Since 1769, every summer. The Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition holds a place in the British art calendar that nothing else can fill. Important retrospectives come and go; major auctions dominate the news. But the Summer Exhibition continues to be the space where a student showing for the first time stands alongside a Royal Academician, where thousands of works the public can actually buy coexist in the same rooms, where professional hierarchy is — at least partially — dissolved. This year’s coordinator: Ryan Gander.
Ryan Gander and the Question of Connection
A strong voice in the British tradition of conceptual art, Ryan Gander chose “connection” as the focal point for this year’s edition — the ways in which art brings people, ideas, and disciplines together. It is a theme as open-ended as you would expect from Gander. He is not writing a prescription; he is extending an invitation.
The result: more than 1,800 works reflecting the diversity that theme makes possible. Drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, architecture, film and digital art. Recognised names alongside emerging artists, RA Schools graduates alongside publicly submitted work — all in the same context.
This diversity is simultaneously the Summer Exhibition’s strength and its point of contention. Art critics periodically argue that the democratisation renders the show unfocused. But that very unfocusedness is precisely the structure that allows work that would never otherwise stand side by side to coexist — and keeps alive the possibility of surprise.
Gander’s Choice: Ugo Rondinone’s “The Song is You”
Each year the coordinator invites an artist to make a work for the Annenberg Courtyard. Gander chose Ugo Rondinone: “The Song is You” fills the inner courtyard, expressing the artist’s long-standing fascination with rainbows and colour. Rondinone is simultaneously present on Bond Street — in partnership with New West End Company, his fifty-four flag series “LIGHT” hung along Bond Street from early June to mid-August.
What Makes the Summer Exhibition Different?
The answer given each year is the same: it’s buyable. Visitors can purchase work they see — and for many pieces, at genuinely accessible prices. Online browsing is available at se.royalacademy.org.uk.
But perhaps the more accurate answer lies elsewhere: the Summer Exhibition is one of the rare gathering places that legitimises simply being present without having to do anything else. Friday evenings throughout July shift the tone with DJ sets; the in-gallery gin bar is open Thursday through Sunday — signalling that the space functions simultaneously as both art venue and social one.
FAQ: Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2026
- When does the exhibition run and how much are tickets?
The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2026 runs from 16 June to 23 August 2026 at the Main Galleries, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD. Tickets £23.50–£25.50 (including donation); Friends of the RA go free. Tuesday–Thursday and Sunday 10:00–18:00; Friday–Saturday 10:00–21:00.
- Who is Ryan Gander?
British conceptual artist, born 1976. Known for a practice built around language, meaning, and invisibility. Strong international exhibition history; this year he takes on the role of Summer Exhibition coordinator.
- Can I buy works from the exhibition?
Yes — many of the 1,800+ works are for sale. Browse in the gallery or online at se.royalacademy.org.uk.
NO-26 Note
The Summer Exhibition promises more than art — especially on Friday evenings in July with DJ sets. If you haven’t yet visited the Royal Academy this summer and want to see both Richard Dadd and the Summer Exhibition, after the 25 July opening both are possible in a single afternoon.
