Best Things to Do in London June to August 2026

Staggeringly, this is the 258th consecutive year the RA has hosted its summer exhibition, now the world’s largest open-submission contemporary art show. Some 1200 works from established and up-and-coming artists are squeezed into its main galleries – paintings, photographs, textiles, sculptures and more – with many of them for sale at relatively sensible prices.
Royal Academy, June 16–August 23. royalacademy.org.uk

Cafe Oto, The Queen Adelaide, The Rio Cinema and Dalston Curve Garden are among the 60 venues taking part in this free, borough-wide festival of live art, workshops and music. Look out for projections across Wilton Way from Claudi Panaite, experimental electronic music by Kat Five and bright, playful murals by Coco Lom.
Various venues in Hackney, June 4–14. Free. hackneyartweek.com

“My colour has been accepted, but never understood,” the sculptor Barbara Hepworth once said. This extensive new exhibition seeks to rectify that by showing brightly detailed sculptures and graphic work from the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s, some never publicly exhibited before. A companion photography exhibit goes behind the scenes at her Hampstead studio in the ’30s.
Courtauld, June 12–September 16. courtauld.ac.uk

Back for its eighth year, the library’s season of culinary talks and events includes Andi Oliver and Neneh Cherry discussing the role food has played in their four decades of friendship, and the River Cafe’s Ruthie Rogers in conversation with Rambutan chef-owner Cynthia Shanmugalingam about the story behind the iconic Italian restaurant.
British Library, June 13–July 2. From £5. events.bl.uk

From street scenes and landscapes to pop culture and fashion, this landmark exhibition flips Japan’s long male-dominated lens with more than 200 photos from 27 female artists working between 1950 and now.
The Photographers’ Gallery, June 24–September 27. From £10. thephotographersgallery.org.uk

Alfred Stieglitz, Diane Arbus, Helen Levitt and Dorothea Lange are some of the heavyweight names making up this captivating look back at 100 years of American life that focuses on the everyday people – workers, protestors, families – who shaped its major cities.
Dulwich Picture Gallery, July 28–October 4. From £16. dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk

The community focused Rally is back in Southwark Park to close out the summer for a second year. Blood Orange headlines after his acclaimed in-the-round Coachella set, alongside big names such as Daniel Avery, Roman Flügel and Smerz. James K, Yhwh Nailgun, Dexter in the Newsagent and Voice Actor are among a strong bill of rising acts.
Southwark Park, August 29. From £69.50. rallyrallyrally.co.uk

Fifty years after the first Rough Trade record shop opened, the Southbank Centre is hosting a three-day celebration featuring performances from Pulp, Scritti Politti and Caroline; a screening of Ken Loach’s Kes with a live soundtrack by the Elysian Collective; and a night of literary larks with Rough Trade Books.
Southbank Centre, July 17–19. From £17. southbankcentre.co.uk

Lyndsey Turner (The Crucible, 1536) directs the European premiere of this sharply funny take on the attempted assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by three hungry young men. It’s written by Rajiv Joseph (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo) with set design by Es Devlin (The Lehman Trilogy).
Royal Court, June 20–July 25. From £15. royalcourttheatre.com

After 13 years building its reputation as Hackney’s home of cutting-edge independent theatre, The Yard shut for redevelopment last year. It returns this summer with experimental trio In Bed With My Brother’s show about cult outsider band the Shaggs, which got rave reviews during its 2025 Edinburgh Fringe run.
The Yard, July 15–26. From £23. theyardtheatre.co.uk

Can’t make Edinburgh? Come to Camden, where Joe Lycett, Katherine Ryan, Frank Skinner, cast members and writers from SNL UK, and loads more star at a stellar Roundhouse Comedy Festival. Plus Adam Buxton, Alexei Sayle and Off Menu’s Ed Gamble are hosting live podcasts.
The Roundhouse, August 1–18. From £5. roundhouse.org.uk

If you’re in need of a cultural fix this summer, in or out of town, the UK-wide shortlist for Museum of the Year is not a bad place to start. The winner is chosen by a panel including broadcaster June Sarpong and artist Yinka Ilori and unveiled in a ceremony on June 25. Handily, its organiser, Art Fund, is offering £20 Art Passes all month, too.

In just shy of six years, the Devon museum has welcomed more than 1.3 million visitors keen to browse its collection of artworks and objects that chart the city’s maritime-heavy history. “We’re incredibly proud to represent Plymouth on a national stage,” says its CEO Victoria Pomery. theboxplymouth.com

The University of Cambridge’s principal museum since 1816 has been recognised this year for expanding its scope and attracting record visitor numbers. “This is a really exciting moment for the Fitzwilliam,” explains its director Luke Syson. “Our remixed collections, bold exhibitions, and innovative partnerships have encouraged reflection, dialogue and creativity.” fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

Built by William the Conqueror in the 12th century as a royal palace, Norwich Castle’s Norman keep reopened following a major redevelopment in 2025. It tells an immersive story of medieval life in Britain with authentic period interiors and an extensive gallery of unearthed objects. norwichcastle.norfolk.gov.uk

Last year’s bicentenary was marked with a complete re-hang of the National’s collection of more than 2300 works. “It’s been wonderful to have all that hard work recognised,” says Sir Gabriele Finaldi, the gallery’s director. And there’s more to come, with a £750 million pound project greenlit to add a whole new wing by the early 2030s. nationalgallery.org.uk

Hailed for its innovative in-among-the-archives approach, V&A East’s Storehouse is London’s second finalist. Opened in May 2025, it’s home to half a million creative works, from stone columns to David Bowie’s handwritten song lyrics, housed across 16,000 square metres allowing visitors to get an up-close appreciation of every item. vam.ac.uk/east

This article originally appeared in issue 4 of the Broadsheet London magazine. Find a copy here.