Families in London looking for an engaging and weatherproof day out in 2026 are in for a treat. The capital's cultural scene is set to host an exciting array of child-friendly exhibitions designed to captivate young minds and provide fun for all ages. These temporary shows offer a fantastic opportunity to dive deep into specific topics, from animation and fairy tales to ecology and pop fandom, ensuring there's something to spark every child's imagination.
Immersive Worlds and Animated Adventures
Several major exhibitions will transport children into beloved fictional universes. A significant highlight is the Mundo Pixar experience arriving at Wembley Park. This immersive touring exhibition, running from 13 February to 28 June 2026, features 14 rooms, each dedicated to a different Pixar film. Young visitors can shrink to toy size in a Toy Story-themed space, step onto the iconic scare floor from Monsters Inc, and explore the Land of the Dead from Coco, with specially crafted scents adding to the atmosphere.
Meanwhile, the Young V&A in Bethnal Green will host Inside Aardman from 12 February to 15 November 2026. This interactive exhibition invites families into the world of the legendary stop-motion studio behind Wallace & Gromit. It promises hands-on activities where children can try their hand at creating their own animations, perfectly aligning with the museum's focus on youthful creativity.
Storybook Magic and Oceanic Exploration
For younger children enchanted by stories, the British Library presents Fairy Tales from 27 March to 23 August 2026. This interactive display brings treasured picture books to life. Kids can sit at the three bears' table, smell a witch's potion, and try on costumes for the ball, while adults can enjoy a nostalgic look at classic childhood favourites from the archives.
Adventure beckons beneath the waves at the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill with Voyage to the Deep – Underwater Adventures. Open from 13 February to 1 November 2026, this Australian touring exhibition is inspired by Jules Verne. Children embark on an imaginary submarine journey to discover Atlantis, complemented by six real aquarium tanks and creature reports from the popular CBeebies series, the Octonauts.
Creative Play and Unusual Learning
The Southbank Centre welcomes back the wildly popular REPLAY: A Limitless Recycled Playground from 14 January to 12 April 2026. Created by Herd Theatre, this interactive installation is a colourful wonderland built from recycled materials where under-12s can enjoy an hour of freeform creative play, accompanied by a soundtrack made from repurposed sounds.
Teens and tweens with pop star aspirations should visit Holy Pop! at Somerset House (21 May to 9 August 2026). This vibrant, kitschy celebration of fandom showcases global fan art, letters, and memorabilia, exploring the creative passion of devoted followers. It operates on a 'pay what you can' basis.
Also at Somerset House, the intriguing Museum of Edible Earth offers a free, small-scale immersive experience from 18 March to 26 April 2026. It allows children to touch, smell, and even taste different soils, weaving in powerful messages about ecology and recycling, and even using waste from the site's own cafes.
With tickets ranging from free to £29, and experiences tailored for toddlers through to teenagers, London's 2026 exhibition schedule provides a wealth of options for memorable family cultural outings.
