Our top picks of exhibitions together with cultural spaces and places, both online and in the real world.


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Viewing Crossing Into Darkness

Curated by the indomitable Dame Tracey Emin, Crossing Into Darkness is a powerful and timely group exhibition at Carl Freedman Gallery bringing together an extraordinary roster of international artists — including Louise Bourgeois, Francisco Goya, Marlene Dumas, Georg Baselitz, Antony Gormley, Gilbert & George, Edvard Munch, Anselm Kiefer and others, alongside works by Emin herself — whose practices explore the profound and often unsettling dimensions of human experience.

Rather than presenting darkness as something merely fearful, the exhibition frames it as a necessary threshold toward renewal and insight. The works confront feelings of melancholy, despair, fragmentation, uncertainty and transformation — experiences that feel especially resonant in the current era of upheaval. Within this context, darkness becomes a metaphoric space for reflection and emotional immersion, rather than an endpoint. Emin’s selection emphasises art’s capacity to penetrate and resonate with the soul, underscoring her belief that encountering difficult emotions through art can be a deeply human and cathartic process.

Presented across the gallery’s spacious three exhibition rooms in the converted Thanet Press building, Crossing Into Darkness is free and promises to be an immersive experience — one that asks us to consider how confronting the shadowy aspects of life can ultimately lead toward light, empathy and understanding.

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Viewing London Art Fair

The London Art Fair 2026 is one of the premier events in the UK art calendar, returning for its 38th edition from 21–25 January 2026 (with a preview evening on 20 January) at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London. This annual fair has become a key moment for both seasoned collectors and new audiences to explore the best in modern and contemporary art at the start of the year.

At the heart of the fair is the Main Fair Galleries section, where over 120 galleries from the UK and around the world present a wide range of works spanning from early twentieth-century modern masters to cutting-edge contemporary art. Highlights this year include displays of works by notable figures such as Tracey Emin, Sean Scully, Barbara Hepworth, William Kentridge and rare prints by David Hockney, alongside group and solo presentations that reflect diverse artistic voices In addition to the main exhibitions, the fair’s Platform section—curated in 2026 by Dr. Ferren Gipson under the theme The Unexpected—showcases innovative and experimental work that challenges traditional definitions of art through material, process and form. Don’t miss talks too – among them, a panel lead by TF Chan on collecting the unexpected, and a panel discussion on radial care moderated by Victoria Comstock-Kershaw, Editor of FETCH London. With around 24,000 visitors expected, London Art Fair 2026 remains an essential destination for anyone interested in the vibrancy and diversity of today’s art world, from a distinctly London point of view. The London Art Fair 2026 is one of the premier events in the UK art calendar, returning for its 38th edition from 21–25 January 2026 (with a preview evening on 20 January) at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London. This annual fair has become a key moment for both seasoned collectors and new audiences to explore the best in modern and contemporary art at the start of the year.

With around 24,000 visitors expected, London Art Fair 2026 remains an essential destination for anyone interested in the vibrancy and diversity of today’s art world, from a distinctly London point of view.

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Viewing Hawaiʻi: a kingdom crossing oceans

The British Museum’s Hawaiʻi: a kingdom crossing oceans, is a major exhibition celebrating the rich history and culture of the Hawaiian Kingdom and its long-standing ties with the United Kingdom. The show brings together more than 150 extraordinary objects, many never seen in the UK before, blending historic treasures from the Museum’s own collection with significant international loans. Among the highlights is a stunning ʻahu ʻula feathered cloak sent in 1810 by King Kamehameha I to King George III—on public display for the first time in over 100 years—alongside the Hawaiian king’s original letter requesting British support.

Visitors are greeted by a striking nine-foot statue of the god Kū, and the galleries feature finely carved drums, barkcloth (kapa), powerful shark-toothed weapons, feathered helmets (mahiole), and intricate deity figures (kiʻi akua). At its heart is the story of the 1824 royal voyage of King Liholiho (Kamehameha II) and Queen Kamāmalu to London—a diplomatic mission that marked a turning point in Hawaiʻi’s global relationships. This narrative thread allows the exhibition to explore themes of movement, alliance and cultural exchange, while acknowledging the complex histories of colonial contact and museum collecting practices.

The exhibition was co-created with Native Hawaiian knowledge-bearers, artists and scholars, centering indigenous perspectives and using ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) throughout. This collaborative approach highlights not just the artistic mastery of the objects but their ongoing cultural significance for the people of Hawaiʻi today. It is a visually dazzling and thoughtful re-framing of Hawaiian heritage within a global context, bringing often overlooked Pacific histories to a broad international audience.

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Photo: © David Parry/ Royal Academy of Arts

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Storehouse, including over 100 mini
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Happenings V&A East Storehouse

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