One of the best ways to gain inspiration for your photography and exploring different styles is by experiencing and viewing the work of other photographers and artists. We’ve put together a selection of the best exhibitions on around the UK during 2026 to see photography; including exhibitions that present photographs alongside other disciplines. If you’re feeling inspired, make sure you enter some photography competitions!
Below, you’ll find the information you need including dates, location and ticket details to plan your trips. We will be updating this page with the latest information regularly, so be sure to check back! Have some suggestions? Drop us an email at ap.ed@kelsey.co.uk
Interested in other photography events and larger shows taking place around the UK and abroad? Check out our best photography events and festivals article.
Best Photography Exhibitions to see in 2026
- Don McCullin: Broken Beauty, Holburne Museum
- The Last Resort 40 Years On, Martin Parr Foundation
- Astronomy Photographer of the Year, National Maritime Museum
- Bird Photographer of the Year, touring
- RPS Landscape Group Members’ Outdoor Exhibition, touring
- Wildlife Photographer of the Year 61, Natural History Museum
- Boris Mikhailov: Ukrainian Diary, The Photographers’ Gallery
- Lee Miller, Tate Britain
- Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize 2025, National Portrait Gallery
- Richard Avedon: Facing West, Gagosian Grosvenor Hill
- The Last Resort, Martin Parr Foundation
- Catherine Opie: To Be Seen, National Portrait Gallery
- Sony World Photography Awards 2026, Somerset House
- Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait, National Portrait Gallery
- Tim Walker’s Fairyland: Love and Legends, National Portrait Gallery
- Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize 2026, National Portrait Gallery
Don McCullin: Broken Beauty
Holburne Museum, Bath
- On now until 4 May 2026
- Holburne Museum, Bath, BA2 4DB
- 10am to 5pm (Sunday and Bank Holiday 11am to 5pm)
- Tickets: £16.50, concessions available
As legendary photographer Sir Don McCullin turns 90, the Holburne is proud to present Broken Beauty, a rich selection of images drawn from across McCullin’s career: from London to Vietnam, Northern Ireland to Cyprus, scenes of violence and suffering offset by still-lives and landscapes from the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and his home in Somerset.
The Last Resort 40 Years On
Martin Parr Foundation, Bristol
- 20 February – 24 May 2026
- 316 Paintworks, Bristol BS4 3AR
- Thurs to Sun, 10.00am to 5.00pm, Mon to Wed, closed
To honour Martin Parr following his death on 6 December, the MPF gallery will now open in 2026 with an exhibition of Martin’s iconic series, The Last Resort. Shot around the English seaside town of New Brighton between 1983 and 1985, The Last Resort was one of the pioneering bodies of work driving British colour documentary photography and established Martin as one of Britain’s most influential photographers.
Astronomy Photographer of the Year 17
National Maritime Museum, London
- On now until 3 August 2026
- Park Row, London, England SE10 9NF
- Open daily 10am – 5pm
- Tickets: £12 adults, £6 concessions
Astronomy Photographer of the Year is an annual exhibition showcasing the world’s greatest space photography.
The exhibition at the National Maritime Museum will feature over 100 photographs including this year’s winning images alongside a series of shortlisted photographs on brilliant lightbox displays.
Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition
Bird Photographer of the Year 2025
Abroad:
- Forte di Bard – Aosta Valley (Italy) – 24th October 2025 – 1st March 2026
- South Carolina State Museum – South Carolina (USA) – 1st February 2026 to 30th July 2026
Bird Photographer of the Year 2026
- Rugby Art Gallery – Rugby (UK) – 27th February 2027 – 5th June 2027
An exhibition of 70-80 of the winning images will go on an international tour.
More dates and venues to be confirmed.
RPS Landscape Group Members’ Outdoor Exhibition
Various, touring
- 2 – 17 May 2026: WASPS, Inverness
- Winter & Spring 2026: Dates to be announced
The RPS Landscape Group is holding its second outdoor exhibition of members’ work across 8+ locations in 2025/26 with 80 landscape images in a run of almost 30 metres: Land & Sea, Urban & Rural, Colour & Mono.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 61
Natural History Museum, London
- On now until 12 July 2026
- Monday – Sunday, 10am-5:50pm
- Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD
- Tickets: from £15.50
Discover the natural world in all its wonder and diversity at the newly redesigned Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, where 100 remarkable photographs illustrate the precious beauty of our planet.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Boris Mikhailov: Ukrainian Diary
The Photographers’ Gallery
- On now until 22 February 2026
- 16-18 Ramillies Street, London W1F7LW
- Monday – Wednesday 10am–6pm, Thursday & Friday 10am–8pm, Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 11am-6pm
- £8.50, concessions available. Ticket gives access to Strike a Pose! 100 Years of the Photobooth & Zofia Rydet exhibitions
Ukrainian Diary is the first major UK retrospective of work by Boris Mikhailov, one of the most influential contemporary artists from Eastern Europe. Mikhailov has explored social and political subjects for more than fifty years through his experimental photographic work.
Lee Miller
Tate Britain, London
- On now until 15 February 2026
- Millbank, London SW1P 4RG
- Monday – Sunday 10am–6pm
- Tickets: £20, concessions available
Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize 2025
National Portrait Gallery, London
- On now until 8 February 2026
- National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place, London, WC2H 0HE
- Monday – Thursday and Sunday 10am–6pm, Friday and Saturday 10:30am – 9pm
- Tickets: £9.50
Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize 2025
Coming soon…
Richard Avedon: Facing West
Gagosian Grosvenor Hill
- Opens 15 January 2026
An exhibition of rare prints from In the American West, 40 years since the series’ debut
The Last Resort
Martin Parr Foundation
- 20 February – 24 May 2026
- Martin Parr Foundation, 316 Paintworks, Bristol, UK, BS4 3AR
Catherine Opie: To Be Seen
National Portrait Gallery, London
- 5 March – 31 May 2026
Sony World Photography Awards 2026
Somerset House, London
- 17 April – 4 May 2026
- Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA
- Tickets: £TBC
Touring exhibition abroad: the Sony World Photography Awards 2025 exhibition travels next to Berlin, Germany (16 October 2025 -18 January 2026).
Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait
National Portrait Gallery, London
- 4 June – 6 September 2026
Tim Walker’s Fairyland: Love and Legends
National Portrait Gallery, London
- 8 October 2026 – January 2027
Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize 2026
National Portrait Gallery, London
- 29 October 2026 – January 2027
More exhibitions…
Women Street Photographers Annual Exhibition, New York
10-20 April 2026
Further reading
- Best photography competitions to enter
- Best photography events and festivals
- 22 ways to spark your creativity
