LONDON.- The British Museum has today announced the 2026 British Museum Ball. Taking place on Saturday 17 October 2026 it will once again be the defining highlight of London's cultural and social calendar this autumn.
This year the Museum is delighted to announce the award-winning artist and designer, Es Devlin will be the Ball's Artistic Director for 2026. Devlin will bring her internationally acclaimed and interdisciplinary approach to the evening's event. Conceived as a night where art, history, performance and fashion converge, the Ball will offer a truly unforgettable moment at one of the world's most iconic institutions.
Shaped by Devlin and inspired by the Museum's autumn exhibitions, this year's Ball celebrates three extraordinary global milestones: the once-in-a-millennium loan of the Bayeux Tapestry from France, a special display marking the 250th anniversary of the United States and a landmark exhibition exploring 2,000 years of Korean creativity.
The theme and visual identity of the 2026 Ball will be red, the earliest pigment known to have been used by humans in artistic expression. Red is a unifying thread woven through all three of the Museum's upcoming displays, from the embroidered wool of the Tapestry, the stripes of the American flag to the rich hues found across centuries of Korean art.
This year, Igor Tulchinsky, Founder, Chairman and CEO of WorldQuant will serve as the evening's honorary chair in recognition of his support for The Bayeux Tapestry.
The 2025 inaugural Ball marked a watershed moment in the Museum's history, welcoming nearly 900 high-profile guests – 70% of whom were new to the Museum – and raising more than £2.5 million towards the Museum's international partnerships.
Proceeds from this year's Ball will support the British Museum's Masterplan, one of the most ambitious cultural redevelopment projects undertaken anywhere in the world. The ball will play a vital role in supporting this vision, helping to reimagine the Museum for generations to come, while reinforcing its position as a cultural force at the heart of London's creative landscape.
As part of the Museum's commitment to widening access for young people, additional donations will support the Museum in providing a free packed lunch for every school child visiting The Bayeux Tapestry as part of an organised school trip.
Quotes
Dr Nicholas Cullinan OBE, Director of the British Museum, said: 'Set within the beautiful galleries of the British Museum, the Ball embodies the institution's unique role as a global meeting place for cultures, ideas and creativity. Bringing together artists, collectors, patrons and cultural leaders from around the world, it celebrates the power of cultural exchange while championing the Museum's future.
Every ticket purchased and every donation made will help realise the Museum's Masterplan, an ambitious transformation that will reimagine how millions of visitors experience one of the world's greatest collections for generations to come. Through the Ball, guests become part of that legacy, supporting a new chapter for the British Museum and ensuring it remains a place of inspiration, discovery and cultural dialogue.'
Es Devlin CBE RDI, Artist & Creative Director of the British Museum Ball 2026, said: 'The Ball will help the British Museum continue to offer over six million people each year free, immediate access to two million years of human history and I am honoured to play my part.'
