What Exhibitions and Events Are on at the Royal Academy of Arts?

The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) in London currently lists a mix of ticketed exhibitions, free displays, talks, and courses across its 2026–2027 programme. The headline upcoming exhibition is Painting the French Riviera (2 October 2026 – 31 January 2027), which is ticketed and can be booked in advance. Alongside it, the RA runs free displays in the John Madejski Fine Rooms, plus a changing schedule of talks, lectures, and classes. Because listings change throughout the year, check the "What's on" section of royalacademy.org.uk before planning a visit.

Ticketed exhibition: Painting the French Riviera

• Dates: 2 October 2026 – 31 January 2027
• Status: Booking open ("Book now" on the RA site)
• What it covers: The RA's magazine and video content ties the exhibition to how the French Riviera shaped artists such as Matisse, and features works like Kees Van Dongen's The White Lady (1926).
• Related content: The RA has published companion pieces including "How the French Riviera changed Matisse's life" and a video described as "a psychedelic experience."

If this is the main reason for your visit, book ahead rather than assuming walk-up availability; the site presents it as a bookable exhibition.

Free displays and exhibitions

The RA lists free offerings that need no ticket booking based on the page evidence:

These are useful if you want a low-commitment visit or are combining a look at the galleries with something else. Note that the free display in the Fine Rooms runs for over a year, so it is the most flexible option.

Talks, lectures, and courses

Under "Events & displays," the RA groups its programming into:

• Courses & classes
• Free exhibitions & displays
• Talks & lectures

One example listed is "Lubaina Himid in conversation" on 28 October 2026. The page also points to a "View more of what's on" and "View more events & displays" link, which is where the full, current schedule sits. Treat any single event as an example rather than a fixed calendar—the RA's programme rotates, and new talks and courses are added through the year.

Planning around opening hours

Opening times affect which events you can realistically attend:

• Monday: closed
• Tuesday–Thursday and Sunday: 10am–6pm
• Friday–Saturday: 10am–9pm

The entrance is at Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD. Late Friday and Saturday openings are the best fit for evening talks or lectures.

Practical points before you go

• Book ticketed exhibitions in advance. Painting the French Riviera is presented as bookable; free displays are not.
• Check the live "What's on" page. The listings shown are a snapshot, and event dates (especially talks) are added and change over time.
• Friends of the RA can visit Painting the French Riviera and Peggy Guggenheim in London repeatedly and bring a family member as a guest for free, plus receive preview-day invitations—relevant if you plan more than one visit.
• Pair a free display with a ticketed show to make the most of a single trip, keeping Monday closures in mind.

For the definitive, up-to-date schedule, use the RA's "What's on" and "Events & displays" pages rather than relying on any single listing.