The exhibitions you must see this April
From the Scottish Colourists to the Saxons, this is your guide to the exhibitions you won't want to miss this April.
Spring has officially sprung, and with the sunnier season is a wave of new exhibition openings across the UK. And, with the upcoming Easter bank holidays, make the most of that extra time off with a trip to one of these must-sees.
From the spectacle and evolution of the fashion catwalk to a deep dive into 125 years of Black British music, there's an exhibition for everyone in this month's round-up of some of the best exhibitions to see in April.
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Hurvin Anderson
From Birmingham barbershops to Jamaican hotels, Hurvin Anderson paints vibrant scenes of interiors and landscapes. In this major solo exhibition, marvel at over 80 of Anderson's works from his career, including new paintings that have never been seen before. As the first member of his family born in the UK after they moved from Jamaica to Birmingham in the 1960s, his paintings draw on his experiences of belonging and diaspora, while grappling with the complexity of memory and cultural heritage.
Vivienne Westwood: Rebel - Storyteller - Visionary
Vivienne Westwood remains one of Britain's most beloved fashion designers, most recognised for her rebellious blend of punk subculture, historical garments and haute couture. From her tartan dresses to her deconstructured corserts, her designs challenged the traditions of the fashion world. In this major exhibition that celebrates her fashion legacy, gain a closer insight into her unique vision and creative process.
Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art
Witness the collision of Surrealism, art and fashion in pioneering designs by fashion trailblazer Elsa Schiaparelli and discover her enduring influence on the iconic fashion house to this day. Over 200 objects are on display, including Salvador Dalí's legendary Lobster Telephone, a portrait by Picasso and, of course, lots of haute couture.
Constable: A Cast of Characters
John Constable is considered one of Britain's greatest landscape painters from the Romantic period, and 2026 marks 250 years since his birth. So, to celebrate, Christchurch Mansion are staging this major exhibition, diving into this beloved artist's enduring legacy and the people he encountered along the way.
The Saxons
Journey through history and into the world of the Saxons. Spotlighting three Saxon burial sites, the exhibition unveils Buckinghamshire's early medieval past and who the Saxons really were. Marvel at glittering treasures, explore how a warlord ruled and discover secrets of the past.
Virginia Woolf and the Hogarth Press
From A Room of One's Own to Mrs Dalloway, Virginia Woolf's novels are considered masterpieces of modernist literature in which she pioneered using stream of consciousness as a narrative technique. But did you know? Woolf also founded a radical publishing house. At Charleston in Firle, dive into the story of the Hogarth Press, where books were treated as art objects, writers collaborated with artists, and ideas circulated outside of traditional structures.
The Scottish Colourists Revealed
The Scottish Colourists were a group of four radical painters who pioneered modern Scottish art, creating a new visual style inspired by the vibrant palette of the French Fauvists and the loose brushwork of the Impressionists. Experience their work like never before in this celebration of rare paintings and the artists' overlapping legacies.
Catwalk: The Art of the Fashion Show
Discover the evolution of the catwalk, where style meets spectacle, and journey through a century of the fashion show's history. From its early days in private salons to the live-streamed experiences of today, see how some of fashion's biggest names – including Chanel, Dior, Alexander McQueen, Prada and more – have employed their creativity to conjure up bigger and bolder shows.
The Music Is Black: A British Story
Don't miss the much-anticipated opening of V&A East Museum in Stratford. Its inaugural exhibition traces 125 years of Black British music and reveals how integral this has been to culture in the UK and beyond. From jazz and reggae to grime and drum and bass – discover early pioneers alongside contemporary ground-breakers. Expect immersive installations, an exhibition soundtrack, fashion, photography, and more.