London's cultural calendar for 2026 is shaping up to be exceptionally vibrant, with a host of major photography exhibitions set to open across the capital. From seminal retrospectives to cutting-edge contemporary work, the year offers an unmissable array of visual storytelling. Whether your interest lies in fashion, documentary, queer history, or the natural world, there is a show to captivate you.
Major Retrospectives and Artistic Pioneers
The year will see several landmark exhibitions dedicated to photographic icons. Nan Goldin's foundational series, 'The Ballad of Sexual Dependency', will be displayed in its entirety for the first time in the UK at Gagosian on Davies Street. This intimate portrait of her New York community, featuring 123 images shot between 1973 and 1986, runs until 21 March and is free to enter.
Meanwhile, the National Portrait Gallery will host the first major UK exhibition of American photographer Catherine Opie. Titled 'To Be Seen', it will survey her three-decade career, from early portraits of queer communities to later works depicting surfers, footballers, and political gatherings. The exhibition opens on 5 March and runs until 31 May, with tickets priced at £19.50.
For a historical perspective, Tate Modern's autumn show, 'Light and Magic: The Birth of Art Photography', will trace the medium's emergence as an artistic discipline from the 1880s to the 1960s. This international survey opens on 14 October and continues into February 2027.
Contemporary Voices and Themed Collections
Fashion and art collide in French Vietnamese artist Nhu Xuan Hua's spring exhibition, 'Of walking on fire', at Autograph. This newly commissioned work, exploring memory and heritage through refashioned family photographs, will fill the gallery's two main spaces from 16 April to 19 September.
Another contemporary giant, British fashion photographer Tim Walker, will unveil 'Fairyland: Love and Legends' at the National Portrait Gallery in autumn. After five years of photographing LGBTQ+ trailblazers, this will be his first London show since 2019. It opens on 8 October and runs until 31 January 2027.
Dulwich Picture Gallery offers a change of scene with 'Portrait of a City: A Century of American Photography'. This summer exhibition charts the evolution of US urban landscapes from 1907 to 2012, featuring works by Diane Arbus, Lewis Hine, and Dorothea Lange.
Documentary Focus and Social Histories
The Photographers' Gallery will host a powerful exhibition titled 'We Others', showcasing the work of Donna Gottschalk and Hélène Giannecchini. It provides a rare glimpse into the hidden lives of queer communities in midcentury New York before the legalisation of homosexuality. The show runs from 6 March to 7 June, with tickets costing £8.50.
Environmental concerns take centre stage at the Science Museum's free exhibition, 'Water Pantanal Fire'. From 6 February to 31 May, over 60 images by leading Brazilian documentary photographers will highlight the stunning biodiversity and acute ecological threats facing the world's largest wetland.
With such a diverse and compelling lineup, 2026 promises to be a landmark year for photography enthusiasts in London. These exhibitions not only showcase artistic mastery but also tell vital stories about community, identity, and our planet.
