WHAT? Summer Exhibition 2026

WHERE? Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD

WHEN? Now until 23rd August

WHY GO? For the art of collaboration. It’s that time of year again when artists, famous and not so famous, show their work to the world, and it’s always a bonanza of creativity.

This, the 258th Summer Exhibition, is as madcap as ever, with displays of cats, clocks and even ‘cars on fire’, plus plenty of whacky portraiture to amuse along the way.

Some 1,500 artworks are hung high and low, spread along tables and even suspended from the ceilings of the RA galleries, and the whole extravaganza is curated by acclaimed artist Ryan Gander.

Unusually this year, he has introduced a horizontal line at eye level with artworks above and below.

The theme, Interconnectedness, sums up the mixed-media message, from drawings to conceptual art structures.

It’s always fun to spot the work of famous names like Grayson Perry, Frank Bowling and Tacita Dean, to name a few this year, but it’s Anthony Gormley’s site-specific cardboard ‘box house’ that seems to be garnering the most media attention.

His intriguing ‘hide’ can be entered and is quite the showstopper.

Visitors are welcomed with a huge rainbow LED sign created by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone. It brightens up the Annenberg Courtyard by day and at night, leaving no illusion that exciting things lie ahead inside the tantalising annual Summer Exhibition.

IN THE KNOW Famed for his joyful installations, Ugo Rondinone’s rainbow sign in the RA courtyard follows through symbolically into the surrounding streets. As Mayfair’s artist in residence, Rondinone has created a display of 27 colourful geometric flags based on his signature ‘sunrisesunset’ paintings.

Bond Street is awash with bright colours for the duration of the Summer Exhibition.