The London Art Fair is one of the capital’s premier annual art events, taking place every January at the Business Design Centre in Islington. It’s a major showcase for Modern and Contemporary art, bringing together more than 100 leading galleries from the UK and around the world to present works by both established masters and emerging talents across painting, sculpture, photography and more. The Fair also features curated sections like Encounters, Prints & Editions and Platform, along with talks, tours and immersive installations that make it a vibrant destination for collectors, art lovers and anyone curious about today’s art scene. The next edition starts on 21 January 2026, helping kick off the international art calendar in London each year.
Wes Anderson: The Archives is a major retrospective exhibition at the Design Museum that celebrates over three decades of the filmmaker’s work by giving visitors an unprecedented look into his creative process and visual universe. Running until 26 July 2026, the show displays more than 700 objects from Anderson’s personal archive — including original storyboards, sketches, handwritten notebooks, costumes, props, puppets, miniature models and sets from beloved films ranging from The Phoenician Scheme (2025). Highlights include a towering candy-pink model of Fantastic Mr. Fox and Asteroid City. Curated in collaboration with la Cinémathèque française and Anderson himself, the exhibition traces the evolution of his meticulously crafted, whimsical aesthetic and offers insight into his world-building techniques that have defined his distinctive cinematic style.
224 – 238 Kensington High Street, London W8 6AG
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Catch some great theatre
London’s theatre scene in January 2026 offers some unmissable final runs before shows bow out for the season. Top Hat, the glamorous musical inspired by the classic Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film, continues its limited winter engagement at Queen Elizabeth Hall with tap-shoe-sparkle and Irving Berlin favourites. Book before it wraps on 26 January. Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes, a mesmerising ballet adaptation of the beloved film filled with passion, drama and stunning choreography, plays at Sadler’s Wells until 18 January. Shakespeare’s gripping tragedy Othello, featuring jealousy, power and betrayal, is still staged at the Theatre Royal Haymarket up to 17 January. And for lovers of classic wit, Oscar Wilde’s beloved comedy The Importance of Being Earnest (starring a stellar cast) offers its last performances at the Noël Coward Theatre until 10 January. These shows, from ballet and musical to classic drama and comedy, make early January a great time to experience a range of London’s world-class theatre before they close.
January Blues Festival
The January Blues Festival is a lively month-long celebration of live blues music held each January at 229 London on Great Portland Street. Running through much of the month with multiple nights of performances, it brings together a diverse lineup of blues, blues-rock, rhythm & blues and soul artists from the UK, Europe and North America, hosted by DJ Snowboy spinning classic Chicago blues and more between sets. Highlights in the 2026 edition include headline shows from The Animals, exclusive performances by artists like Eric Bibb, King King with special guests, Nine Below Zero and Fantastic Negrito, making it a must-see for music lovers looking for high-energy live gigs to kick off the new year.
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David McCloskey in conversation with Jonathan Freedland, Daunt Books
Fancy a night of spy-thriller intrigue this January in Marylebone? Grab a ticket to see bestselling author David McCloskey in conversation with award-winning journalist Jonathan Freedland at Daunt Books, Marylebone's favourite cosy bookshop, where they’ll dive into McCloskey’s gripping new thriller The Persian, a twisty tale of espionage, moral dilemmas and international shadow wars that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Expect fascinating insights into the story, behind-the-scenes chatter, and plenty to spark your imagination — all with a drink in hand and fellow thriller fans around you.
83-84 Marylebone High Street, London W1U 4QW
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