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London remains one of the most active photography centres in Europe, with galleries and museums presenting a wide mix of exhibitions each season. From major retrospectives and international prizes to experimental festivals, the city offers an impressive programme for photographers, collectors, and anyone interested in visual culture.
Spring 2026 brings several notable shows across London. These exhibitions feature influential documentary photographers and contemporary artists working with digital imagery and archival materials.
The National Portrait Gallery presents the first major UK museum exhibition dedicated to the American photographer Catherine Opie. Her work has long examined identity, relationships and community through powerful portraiture.
The exhibition features portraits of queer communities, families, and collaborators, reflecting the artist’s long-standing interest in personal identity and social connection. The show provides a broad overview of Opie’s photographic practice and her influence within contemporary portrait photography.
Location: National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place, London WC2H 0HE Dates: 5 March to 31 May 2026
Martin Parr is widely recognised for his colourful observations of British life. This exhibition focuses on an earlier stage of his career and presents black-and-white documentary photographs taken in Ireland in the early 1980s.
The series captures rural fair days and community gatherings, presenting moments of humour, character and everyday social life. The work highlights Parr’s distinctive eye for detail and his interest in social observation.
Location: The Photographers’ Gallery, 16 to 18 Ramillies Street, London W1F 7LW Dates: 6 February to 19 April 2026
Autograph presents the first UK solo exhibition by French-Vietnamese photographer Nhu Xuan Hua. Her work combines photography with digital manipulation to create dreamlike visual compositions.
The exhibition draws on family archive material to reflect on memory, migration and identity. Through layered imagery and colour-rich compositions, Hua reimagines personal histories within a contemporary photographic language.
Location: Autograph, Rivington Place, London EC2A 3BA Dates: 16 April to 19 September 2026
The Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize remains one of the most respected awards in contemporary photography. Each year, the exhibition presents the work of four shortlisted artists whose projects have made a significant contribution to the medium.
The 2026 shortlist includes Jane Evelyn Atwood, Weronika Gęsicka, Amak Mahmoodian and Rene Matić. Visitors can view each artist’s nominated project before the £30,000 prize winner is announced.
Location: The Photographers’ Gallery, London W1F 7LW Dates: 6 March to 7 June 2026
Somerset House hosts the annual Sony World Photography Awards exhibition, one of the largest photography displays presented in London each year.
The exhibition features winning and shortlisted images from the international competition, spanning categories such as documentary, portraiture, landscape, and architecture. The scale and variety of work on display make this one of the most visually engaging photography exhibitions of the spring season.
Location: Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA Dates: 17 April to 4 May 2026
The Natural History Museum continues to host the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, featuring 100 of the most striking wildlife images from around the world.
Photographs range from intimate animal portraits to powerful environmental storytelling. The exhibition remains a long-standing favourite for visitors and photographers alike.
Location: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD Dates: Running until 12 July 2026
The National Maritime Museum presents a selection of the most remarkable space images captured by photographers around the world. Displayed on illuminated panels, the exhibition features photographs of galaxies, planets, and deep-space phenomena.
The show combines scientific interest with striking visual presentation, offering a different perspective on photography beyond the Earth’s surface.
Location: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF Dates: Running until 3 August 2026
Photo London remains one of the UK’s most significant photography fairs. International galleries present historic and contemporary works, attracting collectors, curators and photographers from around the world.
The event brings together a broad range of photography styles and periods, from vintage prints to current photographic practice.
Location: Olympia London, Hammersmith Road, London W14 8UX Dates: May 2026
Peckham 24 is a lively contemporary photography festival held across several venues in South London. The programme often highlights experimental work, new photographers and collaborative projects.
Running alongside Photo London, the festival offers an alternative perspective on contemporary photography and introduces audiences to emerging voices in the medium.
Location: Various venues across Peckham, London Dates: Late May 2026
Photography exhibitions remain an important source of creative inspiration for photographers, stylists and creative teams working in the visual industries. London’s galleries and museums provide a constant flow of ideas through documentary projects, portrait photography, and experimental image-making.
Many productions and editorial shoots also draw inspiration from gallery exhibitions, then translate visual ideas into location-based photography. London’s cultural programme, therefore, continues to play a valuable role in shaping creative work across fashion, advertising and publishing.
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