In addition, Tate will show works by Ana Mendieta that have never been seen in the UK, relocate Duncan Grant’s studio from his Sussex home to Tate Britain and stage the first major exhibition of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham’s career at Tate St Ives.

Maria Balshaw, director of Tate, said: “2026 will be a particularly exciting year for Tate. From three extraordinary women artists spanning the year at Tate Modern to the glorious immersive work of Julio Le Parc, and from the celebration of leading figures of modern British art like Duncan Grant, Vanessa Bell, and Wilhemina Barns-Graham to new commissions and contemporary artists, the programme reflects our commitment offering our visitors once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to see great art brought together in Tate’s galleries.” 

Tate Modern

Tate Modern starts the year with an exhibition tracing 40 years of Tracey Emin’s work, showcasing career-defining works alongside material never exhibited before. The exhibition will run from 26th February to 31st August.

Three exhibitions will take place over the summer. The first will be an exhibition celebrating the immersive works of Julio Le Parc, featuring his interactive installations and sculptures from 11th June 2026 to 3rd May 2027. 

This will be followed by an exhibition exploring how Frida Kahlo became one of the most influential artists of modern times, featuring her best-known paintings, as well as photographs and memorabilia from her archives. Frida: The Making of an Icon will run from 25th June 2026 to 4th January 2027 and will be organised by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in collaboration with Tate Modern. 

The season will end from 9th July 2026 to 10th January 2027 with a major exhibition dedicated to Ana Mendieta, exploring questions about displacement, identity, and relationships to nature, bringing together many of Mendieta’s iconic film and photographic works alongside installations which have never been seen in the UK before. 

In the autumn, a group exhibition Light and Magic: The Birth of Art Photography will examine the international movement which first transformed the camera into an artistic tool. It will show how photographers from Shanghai to Sydney, New York to Cape Town, and Brazil to Singapore created beautiful and atmospheric images between the 1880s and 1960s. The exhibition will run from 8th October 2026 until 14th February 2027.

Tate Britain

Tate Britain will open Hurvin Anderson’s first major museum show from 26th March until 23rd August 2026, bringing together more than 60 of his paintings spanning Anderson’s entire career to date. 

This will be joined by a focus on the work of James McNeill Whistler, the first to be held in Europe in 30 years. It will bring together the artist’s world-famous paintings alongside rarely and never seen works, including portraits, drawings, prints and designs, from as early as his teens in St. Petersburg to his enigmatic late self-portraits. Visitors will be able to see the exhibition from 21st May until 27th September. 

Opening on 1st October and running until 14th February 2027, The 90s will explore the changing culture of the decade, bringing together iconic images by photographers including Juergen Teller and Corrine Day, alongside the work of artists like Damien Hirst, Gillian Wearing and Yinka Shonibare, and fashion items by decade-defining designers including Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen and Hussein Chalayan. 

This will be followed by an exploration of the 50-year relationship and creative partnership between two celebrated modern British artists. Vanessa Bell & Duncan Grant will feature over 250 works, including portraits, still lives, landscapes, decorative works on furniture, ceramics, and a re-staging of Duncan Grant’s studio, relocated from his Sussex home, Charleston. The exhibition will run at Tate Britain from 12th November 2026 to 11th April 2027.

Visiting the museums

Tate Modern and Tate Britain offer free admission to the galleries and Tate members can enjoy free exhibition entry. 

Groups can book tailored tours at Tate Modern and Tate Britain led by art experts, including highlight tours for groups of 15 or more. Interactive tours are available for groups and includes activities such as drawing or collage making.

Other private tours available at both museums include architecture tours, which take in the former Power Station which Tate Modern is located within, or the history of Tate Britain. Morning private tours take place before the gallery opens and are led by Tate experts. They are suitable for groups of up to 25.

Groups can also enjoy tours and talks looking at key themes and artwork in specific exhibitions. An exhibition package includes refreshments on arrival and a buffet lunch.