Your 2026 Year in Art: Must-See National Gallery Exhibitions
From the drama of 18th-century Britain to the luminous worlds of Baroque Spain and Neo-Impressionism, London’s National Gallery offers a year of unforgettable art experiences.
January 2026 is the perfect moment to immerse yourself in some of the world’s most celebrated paintings. The National Gallery has curated a selection of exhibitions that bring together bold visionaries, pioneers of technique, and spellbinding storytelling on canvas.
Radical Harmony: Hélène Kröller-Müller’s Neo-Impressionists – Final Weeks
Running until early February, Radical Harmony invites visitors to trace the radical ideas of colour and technique that shaped Neo-Impressionism. Featuring works from Georges Seurat, Théo van Rysselberghe, and Vincent van Gogh, this exhibition highlights how these artists experimented with light, form, and pointillist technique to capture the energy and emotion of modern life. The collection, drawn from the Kröller-Müller Museum in the Netherlands, presents some of the most daring and beautiful works of late 19th-century Europe.
Joseph Wright of Derby: From the Shadows – Until 10 May
Joseph Wright of Derby’s dramatic and theatrical paintings take centre stage in this exhibition, which explores his fascination with light, science, and the spectacle of everyday life. Known for candlelit experiments and striking industrial scenes, Wright combined scientific curiosity with artistic flair to produce some of the most memorable and emotionally charged paintings of 18th-century Britain. An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump exemplifies his ability to transform a simple scientific demonstration into a story filled with tension, drama, and humanity.
Edwin Austin Abbey: By the Dawn’s Early Light – Until 15 February
This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to engage with Abbey’s monumental work, The Hours, a mural created for the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Abbey, an American artist who spent much of his career in England, was celebrated for his precise draftsmanship and ability to convey narrative grandeur. The show brings together preliminary studies, sketches, and finished paintings, offering a glimpse into the artist’s meticulous process and his contribution to American and British art at the turn of the 20th century.
Stubbs: Portrait of a Horse – Opens 12 March
George Stubbs is renowned for his extraordinary equine portraits, combining anatomical precision with elegance and power. This exhibition celebrates his visionary approach to painting horses, exploring how he elevated the animal portrait to high art. Visitors can expect to encounter iconic works such as Scrub, a bay horse belonging to the Marquess of Rockingham, where Stubbs’ attention to musculature, movement, and character transforms a simple subject into a monumental work of art.
Zurbarán – Opens 2 May
The National Gallery will host its first major UK exhibition dedicated to Francisco de Zurbarán, one of Spain’s Baroque masters. Known for his contemplative religious works, luminous still lifes, and precise compositions, Zurbarán’s paintings are both serene and deeply emotive. This exhibition will allow visitors to experience his mastery of light and shadow, as well as his unique ability to transform ordinary objects into objects of beauty and devotion.
Waldmüller: Landscapes – Opens 2 July
Austrian painter Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller is celebrated for capturing the natural world with extraordinary attention to detail and light. His landscapes, often inspired by the dramatic scenery of the Alps and surrounding countryside, reveal a painter who could combine scientific observation with poetic interpretation. This exhibition offers a chance to appreciate the subtle colour, depth, and texture that make Waldmüller one of Austria’s most significant painters.
Renoir and Love – Opens 3 October
In this autumn exhibition, Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s vibrant works celebrate the joy, intimacy, and social rituals of late 19th-century France. From sun-dappled gardens to bustling dance halls, Renoir’s paintings explore the many forms of love — romantic, familial, and friendly — through colour, movement, and the luminous quality of light. Visitors can expect a feast for the eyes, with some of his most famous canvases on display alongside less familiar works that reveal the artist’s extraordinary range.
Van Eyck: The Portraits – Opens 21 November
For the first time in history, all surviving portraits by Jan van Eyck will be united in a single exhibition. A pinnacle of early Northern Renaissance painting, van Eyck’s work combines meticulous detail, complex symbolism, and extraordinary technical skill. The exhibition offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study his portraits in context, from the enigmatic Arnolfini Portrait to other masterpieces that shaped European art for generations.
Tickets and more information: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/exhibitions
Elena Leo is the Arts & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.
