Bristol to host the British Art Show in 2027

British Art Show 10, the UK’s largest recurring exhibition of contemporary art, will visit Bristol in June 2027 as part of a national tour of five cities.  

The show will also go to Coventry, Swansea, Sheffield, and Newcastle Gateshead.  

Over the past four decades, the exhibition has reached over 2.3 million people and explored new trends in contemporary art that reflect a changing Britain. This will be only the third time that Bristol has hosted the British Art Show, the first was in 1980.  

In 2027, the show in Bristol will be on display across a variety of different cultural institutions in the city, including Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, Arnolfini, Spike Island, and RWA Bristol. The venues will collaborate to develop a complementary programme of activities and events designed to engage audiences of all ages, ensuring the entire city can participate in this landmark exhibition 

Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council, said: ‘It is brilliant that Bristol will host the landmark British Art Show 10 in 2027. It is important to be able to offer everyone the chance to experience extraordinary art right here on their doorstep.  

‘Having four of our great major art institutions work together collaboratively to bring this show to life is a huge moment for our city and a big boost for Bristol’s vibrant arts scene. We hope this show helps to inspire the next generation of Bristol creatives.’ 

For over 40 years, British Art Show has been a vital platform for showcasing groundbreaking work, introducing audiences to artists who have gone on to shape British art history including David Hockney, Bridget Riley and Sonia Boyce.  

British Art Show 10 will be curated by Ekow Eshun (Fourth Plinth, Institute of Contemporary Arts, London) who promising an overview of the most exciting art produced in the UK during the past five years. 

Philip Walker, Head of Culture, Bristol Museums, said: “We’re delighted to be hosting British Art Show 10 at Bristol Museums, it’s a brilliant opportunity to collaborate with other outstanding institutions across the city. Together, we’ll provide an unforgettable experience, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone through our doors.”  

Nicole Yip, Director of Spike Island, said: “We are incredibly excited to celebrate the 10th edition of this iconic event in Bristol. Spike Island has a great connection to the British Art Show, going back to 2006 when we commissioned some of today’s most influential names in contemporary art, including Hew Locke, Rosalind Nashashibi and Lucy Skaer.  

‘We look forward to not only celebrating the diversity of artistic talent that Britain has to offer, but also making the connection to the artistic pedigree of our own artist community at Spike Island and Bristol at large; this show will have an important impact on the cultural energy of this city. It's a fantastic opportunity to be able to work with Ekow, the team at Hayward, and all our local partners.”  

Kathryn Johnson, Head of Exhibitions, RWA, said: “We are incredibly pleased to be working with partners to bring BAS 10 to Bristol. The RWA hosted the first British Art Show in 1980 and has a long history of bringing breathtaking contemporary work to audiences in the South West. To work with Ekow and the team at Hayward is an honour and we are delighted to be part of the 10th iteration in what will be the most ambitious tour of the exhibition’s long history.” 

Suzanne Rolt, Chief Executive Officer, Arnolfini, said: “Arnolfini are proud to be part of this landmark moment for contemporary art in the UK, working with our partners – Hayward Gallery Touring, Spike Island, RWA, and Bristol Museums & Art Gallery – to invite as wide an audience as possible to celebrate arts and culture, reflect on the issues that concern us today, and create new opportunities for engagement in the future. The British Art Show’s collaborative approach and curator Ekow Eshun’s creative vision creates space to dream, reimagine and come together, galvanising the potential of the visual arts in Bristol.”