Culturalee is proud to be a media partner for London Art Fair 2026, supporting coverage of one of the UK’s most influential art events.
London Art Fair 2026 returns to the heart of the capital from 21st until 25th January 2026, bringing together a carefully curated selection of leading Modern and Contemporary galleries from the UK and across the globe. Now in its 38th year, the Fair remains a cornerstone of the international art calendar, offering collectors, curators and art enthusiasts the opportunity to discover exceptional works, connect with galleries, and invest at the very start of the collecting season.
This year’s edition places a strong emphasis on curatorial depth and global dialogue. With the National Trust announced as Museum Partner, presenting surrealist and post-war abstract works from the modernist homes of 2 Willow Road and The Homewood, alongside Platform’s exploration of material innovation and Encounters’ focus on emerging international galleries, London Art Fair 2026 reaffirms its role as a vital meeting point for historic insight, contemporary practice, and the future of collecting.
Curated by art historian Dr Ferren Gipson, the 2026 edition of Platform, titled The Unexpected, explores artists pushing the boundaries of materiality and process to challenge conventional ideas of art-making. Meanwhile, Encounters brings together a roster of emerging and international galleries — with exhibitors from Mexico, Turkey, Japan, and France — introducing fresh perspectives and new voices to the London art market. Through its curated sections, special collaborations, and thought-provoking talks programme, London Art Fair 2026 continues to affirm its role as a cornerstone of the UK art market — a place to discover notable works, deepen existing connections, and begin the collecting season with purpose.
2026 Galleries
20th Century Masters
Continuing London Art Fair’s tradition of presenting exemplary Modern art, the main Fair will showcase works by some of the most celebrated figures of 20th-century art history, including Francis Bacon, Barbara Hepworth, William Kentridge, Louise Bourgeois, and Frank Auerbach.
The Fair also welcomes the return of long-standing exhibitors specialising in Modern British art, such as Christopher Kingzett Fine Art, Austin Desmond Fine Art, and Redfern Gallery. Highlights include a presentation by Advanced Graphics celebrating the centenary of Scottish painter Craigie Aitchison, a signature sculpture by Lynn Chadwick presented by Pangolin London, and a powerful 1950s painting by Royal Academician Bryan Kneale, fresh to the market.
England & Co. will mark 90 years since the first International Surrealist Exhibition of 1936 with a focused presentation on British surrealism, featuring works by Ithell Colquhoun, Sir Roland Penrose, Marion Adnams, and John Banting. Elsewhere, Gerrish Fine Art will present original prints by David Hockney, including extremely rare works from the 1960s, while Jenna Burlingham Fine Art showcases Modern British artists such as Keith Vaughan, John Nash, and William Brooker.
Tanya Baxter Contemporary will present works by British masters and leading contemporary artists including Anthony Eyton, Sean Scully, Annie Morris, and Pip Todd-Warmoth, while James Hyman Gallery brings outstanding photographic editions by Cecil Beaton, Bill Brandt, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Vivian Maier.
Premier Contemporary Presentations
London Art Fair 2026 will host an exciting range of British Contemporary galleries, offering opportunities to acquire works by household names such as Tracey Emin, Vanessa Jackson RA, Oisin Byrne, and Alexander Massouras.
Galleries including Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery, Blond Contemporary, Cavaliero Finn, Cole-Levi Klimt, and Julian Page will present a diverse mix of emerging, mid-career, and established artists. VIGO Gallery will showcase richly textured paintings by Jordy Kerwick, while Osborne Samuel presents new work by Brendan Burns, coinciding with the release of The Space Between, a new publication charting his career. Alveston Fine Arts will present work from Julia Hall’s REFUGE project, inspired by the experiences of women rebuilding their lives in the UK.
Several galleries will make their London Art Fair debut, including Ukrainian artists’ collective IDENTITY, MILADO Art Gallery, Newinger ART, and Zarastro Art, alongside international exhibitors such as isculpture (Milan) and Chi Art Gallery (Istanbul). Contemporary photography will be represented by returning galleries ARTITLED contemporary, Galerie Olivier Waltman, and Crane Kalman Brighton.
Installation: Visit Tampa Bay
Returning for a second year as London Art Fair’s official destination partner, Visit Tampa Bay will present a specially commissioned installation by UK artist Rose Electra Harris. Selected through an open call, Harris will travel to Tampa Bay for an inspiration trip ahead of the Fair, with her experience informing the work unveiled in January.
Visit Tampa Bay is proud to partner once again with the London Art Fair and highlight our rich arts and cultural scene. Following on from last year’s success, in 2026 we are focusing on how Tampa Bay inspires travellers and ignites imagination – whether that is our sparkling waterfront, deep Cultural heritage, wide range of attractions or our award-winning culinary scene. As such we are extremely pleased to be working with Rose Electra Harris and look forward to welcoming her to Tampa Bay. Throughout time artists have been stimulated through travel and we are excited to see Rose’s Tampa Bay inspired artwork at the London Art Fair.”
Santiago C. Corrada, President & CEO of Visit Tampa Bay
Curated Sections
London Art Fair’s critically acclaimed curated sections continue to showcase contemporary practice and evolving collecting trends through collaboration with leading experts and institutions.
Museum Partner: National Trust
For 2026, the National Trust presents highlights from the collections of two modernist masterpieces: 2 Willow Road and The Homewood. This marks the first time the Trust has exhibited its modernist artworks on this scale, offering a rare opportunity to encounter works that have never left their historic homes.
The display features paintings and sculptures by artists including Max Ernst, Rita Kernn-Larsen, Avinash Chandra, Prunella Clough, and Henry Moore, shown alongside original furniture and interiors that define these iconic homes. Highlights include a rare stringed sculpture by Henry Moore, Surrealist paintings by Ernst and Kernn-Larsen, and a collage by Sir Roland Penrose featuring Lee Miller.
Platform: The Unexpected
This year’s Platform section, titled The Unexpected and is curated by art historian and artist Dr Ferren Gipson, brings together galleries and artists redefining the boundaries between craft, applied art, and fine art. Building on Gipson’s acclaimed book Women’s Work, the exhibition explores how materials, process, and form can shift how we create and experience art. From textiles and ceramics to other unconventional media, the section explores the creative possibilities and surprises that emerge when artists experiment and innovate.
Among the highlights, Cavaliero Finn will present works by Isabel Fletcher, Alice Foxen and Richard McVetis, artists who each explore materiality in distinct ways. Fletcher’s Satin Overlap repurposes offcuts from ballet shoes, which would normally be discarded, to create a delicate, layered work raising questions about sustainability, labour and transformation.
Quad Fine Art will show works by Peter Jackson, known for his inventive use of surface and texture. Jackson blends sand, gravel and burlap into paint, creating tactile, abstract compositions that appear minimalist at first but reveal complex layers on closer inspection.
Gillian Jason Gallery, which champions female-identifying artists, will bring work by Emily Ponsonby, who uses an ancient technique through beeswax and oil to build rich, textured layers that reveal their subjects over time. Thrown Contemporary will present expressive ceramics in terracotta, stoneware, porcelain and mixed media, from artists including Bisila Noha, Renata Cassiano Alvarez, Zuleika Melluish and Michael Rice.
“I’m very interested in how an artist’s choice of materials shapes the way we interpret their work. I love seeing artists push the limits of what a medium can do – through unconventional processes, unusual combinations, or by drawing out qualities we didn’t expect. The Unexpected is about celebrating that spirit of curiosity and innovation, and I hope visitors will experience moments of surprise and delight as they encounter these works.”
Dr Ferren Gipson
Encounters
Established in 2005, Encounters supports emerging and international galleries, with participation subsidised by London Art Fair. The 2026 edition features galleries from across the globe, championing new talent and fresh perspectives.
Highlights include Gallery Kitai (Japan) presenting new work by Fumie Onuki, Gallery KAIROS (Istanbul) exploring themes of memory and queer temporality, and Avant Dev (Mexico City) showcasing traditional and digital works, including pixel-inspired pieces by Murakiit.
Curator Dr Pryle Behrman notes that this year’s Encounters explores ideas of radical care, expanding the concept beyond human relationships to include materials, artistic legacies, and the wider world.
London Art Fair 2026 takes place from 21st–25th January 2026. Find more information and purchase tickets here.
Culturalee is proud to be a media partner, bringing readers closer to one of the most significant events in the UK art calendar.
