What Is London Gallery Weekend? The Insider’s Guide

London Gallery Weekend is back for 2026, running from 5–7 June 2026. It’s one of the very best ways to see fine contemporary art (for free!) across the British capital. Wondering how to make the most of it? We tapped co-directors Sarah Rustin and Jeremy Epstein for their ultimate guide to the action below.

Jeremy Epstein and Sarah Rustin

What Is London Gallery Weekend?

London Gallery Weekend is an annual event that’s free to the public. It sees over 120 commercial contemporary art galleries across the capital opening new shows and holding a wide range of fantastic events and activities over the course of three days in the first weekend of June.

Now in its sixth year, it’s the perfect opportunity to explore London’s thriving gallery scene, from large-scale international galleries to more intimate spaces across the city. Visitors have the opportunity to discover artists whose work they may not have encountered before, as well as exploring galleries that are new to London or in areas they haven’t yet ventured to.

London’s gallery scene is unique, and this event is the perfect way to discover it, with a number of initiatives that make it easier for you to explore.

Sadie Coles, London Gallery Weekend 2025. (Linda Nylind)

What Are The 2026 Highlights?

There’s something for everyone, whether you’re interested in historic, celebrated artists – like Eileen Agar, Jean Dubuffet, Joan Miró, Paul Klee and Francis Picabia – or if you’re looking to discover new, emerging talent you can find artists such as Gray Wielebinski and Jan Gatewood on view, and artists showing work in the UK for the first time like Candace Hill-Montgomery and Russell Perkins.

If you’re keen to familiarise yourself with British artists, artists with exhibitions on view include Yinka Ilori MBE and Lubaina Himid CBE – who also represents Britain at this year’s Venice Biennale and will be unveiling this year’s Cork Street Banners Commission.

Whether you are drawn to painting, sculpture, photography, or performance, you can plan your London Gallery Weekend experience according to what you’re most interested in. Or be guided by others who have prepared routes for you to follow, taking in the exhibitions of leading contemporary artists, including Roni Horn, Rachel Maclean, Hayv Kahraman, George Rouy and Anne Imhof.

London Gallery Weekend is also a great opportunity to catch artists who have work on view at this year’s Venice Biennale, such as Oscar Santillán representing Ecuador and Alvaro Barrington in the Koyo Kouoh’s In Minor Keys.

Francis Picabia at Hauser & Wirth London (21 May–1 August).

Anything That Simply Should Not Be Missed?

Our Live Programme features more than 80 free events staged by participating galleries, ranging from performances, talks and educational workshops to book signings, barbecues, and public parties. We recommend making a bee line for artist performances, such as Mandy El-Sayegh, staged in collaboration with artist and medium Alice Walter, at Thaddaeus Ropac on Friday 5 June at 5pm which follows Oliver Beer in conversation with Rufus Wainwright at 12pm, or Anina Major’s at Larkin Durey on Friday 5 June at 11:30am.

Performances by Caroline Aguirre at Palmer and Yijia Wu at KRUPA will be unmissable too. You can explore all the free events on our website and register to attend any of the events directly.

Tête à tête: Joan Miró & Pablo Picasso runs at Nahmad Projects | Helly Nahmad Gallery 1 June–17 July 2026. (Joan Miró, Oiseaux en Fête pour le lever du Jour (Birds Making Merry for Daybreak) March 21, 1968)

What Areas Of London Does London Gallery Weekend Cover?

Each of London Gallery Weekend’s three days focuses on one area: starting with Central London on Friday, followed by South London on Saturday and culminating on Sunday in the East End. The events are organised to happen in galleries according to their focus day, but all participating galleries are open across all three days, from 11am–6pm on Friday and Saturday and 12pm–5pm on Sunday. Each area having a focus day means that you truly get a sense of how distinctly different the scene is in each geography.

Maximilliam William, London Gallery Weekend 2025.
(Linda Nylind)

How Can We Get Involved?

There are a number of ways visitors can navigate London Gallery Weekend. Each year we invite notable figures from across the cultural sector and the art world to share their recommendations of galleries and exhibitions they are interested in seeing. You can follow these readymade Curated Routes via our website – including favourite stop-offs along the way for food at recommended cafes and restaurants. This year’s routes have been shared by Alex Margo Arden, Alice Hattrick, Giles Deacon, Kelly Lee Owens, Missy Flynn, Sally Tallant, and Sumayya Vally.

If you want a fast track around the galleries, we’ve partnered with Freenow for discounted cab rides between the different areas that galleries are clustered in, and whichever way you’re travelling, the GalleriesNow app for London Gallery Weekend is the simplest way to plot your route.

Alison Jaques (22 Cork Street) presents a solo exhibition of pioneering artist Eileen Agar, 5 June–22 July. (Eileen Agar, Rock 10, 1985. © Alison Jacques/Estate of Eileen Agar/Michael Brzezinski)

Advice For A First-Time Attendee?

For anyone new to exploring London’s galleries we recommend that you sign up for one of our free Live Tours. Running every day of the weekend, the Tours are the perfect way to be led through a gallery route and introduced to new spaces. Join up with other art lovers on a guided gallery hop that will introduce you to some of the city’s top artists and gallerists.

Favourite Spots To Eat & Drink Between Events & Exhibitions?

Frank’s Café in Peckham is a great spot to refresh while exploring South London’s art scene. It is situated on the roof of a multi-storey car park that Peckham Gallerist Hannah Barry has transformed into an open air sculpture park, Bold Tendencies.

Farm Shop in Mayfair is the perfect spot for coffee when exploring the Cork Street Galleries in Central London and in East London, stop off at Leila’s Cafe on the way to Maureen Paley and Herald Street.

Find out more about London Gallery Weekend and plan your day at londongalleryweekend.art