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 [email protected]
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
- 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
- Lee Miller: Street Life, Farleys House and Gallery
- Dorothy Bohm: About Women, Farleys House and Gallery
- Catherine Opie: To Be Seen, National Portrait Gallery
- The Queering of Photography by Asa Johannesson, Stills: Centre for Photography
- World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Tenderstem®, Mall Galleries
- 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
- Rebels + Icons: The Photography of Janette Beckman, Museum of Pop Culture
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 2026
Abroad:
- South Carolina State Museum – South Carolina (USA) – 1st February 2026 to 30th July 2026
UK:
- 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
- 6 – 21 June 2026: Falkirk Wheel
- More dates to be announced
The RPS Landscape Group is holding its second outdoor exhibition of members’ work across 8+ locations in 2026 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
Lee Miller: Street Life
Farley’s House and Gallery, Sussex
- On now until 24th May 2026
- Chiddingly, East Sussex, BN8 6HW
- Thursday, Friday, Sunday 10am–4:30pm (selected Saturdays only)
- Tickets: £10 for exhibition, concessions available. £26 for a guided tour of the full house.
Lee Miller: Street Life focuses on her everyday/documentary photography across international streets. Lee Miller and Roland Penrose purchased Farleys House in 1949. It’s now a historic home and art gallery for the study of British surrealism and 20th-century photography featuring archives of wartime photojournalism.
Dorothy Bohm: About Women
Farley’s House and Gallery, Sussex
- On now until 26th July 2026
- Chiddingly, East Sussex, BN8 6HW
- Thursday, Friday, Sunday 10am–4:30pm (selected Saturdays only)
- Tickets: £10 for exhibition, concessions available. £26 for a guided tour of the full house.
Dorothy Bohm: About Women. A show that features both black and white, and colour photographs. With images with women as their subject, taken in Sussex in the 1960s and 1970s as well as taken across the world over many decades.
Catherine Opie: To Be Seen
National Portrait Gallery, London
- 5 March – 31 May 2026
- St Martin’s Place, London, WC2H 0HE
- Open daily: 10:30am – 6pm, Friday & Saturday 10:30am – 9pm
- Tickets: £19.50 / £21.50 with donation, free for members
The Queering of Photography by Asa Johannesson
Stills: Centre for Photography, Edinburgh
- On now until 27 June
- Stills: Centre for Photography, 23 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh, Scotland EH1 1BP
- Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 5pm
- Free entry
Åsa Johannesson — The Queering of Photography
Coming soon…
World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Tenderstem®
Mall Galleries, The Mall
- 3 – 7 June 2026
- Free entry
All 203 finalist images from the 2026 edition of the World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Tenderstem
Fortnum & Mason, Piccadilly
- From 9 June 2026
A hand-picked selection of finalist images, chosen personally by Fortnum & Mason CEO and member of the Awards’ judging panel, Tom Athron, will be displayed in the stunning 3’6 bar on the Third Floor of Fortnum’s iconic flagship store on Piccadilly.
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:
Rebels + Icons: The Photography of Janette Beckman
Museum of Pop Culture, Seattle
- Opens 15th May 2026, on until 8 September 2027
- 325 5th Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
- Open daily 10am – 5pm
Rebels + Icons: The Photography of Janette Beckman
Further reading
- Best photography competitions to enter
- Best photography events and festivals
- 22 ways to spark your creativity
Featured image: Zed Nelson, part of Sony World Photography Awards 2026 exhibition at Somerset House, image by Jessica Miller
Follow AP on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
