British Art Show to visit Swansea for the first time in 2027
Swansea Council has announced that the city will be one of just a handful of UK locations to host British Art Show 10, the country’s leading touring exhibition of contemporary art.
The exhibition, developed by Hayward Gallery Touring — part of the Southbank Centre — will arrive in Swansea in early 2027 following its launch in Coventry in September 2026. It will be staged at Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Elysium Gallery, GS Artists, Mission Gallery and Volcano Theatre.
Swansea will be hosting one of the country’s top touring art shows for the first time next year.(Image: Swansea Council)Swansea will be hosting one of the country’s top touring art shows for the first time next year.
(Image: Swansea Council)
Elliott King, Cabinet Member for Culture, Human Rights and Equalities, Swansea Council, said: “The tour is coming to Swansea in February 2027 and wherever you are in the city centre, you won’t be far from it because it’s going to be at the Elysium Gallery, GS Artists, Mission Gallery and Volcano Theatre as well as the Glynn Viv. Swansea will be its only visit to Wales, an accolade that demonstrates our venues’ growing reputation as places that not only showcase the vibrancy of our local creative art scene but also exhibit art from across the UK and beyond to enthusiastic audiences.”
The British Art Show has previously featured iconic artists including David Hockney, Tracey Emin, Grayson Perry, and Lucian Freud, and is widely regarded as the UK’s most significant recurring exhibition of contemporary art.
Karen MacKinnon, Curator at Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, said: “It’s brilliant that the British Art Show is coming to Swansea, we are all so excited about this opportunity to work together on a multi venue national project across Swansea. We are sure that curator and writer Ekow Eshun will select an incredible list of artists from across the UK which will not only be enjoyed by our audiences and communities but create new opportunities for local artists and a creative legacy for the city.”
The exhibition is supported by Swansea Council and Arts Council of Wales, with Glynn Vivian Art Gallery acting as the local lead partner.
Dafydd Rhys, Chief Executive of Arts Council of Wales, said: “We are delighted that the British Art Show will be hosted across Swansea in 2027, and to offer support funding through the local lead partner, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery. The British Art Show, delivered across fantastic Welsh arts venues including Elysium Gallery, GS Artists, Mission Gallery, Volcano Theatre and the Glynn Vivian, provides an excellent opportunity to showcase what Swansea has to offer in terms of its vibrant art scene, raises awareness and increases opportunities for the artistic community, and best of all, will bring people into the city to enjoy an exciting cultural offer.”
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