National Portrait Gallery exhibitions 2026: What’s on now and what’s coming soon
- maxwell museums
- Dec 23, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
The National Portrait Gallery’s exhibitions in 2026 are star studded, with film icon Marylin Monroe taking centre stage this summer, and Tim Walker's celebrity photos a highlight of the autumn.
Ever since the gallery expanded and reopened in 2023, it has seen a huge spike in visitor numbers and has enjoyed an elevated profile. It's already hosted blockbuster sell-out shows on Francis Bacon, Edvard Munch and Jenny Saville, and it was even shortlisted for Art Fund Museum of the Year in 2024.
It’s no surprise then, that what’s on at the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) is the question on the lips of many art lovers.
While the permanent galleries show the NPG’s world-class collection of portraits of celebrated and noted Britons, the temporary exhibitions allow them to explore broader, more international topics related to portraiture.
So if you’re planning on stepping through the gallery’s impressive Tracey Emin-designed bronze entrance doors in 2026 to see one or many of the NPG’s exhibitions, I’ve got you covered.
Here’s my guide — updated in June 2026 — to the current and upcoming exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery that you cannot miss this year.
Quick links for National Portrait Gallery exhibitions in 2026:
What’s on right now at the National Portrait Gallery
Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait
To celebrate what would have been the 100th birthday of the world’s most famous film star, Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait is one of the highlights of London’s summer exhibitions. Many famous artists and photographers captured Monroe, and they are all shown here — highlights include Andy Warhol, Pauline Boty, Marlene Dumas, Cecil Beaton, Eve Arnold and Richard Avedon. Open from 04 June until 06 September 2026, curators promise a show that highlights how Monroe collaborated on many of her images, and a narrative that will explore her life, career and legacy. The exhibition also includes personal belongings such as books, scripts and clothes to enrich understanding of the woman behind the image.
Upcoming National Portrait Gallery exhibitions in 2026
From a celebration of photographer Tim Walker, to the annual Taylor Wessing Prize, the 2026 exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery puts photography in the spotlight. Here's what's coming up.
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2026
Britain’s most important award for portrait painters returns for its 44th edition. Since its inception, the long-standing Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award competition has attracted over 40,000 entries from more than 100 countries and has been seen by over six million people. The highly competitive award encourages artists over the age of 18 to focus upon, and develop, the theme of portraiture in their work. This free exhibition of the dozens of shortlisted works will open on 25 June and will run until 07 October. The 2025 first prize of £35,000 was awarded to British artist Moira Cameron for a large-scale self portrait.
Tim Walker’s Fairyland: Love and Legends
Celebrated photographer Tim Walker is known for his fantastical depictions of famous faces. This exhibition — which will run from 08 October 2026 to 31 January 2027 — will take visitors on a journey into Walker’s inner world and its many inspirations and influences. Walker’s career has seen him photograph celebrities including Chappell Roan, Lady Gaga, Pet Shop Boys, Sir Ian McKellen, Hunter Schafer, Miriam Margolyes and Frank Ocean, while his work has featured in international magazines including Vogue, Vanity Fair, W, LOVE, Another Man and i-D. While details on what specifically will be displayed in Tim Walker’s Fairyland: Love and Legends is still under wraps, we can expect some of these striking images to feature, plus new works taken specially for this show of queer activists, performers, artists, and writers.
Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize 2026
The National Portrait Gallery’s other annual prize — this time for portrait photography — will return for its 2026 edition on 05 November and will run until 17 January 2027. Each year the Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize showcases the work of talented young photographers, gifted amateurs and established professionals. NPG Director Victoria Siddall says that the "prestigious award has a tradition of showcasing the work of some of the most skillful, thoughtful, and groundbreaking photographers working today." Around 50 photographers are expected to be shown, with their work ranging from formal commissioned portraits to more spontaneous and intimate moments capturing friends and family. The selected images are usually shown publicly for the first time.
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Tips for visiting the National Portrait Gallery's exhibitions
Visit on Saturdays for less
Saturday evenings at the National Portrait Gallery is 'Pay What You Can' night. You can visit the exhibitions from 17:30 to 20:00, and can decide how much you pay for the ticket. These tickets are released weekly on Fridays for the following week. Note: the gallery stresses these are intended for those who are unable to pay full price.
Wine and dine in the Portrait Restaurant — and enjoy the view
Elevate your visit by booking a table at The Portrait Restaurant by Richard Corrigan. It's the gallery's fine dining spot, and is perfect for a post-exhibition meal. It's on the fourth floor with pleasing views across the London rooftops. The menu is the finest flavours of the British Isles, and the bar serves classic cocktails.
Ditch the baggage and use the cloakroom
You've likely paid a lot of money for your exhibition ticket, so maximise your enjoyment by leaving your coats, bags or luggage in the National Portrait Gallery’s cloakroom. There's a small fee, but offloading your items guarantees a more enjoyable and hassle-free experience.
