London's Autumn Art Season Takes Shape, From Renoir to Ryman
London's museums are lining up a busy autumn, from Renoir to early photography and new commissions.
Artnet News published its round-up, "7 Must-See Museum Shows in London This Fall", on 28 September 2026. It is the most recent of this season's previews, ahead of a separate top-10 list from Time Out published on 11 September.
Two of the Artnet picks open days apart. "Robert Ryman: The Real Thing" runs at the Barbican in London from 8 October 2026 to 28 February. A show by Mohammad Alfaraj opens at Delfina Foundation in London from 29 September.
The National Gallery in London is planning a full autumn. Its exhibition "Renoir and Love" starts on 3 October 2026 and closes on 31 January 2027, according to the gallery's listings. The show will bring together more than 50 works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
The same gallery also lists "Yinka Shonibare and Thomas Gainsborough: A Conversation", pairing a contemporary British-Nigerian artist with an 18th-century portraitist. Another National Gallery autumn date is "Van Eyck: The Portraits", which is listed as starting on 21 November 2026.
Time Out adds a different name to the season. Its autumn 2026 preview includes "Enclosure" by Jenkin Van Zyl at Somerset House in London.
Photography gets an early-history outing too. Tate in London will stage a group exhibition titled "Light and Magic: The Birth of Art Photography" as part of its 2026 programme, according to an announcement from the institution.
What makes this stand out for a casual visit is the timing. Many dates overlap. Put it in your diary. You could see the new Alfaraj opening in late September, then return in October for Ryman and Renoir, and save Van Eyck for late November.
