London is a marvelous city to explore, and there is something truly magical about turning a corner and bumping into a sculpture, a mural or a piece of art created by world’s best artists. This is precisely why London Sculpture Week taking place between 19 to 27 September gives us a great reason to explore the city with curious explorers in tow or just taking an inspiring weekend stroll to enjoy not just the great outdoors but to check out one of the city’s best annual public art trail initiatives.
Bringing together the iconic Fourth Plinth, East Bank, Frieze Sculpture, Sculpture in the City, and The Line, London Sculpture Week 2026 offers families, young culture seekers, and art enthusiasts an unprecedented chance to experience world-class contemporary art in the great outdoor public spaces with plenty of free and ticketed events across the capital.
Monumental shifts: Trafalgar Square’s new icon
Kicking off the season’s highlights is the unveiling of the 16th Fourth Plinth commission in Trafalgar Square: Lady in Blue (2026) by New York-based artist Tschabalala Self. Positioned in one of London’s most historic public spaces, Self’s striking bronze figure brings a vibrant, contemporary ‘everywoman’ into direct dialogue with the square’s traditional historic monuments. Adorned in a rich blue dress with accessories replicating lapis lazuli, the rare pigment prized since antiquity, the statue serves as a celebrated triumph of representation and modern storytelling.
Frieze Sculpture in Regent’s Park
In the green heart of Regent’s Park, the 14th edition of Frieze Sculpture (16 September – 1 November) transforms the historic English Gardens into a realm of artistic curiosity. Curated by Fatoş Üstek, this year’s outdoor showcase gathers 11 leading international artists under the unifying theme of hybridity. Visitors wandering the tree-lined paths can encounter groundbreaking works by artists including Carolina Aguirre, Ivana Bašić, Matyáš Chochola, Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, Angel Otero, Catriona Robertson, Tarini Sethi, Conrad Shawcross, and Douglas White.
A Taste of Sculpture in the City
For those who love interactive cultural experiences, Sculpture in the City delivers a unique sensory crossover. Celebrating its 14th edition across the historic Square Mile, this year’s feature event, A Taste of Sculpture in the City, invites visitors to explore the surprising parallels between culinary craft and visual art. Led by SITC Artistic Director Stella Ioannou alongside special guest Sam Bompas (Co-Founder of creative studio Bompas & Parr), guests will indulge in curated canapés directly inspired by outdoor installations from Ai Weiwei, Julian Opie, Maya Rose Edwards, and Oliver Bragg.
East London’s creative legacy
East London forms a major anchor for London Sculpture Week 2026. At East Bank, London’s newest culture and education quarter at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, a specially curated walking tour traces 14 years of Olympic legacy art alongside newly installed public landmarks, such as Thomas J. Price’s A Place Beyond and Larry Achiampong & David Blandy’s Treow of Time.
Meanwhile, The Line, East London’s celebrated 7.5-mile public art trail following the waterways from Stratford to The O2, presents a rich weekend programme of wellbeing walks, film screenings with Zineb Sedira, and family-friendly activities inspired by works from Rasheed Araeen, Helen Cammock, Anthony Gormley, Yinka Ilori, and Eva Rothschild.
Key festival highlights
We love how London respects and promotes public art for the benefit of everyone, making it the ultimate low-stress, high-reward day out for all ages. So, grab your comfiest walking shoes, download the free Bloomberg Connects digital guide to help navigate the trails, and get ready to see London’s streets, parks, and riverside in a whole new light! here are few of the festival highlights to help you plan your day:
- Fourth Plinth Unveiling: Lady in Blue by Tschabalala Self in Trafalgar Square (On view September 2026 – Summer 2028).
- Symposium ‘Reframing Monumentality’: Friday 25 September at The Warburg Institute—assembling leading global voices in public art.
- A Taste of Sculpture in the City: Culinary-art tour with Stella Ioannou and Sam Bompas (Bompas & Parr) in the Square Mile.
- The Line Wellbeing Walk & Screening: Free outdoor walks and Zineb Sedira film screening along East London’s Meridian line.
Full event listings, tickets, and interactive trail maps, are available on the festival website. For more ideas of things to do, visit our events and activities area which provides details of free events and special offers in London’s finest venues and lots more. Follow us on Instagram for latest London restaurant reviews and thigs to do in London ideas.