Aside from diverse landscapes worth travelling for, the UK is also home to an array of exciting cultural events, providing plenty of reasons to explore closer to home. These are the UK’s best events and exhibitions in 2026.
From the usual gilded gatherings of Ascot, Wimbledon and Frieze to a smattering of landmark anniversaries with centuries of heritage, the UK’s cultural calendar is brimming with a carousel of can’t-miss events in 2026.
Take your pick of prestigious sporting events across the Lake District or Snowdonia, or venture to London for regal exhibitions and literary celebrations aplenty. Here are just some of the year’s highlights.
The Royal Scottish Academy marks their 200th anniversary in the heart of Edinburgh
New Contemporaries Exhibition 2026. Installation view of work by iris May (right) and Tom Speedy (back wall). Image credit: Julie Howden
To celebrate their 200-year anniversary, the Royal Scottish Academy is set to showcase a diverse array of contemporary art. Artists from Scotland and further afield will be on display in the Academy’s grand Neoclassical galleries in the heart of Edinburgh through May and early June. Make a weekend of it with a stay at Prestonfield on the edge of Edinburgh, minutes’ walk from the city, surrounded by 20 acres of parkland and views of Arthur’s Seat.
Royal Ascot is back in Berkshire (don your finest outfit)
Royal Ascot 2022 by Nicole Hains
Founded in 1711, Royal Ascot has become one of the most sumptuous sporting events in the world, and a quintessential British day out. Members of the Royal Family rub shoulders with international racegoers and society’s prestigious fashion figures. Base yourself at the iconic Cliveden House in beautiful Berkshire, located just a 30-minute drive from the racecourse. This majestic neoclassical manor is often frequented by members of the British Royal family, and iw complete with award-winning restaurants and a luxurious spa.
The King’s Gallery Hosts The Most Comprehensive Exhibition Of Queen Elizabeth II’s Wardrobe
Evening gowns, Norman Hartnell, 1958. © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026. Royal Collection Trust. Photographer: Paul Bulley
Wimbledon returns to wow royalty and tennis enthusiasts
This royal-approved, gilded gathering attracts dukes, duchesses and sporting royalty every summer, dressed from head to toe in crisp co-ords. Nab a ticket – just 500 centre Court tickets are released each day – and witness the action up close in your finest garb. Looking for somewhere to stay? Retreat to Bingham Riverhouse on the banks of the River Thames between Richmond and Petersham.
Hever Castle Hosts Capturing a Queen: The Image of Anne Boleyn exhibition in Kent
Loyal fans of the British monarchy should venture straight to Hever Castle in Kent for this rare and remarkable exhibition. Once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, the castle exhibition delivers the largest ever collection of portraits believed to depict Boleyn – Henry VIII’s second wife – including a newly discovered image unveiled for the first time. Dating from the 16th to the 18th century, each portrait reveals a three-quarter profile head and shoulders of Boleyn, tracing how her image has changed over 500 years. Check in at Gravetye Manor – a quintessential English country house – to switch off and make a weekend of it.
One of the UK’s most challenging trail races returns to Snowdonia
Travelling for sporting events is more popular than ever. Snowdonia Trail Marathon is one of the UK’s most challenging trail races, spanning the full length of the national park. Even if you’re not participating in the race, the celebratory atmosphere is enough to make you feel involved. Cheer on at the side-lines and retreat to Palé Hall on the shores of Snowdonia to recharge. Beyond the race, Snowdonia offers an adventurous and scenic getaway, with rugged mountain trails and coastal paths worth exploring.
Edinburgh Film Festival (EIFF) celebrates independent cinema with a dynamic programme of screenings
Everyone loves the Edinburgh fringe, but the main film festival remains just as much a major part of the UK’s cultural calendar. The city’s annual film festival celebrates the best independent films, sparking new ideas and conversations with a dynamic programme of features, documentaries and shorts. Stop by this year between 13-19 August for daily screenings, panel discussions and appearances from the likes of Ken Loach and Andrea Arnold. Hunker down at Scotland’s iconic hotel, Gleaneagles, roughly an hour’s drive from both Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Wild swimming takes centre stage in the Lake District
This summer, venture to England’s wild northern frontier for a wild swimming adventure. Whether you’re a pro wild swimmer or prefer to spectate, the Lake District’s scenic Great North Swim offers an exhilarating weekend of open water swimming. Swimmers head to glacier-carved Lake Windermere – the largest natural lake in England – to compete. Bed down at Gilpin near Windermere for a health-giving getaway in the rolling countryside.
The Cotswolds celebrates 60 years as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Running across six counties, the Cotswolds is the UK’s largest designated area of outstanding natural beauty. Its chocolate-box villages and honey-hued houses feel quintessentially English, dotted with cosy countryside pubs. If you ever needed an excuse to visit, this is it: for its 60th anniversary, the village will be playing host to a range of celebrations and accessible, themed walks throughout the year, plus a screening tour of the film Cotswolds: Field & Folk in Cheltenham. For a chic Cotswolds’ stay, Thyme’s 17th-century cottages and award-winning spa are a treat to return to after a day of celebratory activities.
Bloomsbury Festival, London: a month-long programme of art and performance
Often romanticised for its literary past, London’s leafy Bloomsbury neighbourhood is blossoming with an influx of new cultural openings – from bakeries to bookshop cafes and new hotels. In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the Bloomsbury Festival will feature a month-long programme of art installations, science exhibitions and performances, taking place across October. Stay at the newly opened The Newman, located in Fitzrovia and just a few minutes’ walk away from all the action, or check into Zetter Bloomsbury, an elegant Georgian townhouse hotel just opposite the British Museum and with doorstep access to the festival.
Lord of the Dance celebrates its 30th anniversary with a UK Tour
For 25 years, Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance has dazzled audiences around the world with its combination of high-energy Irish dancing and musical storytelling. The precision and high energy of the dance performances have made it into a global sensation since 1996. For its 30th anniversary, guests are invited to explore three decades of Irish rhythm and heritage on a UK tour, including a three-night run at the Brighton Centre. For the Dublin show, pass through the enchanting countryside of Wicklow with a stay at Marlfield House, a 24-room Relais & Châteaux country house.
Cliveden celebrates a plethora of writers and genres for its annual literary festival
Book lovers should head straight to Cliveden Literary Festival for a carousel of readings, panels and poetry talks. Backdropped by the British countryside, this idyllic literary festival includes insightful talks from writers across politics, fiction and more. Elif Shafak, Ian Rankin and William Boyd are just some of the many writers who appeared on the 2025 line-up. Book your stay at Coworth Park in advance to max out on this multi-day literary event.
Frieze, London: A month-long marathon of back-to-back art in the city
Frieze London 2025. Photo by Linda Nylind 16/10/25.
Every October, the city of London comes alive with all things art. The best and brightest artistic talents flock from across the world to attend a week-long marathon of museum and studio visits. While well-known names such as Yayoi Kusama and Tracey Emin have previously shown, the festival also displays work by emerging artists in underrated galleries. Every year is different, spotlighting Renaissance masterpieces or contemporary pieces in and around the city. For your art-hopping adventure, stay at The Newman in Fitzrovia for its swish downstairs spa and subterranean speakeasy, Gambit Bar.
Zana Wilberforce is a London-based writer, covering luxury travel, food, design and culture. Her work has taken her from the underground caves of Cappadocia to the mountainous peaks of Switzerland on a slow rail adventure, but she is most at home in London. On top of travel, she is now covering all things culture for Citizen Femme, focusing on restaurant news, the arts and what’s happening across the city and beyond.
Lead image: The opening night of the 199th annual exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy. In 2026 it will celebrate the 200th anniversary. Image credit: Julie Howden
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