Rocket’s Guide to the Best Exhibitions This Spring and Summer (2026)
London’s exhibition calendar promises yet another captivating season ahead. At Rocket, we have an enduring love for the synergy between food and art, celebrating a longstanding history of curating awe-inspiring events alongside some of the capital’s most sought-after exhibitions. With London’s art scene thriving, there is no shortage of meaningful shows to explore — many hosted by our wonderful partner venues. Whether you’re planning a cultural afternoon or seeking inspiration for your next event, here is our curated guide to the standout London exhibitions to see this spring and summer.
If you’re looking to plan an event inspired by any of these exhibitions, contact us at parties@rocketfood.com for a bespoke brochure with tailored menu ideas and creative inspiration.
National Portrait Gallery
Lucian Freud: Drawing into Painting
12 February – 4 May 2026
Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait
4 June – 6 September 2026
At the National Portrait Gallery, spring and summer 2026 centre on the power of portraiture in two strikingly different forms. Lucian Freud: Drawing into Painting explores Freud’s lifelong study of the human face and figure, pairing masterful works on paper with key paintings to reveal the evolving dialogue between drawing and canvas — including insight into his shift in style influenced by Francis Bacon.
From 4 June, Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait marks the Hollywood icon’s centenary, bringing together works by artists including Andy Warhol and Richard Hamilton alongside era-defining photography to explore the life, legacy and creative agency of Marilyn Monroe. Together, the exhibitions offer a compelling reflection on identity, image-making and cultural myth at one of London’s most celebrated galleries.
V&A South Kensington
Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art
28 March – 8 November 2026
Opening at the Victoria and Albert Museum, this landmark exhibition celebrates the visionary world of Elsa Schiaparelli and the enduring influence of her house today. Spanning the 1920s to the present day, Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art traces the brand’s surrealist origins and its evolution under current creative director Daniel Roseberry.
Blurring the lines between fashion, sculpture and performance, the exhibition highlights Schiaparelli’s bold experimentation and her belief that creativity thrives in challenging times — offering rich inspiration for design-led events and immersive experiences.
Kensington Palace
The Last Princesses of Punjab
26 March – 8 November 2026
At Kensington Palace, The Last Princesses of Punjab tells the story of suffragette icon Sophia Duleep Singh and the women who shaped her life. Through personal objects, photography and archival material, the exhibition explores themes of identity, empire and resistance across six extraordinary lives.
Created to mark Sophia’s 150th birthday, the exhibition offers a powerful re-examination of royal history through a contemporary lens — a thoughtful cultural moment that resonates strongly with conversations around heritage and representation today.
Royal Academy of Arts
Rose Wylie: The Picture Comes First
28 February – 19 April 2026
Summer Exhibition
16 June – 23 August 2026
This season at the Royal Academy of Arts celebrates both singular artistic vision and collective creativity. Rose Wylie: The Picture Comes First presents the artist’s most iconic works alongside new paintings in her largest exhibition to date, showcasing her bold, playful style and cultural references spanning cinema, literature and history. Later in the summer, the beloved Summer Exhibition 2026 returns — continuing a tradition dating back to 1769 — bringing together household names and emerging talent across painting, sculpture, photography, film and architecture, with many works available to purchase in support of artists and the Royal Academy Schools.
Wallace Collection
Winston Churchill: The Painter
23 May – 29 November 2026
At the Wallace Collection, Winston Churchill: The Painter reveals a lesser-known side of the renowned statesman Winston Churchill. Bringing together more than 50 works — many from private collections — this major retrospective highlights painting as a source of solace, creativity and personal expression throughout Churchill’s life.
From luminous Mediterranean scenes to intimate views of Chartwell, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience the emotional and artistic legacy behind one of the twentieth century’s most recognisable figures.
Courtauld GALLERY
Seurat and the Sea
13 February – 17 May 2026
The Courtauld Gallery presents the first exhibition dedicated to the seascapes of Georges Seurat. Seurat and the Sea brings together paintings, oil sketches and drawings created during five summers along the northern coast of France, revealing the evolution of his distinctive Neo-Impressionist technique.
With Seurat’s works rarely exhibited due to their scarcity, this focused display offers a unique opportunity to reassess an often overlooked chapter of the artist’s career — one defined by light, movement and the rhythm of coastal life.
Serpentine Galleries
David Hockney: A Year in Normandie and Some Other Thoughts about Painting
12 March – 23 August 2026
Serpentine Pavilion by LANZA
6 June – 25 October 2026
At the Serpentine Galleries, spring and summer centre on the act of looking. David Hockney: A Year in Normandie and Some Other Thoughts about Painting brings the artist’s monumental ninety-metre frieze to London for the first time, inviting visitors to slow down and notice the extraordinary within everyday landscapes. Alongside this, the Serpentine Pavilion 2026 by LANZA atelier explores architecture as experience, using curved brick walls, light and landscape to blur boundaries between structure and nature — a striking seasonal gathering space at the heart of Kensington Gardens.
If you’re planning an event around one of these exhibitions, contact us at parties@rocketfood.com and we’ll share a bespoke brochure with tailored menus and thoughtful creative concepts.