Frieze Masters review 2026: a few visits to Regent's Park, from a 1520s royal portrait to Alice Neel and the new Queering Modernism strand. 4/5 Stone cold.
Nine London exhibitions to see during Frieze week 2026, from Cindy Sherman at Hauser & Wirth to Robert Ryman at the Barbican. Seven are free.
Twelve new UK painters, free near the Barbican until 31 October. We gave the Freelands Painting Prize 2026 a 4/5, and our favourite wasn't the winner.
Khalif Tahir Thompson's first show with Victoria Miro brings eight paintings of Brooklyn to London. Our 3/5 review of Send in the Clowns.
October 9, 2026Comments are off for this post.
This Is Still Not a Pipe Review: Magritte at Gagosian
My This Is Still Not a Pipe review: around fifty Magrittes and 46 artists who followed him, free at Gagosian until 12 December. Cool Factor 5/5.
October 6, 2026Comments are off for this post.
Quentin James McCaffrey at Alison Jacques Review
Last updated: 6 October 2026
By Tristan · Arts, exhibitions and creative culture
This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.
Cool Factor: 3/5
Quentin James McCaffrey's first UK solo show was on at Alison Jacques from 3 September to 3 October 2026. Comprising fifteen small oil paintings of fictitious surrealist-Magritteish interiors. The panels hold a mirror, a doorway, a bouquet or a patch of sunlight. For me it was technically amazing, but a tad cold and overly referential. That was especially true with Magritte showing up the road at Gagosian at the same time.
The McCaffrey show has now closed. However, the Gagosian Magritte show is free and runs until 12 December 2026, which means you can still go and make the comparison yourself.
October 2, 2026Comments are off for this post.
Anish Kapoor at the Hayward Gallery Review: Is It Worth £22?
Last updated: 2 October 2026
By Tristan · Arts, exhibitions and creative culture
This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.
Cool Factor: 3/5
The Anish Kapoor Hayward Gallery show is his first solo exhibition there since 1998. It fills the whole building, both outdoor terraces included. I went on a Wednesday afternoon at the end of September. It starts strong, with a ballooning red inflated piece so big you can't walk round it. By the final room, though, it felt like a somewhat confused show. It comes from an artist who was once at the top of his game, and who now feels like he's slid into a late stage of dabbling in every medium.
It runs until 18 October 2026 and tickets cost £22. In the final weeks, the gallery stays open until 9pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.
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October 1, 2026Comments are off for this post.
Frieze London 2026: Tickets, Frieze Masters and What to See
Last updated: 30 September 2026. I checked every price, opening time and date in this Frieze London 2026 guide against Frieze's own ticket and visitor pages that day.
By Tristan · Arts, exhibitions and creative culture
This article contains affiliate and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them.
Coming into London for Frieze?
A railcard takes a third off most UK rail fares for a year, and my railcard page has the current TrainPal new-customer discount and the steps to claim it.
Frieze Week2026 Edit
Frieze London 2026 and Frieze Masters run in The Regent's Park from Wednesday 14 to Sunday 18 October 2026. Wednesday is invitation only, so the public gets four days. Frieze London shows art made mostly since 2000. Frieze Masters shows work made before 2000, from ancient Egypt to the late 20th century, and the two tents sit about 15 minutes' walk apart at either end of the park.
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September 11, 2026Comments are off for this post.
London Design Festival 2026: What to See
London Design Festival 2026 runs 12 to 20 September. Eleven picks, what is free, what is ticketed, and the day that gets you eight.
September 10, 2026Comments are off for this post.
Enemies and Rascals review: inside Artangel’s strongroom
A sealed Victorian strongroom under Chancery Lane, forty minutes of voices in the dark, and the moment they all start shouting at once. Free until 18 October.
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