Art & Design: upcoming exhibitions & events
If you’re passionate about creating exceptional Art & Design experiences for your students, you’re in the right place. At Esto, we love discovering the exhibitions, events and creative experiences that spark new ideas and bring learning to life. Explore our latest recommendations, insider insights and must-see highlights from the art world below.
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London
From world-renowned galleries to cutting-edge contemporary exhibitions, an Art & Design trip to London invites students to explore the creativity, innovation and diversity of one of the world’s leading cultural capitals.
Art & Design trips to London
Exhibition: Es Devlin: Other Worlds
Venue: The Design Museum, Kensington High Street
Dates: 2nd October 2026 – 4th April 2027
Step inside the imaginative world of British designer Es Devlin. Discover a detailed recreation of her London studio, early sketches and artworks, and a reimagining of Come Home Again, her sculptural installation dedicated to endangered wildlife. Exploring everything from her work on the London 2012 Olympic Games Closing Ceremony to the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show, this immersive exhibition offers a fascinating insight into Devlin’s creative vision and genre-defying work.
Exhibition: Julio Le Parc: Light. Colour. Action.
Venue: Tate Modern
Dates: Ends 3rd May 2027
Playful and mesmerising, this immersive exhibition celebrates the visionary work of Julio Le Parc.
Featuring his striking interactive installations, shimmering light sculptures, and large-scale geometric paintings, the show spans an extraordinary career from the late 1950s to the 2020s.
Best known for his pioneering kinetic sculptures, which use light, movement and mirrored surfaces to surprise and draw in the viewer, the Argentinian artist will turn visitors into active participants.
Madrid
From renowned collections to thought-provoking contemporary exhibitions, an Art & Design trip to Madrid invites students to discover the richness and diversity of Spanish and international art.
Art & Design trips to Madrid
Exhibition: The Freudian Universe of Dalí
Venue: Thyssen-Bornemisza Museo Nacional
DATES: 20th October 2026 – 24th January 2027
Merging Freudian thought with Dalí’s colourful Catalonian life.
The Catalan artist’s fascination with the writings of Freud and their famous meeting in 1938 constitute the guiding thread of the exhibition, which proposes a rereading of Dalí’s entire career, from the complex family background of his early years to his late work produced in Catalonia.
Each section focuses on works related to Freudian thought and is complemented by relevant paintings and drawings by Jean Arp, Arnold Böcklin, Sigmund Freud, Max Ernst, and Pablo Picasso, among others.
https://www.museothyssen.org/en/exhibitions/freudian-universe-dali
New York
Home to some of the world’s most influential museums and galleries, an Art & Design trip to New York immerses students in a vibrant art scene where creativity knows no limits.
Art & Design trips to New York
Exhibition: Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous
Venue: The Met, Fifth Avenue
Dates: 4th October 2026 – 31st January 2027
Follow the intertwined lives of influential Abstract Expressionists Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock.
Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous explores the intertwined lives and artistic careers of Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock, highlighting how both helped shape Abstract Expressionism and modern art. The exhibition re-examines their relationship on equal terms, tracing their individual influences, shared creative journey, and lasting impact through more than 120 works spanning their entire careers. It is the first exhibition to look at the full arc of their careers together.
https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/krasner-and-pollock-past-continuous
Exhibition: Na Mira NO SMOKING
Venue: MoMA
Dates: 14th November 2026 – 15th February 2027
Challenge conventional ways and question the role of imagery with Na Mira’s first solo New York museum exhibition.
Na Mira’s work combines Korean shamanic traditions with experimental media techniques to explore memory, language, identity, and the invisible forces that shape perception. For her first solo New York museum exhibition, she has created a new installation using filmed imagery, radio frequencies, and projected visuals that challenge conventional ways of seeing and question the role of images in power, propaganda, and history.
Exhibition: Roy Lichtenstein: Like New
Venue: Whitney Museum of American Art
Dates: 11th October 2026 – 21st December 2026
Step into the vibrant world of Pop Art with Roy Lichtenstein: Like New.
Featuring around 130 works spanning five decades, this major exhibition explores how Lichtenstein transformed images from comics, advertising and popular culture into iconic artworks. Discover his most celebrated pieces, revisit his groundbreaking 1962 Pop Art exhibition, and see how his work anticipated today’s image-driven digital world.
Paris
A city synonymous with creativity, an Art & Design trip to Paris gives students the opportunity to explore inspiring exhibitions that celebrate both artistic heritage and modern innovation.
Art & Design trips to Paris
Exhibition: Monet, Painting Time
Venue: Musée de l’Orangerie
Dates: 30th September 2026 – 25th January 2027
Explore Claude Monet’s career through the lens of time.
Marking 100 years since the artist’s death, the exhibition at the Musée de l’Orangerie brings together around 40 works, tracing Monet’s fascination with capturing fleeting moments, from his Impressionist beginnings, his monumental Water Lilies series and the immersive Nymphéas works. Taking a fresh, interdisciplinary perspective, the exhibition reexamines one of art history’s most influential bodies of work and its enduring relevance today.
https://www.musee-orangerie.fr/en/whats-on/exhibitions/monet-painting-time
Exhibition: A Statue for Liberty, Bartholdi’s Dream, from Paris to New York: An immersive virtual reality experience
Venue: Musée d’Orsay
Dates: 15th September 2026 – 31st January 2027
A vivid exploration of friendship and freedom through immersive virtual reality that brings the Statue of Liberty to life.
Through VR headsets, visitors can follow sculptor Auguste Bartholdi’s journey from the initial idea for the Statue of Liberty to its unveiling in New York in 1886. Explore the people, challenges and innovations behind its creation, and gain a fascinating insight into the monument’s enduring role as a symbol of Franco-American friendship and universal freedom.
Barcelona
With its bold artistic identity and thriving creative scene, an Art & Design trip to Barcelona offers students a fresh perspective on creativity, innovation and visual culture.
Art & Design trips to Barcelona
Exhibition: Aurèlia Muñoz. Beings
Venue: MACBA Trenta
Dates: 5th November 2026 – 29th March 2027
Aurèlia Muñoz. Beings is a major retrospective celebrating one of the most important figures in contemporary textile art in Catalonia and beyond. The exhibition showcases the full breadth of her career, from early surrealist-inspired collages and pictorial embroidered works to her large-scale macramé sculptures, iconic kite-like creations, and the latest handmade paper installations. It also features a significant collection of drawings, models, and works rarely or never before displayed.
Exhibition: The Reverse Journey. A Sound Fresco through Romanesque Art
Venue: Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya
Dates: 12th November 2026 – 30th April 2027
Reconnect with the enduring bond between murals and their environment – Romanesque Art brought to life.
The Reverse Journey explores the relationship between Romanesque murals and the churches for which they were originally created, highlighting how much was lost when the paintings were removed from their rural and spiritual surroundings. Through light and sound, the exhibition reconnects visitors with the atmosphere, landscape, and sensory experiences that once shaped these works. It reveals both the fragility of the historic churches and the enduring bond between the murals and their original environments.
https://www.museunacional.cat/en/reverse-journey-sound-fresco-through-romanesque-art
Popular Art & Design trips
Art & Design trips to Paris
Inspire your students in this beautiful capital of culture.
- Visit world-class museums and galleries
- Interactive workshops and classes
- See the iconic sights of Paris
Art & Design trips to Barcelona
Discover creativity and inspiration in one of Europe’s most visual cities.
- Explore Gaudí’s architecture and major art collections
- Study influential artists including Picasso and Miró
- See iconic sights such as the Sagrada Família and Parc Güell
Art & Design trips to London
Explore London through art, with inspiring trips centred on the city’s world‑class galleries, museums and creative culture,
- World‑class London galleries & museums
- Inspiring art‑focused itineraries
- Suitable for KS4 & KS5 studen
Art & Design trips to Madrid
A world‑class city for fine art, galleries and creative heritage.
- Study masterworks across major art movements
- Explore drawing, painting and artistic technique
- Ideal for GCSE and A‑level Art & Design
Art & Design trips to New York
Experience world‑class art and creativity in a global cultural capital.
- Explore leading museums including MoMA & the Met
- Discover contemporary art, street art and photography
- Visit iconic New York sights
Art & Design trips to Berlin
Inspire students in one of Europe’s most exciting creative capitals.
- Visit world-class art and contemporary design museums
- Explore street art, murals and public installations
- See iconic landmarks including the Brandenburg Gate and East Side Gallery
Art & Design trips to Amsterdam
Explore Dutch masters and modern design in a creative capital.
- Study iconic artists including Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh
- Visit world-class museums spanning classical and contemporary art
- Experience Amsterdam’s canals, architecture and historic streets
Art & Design trips to Nice
Explore colour, light and creativity on the inspiring French Riviera.
- Visit key art museums including the Matisse
- Explore artistic styles shaped by the Mediterranean
- Discover the Old Town, coastline and Promenade des Anglais
Art & Design trips to Rome
Explore centuries of art, design and architecture in the Eternal City.
- Visit world‑renowned museums and galleries
- Study masterpieces from classical to Baroque art
- See iconic sites including the Vatican and Piazza Navona
The most popular questions, answered
The best Art & Design trips are built together. That’s why we start by listening. Once we understand your curriculum goals, creative priorities and what inspires your students, we’ll help shape a journey filled with meaningful artistic experiences, insider discoveries and the kind of moments that stay with students long after they’ve returned home.
Art exhibitions give students the opportunity to experience original artworks, creative installations, and world-renowned collections first-hand. Seeing art in museums and galleries helps bring classroom learning to life, deepens understanding of artistic techniques and movements, and encourages critical thinking, creativity, and cultural awareness. Educational visits also provide valuable enrichment opportunities that support wider personal development.
Some of the most popular destinations for Art & Design school trips include London, Paris, Madrid, New York, and Barcelona. These cities offer access to internationally renowned museums, galleries, temporary exhibitions, and cultural landmarks. Students can explore everything from Impressionism and Surrealism to contemporary design, digital art, textile art, and immersive exhibitions, making them ideal destinations for aspiring artists and designers.
Art and cultural experiences are a key element of the Department for Education’s focus on enrichment. Visiting exhibitions allows students to engage with diverse cultures, ideas, and creative disciplines beyond the classroom. These experiences help broaden horizons, inspire future ambitions, develop cultural capital, and provide meaningful enrichment opportunities that support both academic and personal growth.
International art exhibitions give students the chance to experience creativity in a whole new way. From iconic works by Monet in Paris and Dalí in Madrid to cutting-edge contemporary installations in New York, students can explore different artistic styles, cultures and perspectives first-hand. These experiences bring classroom learning to life, support Art & Design studies at GCSE, A Level, and BTEC levels, and inspire students to develop their own creative voice.
