21 unmissable art fairs and events in London for 2024

Each year, London presents a variety of art and design events, covering everything from photography, contemporary and fine art to ceramics, antiques, sculpture, and innovative design. From long-standing fixtures like Frieze, LAPADA, and the London Design Festival to newer entrants like the Women in Art Fair. To help you plan your arts calendar for the year, here's a guide to twenty-one upcoming fairs, art weeks, and festivals in 2024.

Art + Design Fairs

PAD London

Galerie Philia’s ‘Contrasts’ show at PAD London 2023 Photo: Maison Mouton Noir.

#FLODown: Founded in 2007 by Parisian antique dealer Patrick Perrin, PAD London is the UK's exclusive fair dedicated to 20th-century and contemporary design. Taking place every October in Berkeley Square, this week-long event showcases the best in modern and historical design. With a reputation for connoisseurship, exquisite taste, and flair, PAD London has become a key fixture in the capital during Frieze Week.

Date: 8 -13 October 2024. Website: padesignart.com. Instagram: @padesignart.

LAPADA Berkeley Square

LAPADA return to Berkley Square in October 2024.

#FLODown: The LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair, established in 2009, is renowned for its international showcase of art and antiques. Held annually in Mayfair's Berkeley Square, the fair hosts around 100 exhibitors presenting a range of items, from jewelry to fine art. LAPADA ensures authenticity through a rigorous pre-vetting process. With prices ranging from £500 to £500,000+, the fair caters to both seasoned collectors and first-time buyers.

Date: 22-27 October 2024. Website: lapadalondon.com. Instagram: @lapada_association.

Frieze London & Masters

Frieze London 2023 Photo by Lyndon Douglas. Courtesy Frieze. Lyndon Douglas Photography.

#FLODown: Frieze London and Masters are among the most sought-after international contemporary art fairs and a highlight of London’s art calendar, taking place annually in October alongside Frieze Sculpture. Launched in 2003, the fair has earned a reputation for propelling emerging talents into prominence and attracting influential collectors. Each year, it serves as a central hub for emerging art movements, coinciding with major contemporary sales by auction houses, other art fairs, and events during 'Frieze Week.

Date: 9-13 October 2024. Website: frieze.com.Instagram: @friezeofficial.

1-54 London

1-54 at Somerset House. Photo by Jim Winslet.

#FLODown: Conceived in London in 2013, 1-54 is an art fair exclusively dedicated to contemporary African and diaspora art. Its name pays homage to the continent's 54 nations, offering a comprehensive exploration of diverse artistic expressions. Traditionally aligning with Frieze London and Masters during Frieze Week, the 1-54 London fair has firmly established itself as a significant highlight in the art calendar.

Date: TBC, expected in October 2024. Website: 1-54.com. Instagram: @154artfair.

London Art Fair

London Art Fair

#FLODown: London Art Fair, founded in 1989 by the Business Design Centre in Islington, provides a platform for exceptional Modern and Contemporary Art, featuring over 100 galleries showcasing emerging talent alongside established names. Alongside curated talks and panel discussions, the fair introduces innovative curatorial concepts through spaces like Encounters, Photo50, and Platform. Since 2014, London Art Fair has collaborated with a regional museum partner, and for 2024, it partners with Charleston to celebrate their 50th anniversary.

The 2024 Photo50 exhibition at London Art Fair, titled Grafting: The Land and the Artist, will be curated by Revolv Collective.

Date: 17-21 January 2024. Website: londonartfair.co.uk. Instagram: @londonartfair.

Collect Art Fair

From left to right: Seed Pods (2023, cotton, linen and jute) by Rachna Garodia (represented by Ruup & Form; England); Muluvenice 3 (2023, walnut wood) by Marco Bellini (represented by Maud & Mabel; England); UNTITLED #15 (2023, ash and copper wire) by Heechan Kim (represented by Charles Burnand Gallery, England)

#FLODown: Collect, the leading fair for contemporary craft and design, marks its 20th anniversary at Somerset House in March. Presented by the UK's Crafts Council, the fair will host 40 galleries, presenting the creations of 400 artists across various craft disciplines and materials. The fair includes Collect Open, highlighting experimental projects, and features engaging talks on craft and design. British textile artist Margo Selby debuts a large-scale hand-woven artwork for this year’s significant edition.

Date: 1-3 March 2024. Website: craftscouncil.org.uk. Instagram: @collectartfair.

Photo London

Works of Jeffery Becton at Koman Fine Art Booth. Photo London 2023. Photo by MTotoe.

#FLODown: Photo London, the leading art fair dedicated to the past, present, and future of photography, is returning for its ninth edition at Somerset House in May. Showcasing international photography, it features historic, vintage, and fresh perspectives. The fair includes top photography dealers, the Discovery section for emerging talents, and a unique public programme with special exhibitions and awards.

Date: 16-19 May 2024. Website: photolondon.org. Instagram: @photolondonfair.

Women in Art Fair

Women in Art Fair 2023 at Mall Galleries.

#FLODown: The Women in Art Fair is committed to addressing gender imbalances in the art industry. It serves as a global platform for female artists, curators, and gallerists, fostering dialogue around gender, sexuality, and culture. After a successful inaugural fair in October 2023 at Mall Galleries, featuring international galleries, a curated exhibition, and a space for artists selected through an open call, the fair returns this year during Frieze Week in October.

Date: 9-12 October 2024. Website: womeninartfair.com. Instagram: @womeninartfairofficial.

The Other Art Fair

#FLODown: The Other Art Fair is a vibrant, artist-led fair providing a platform for emerging talent. The fair typically features a program that has previously included interactive theater, taxidermy classes, immersive dining, charity collaborations, guest artist installations, workshops, and an impressive lineup of renowned guest artists. In 2024, The Other Art Fair London will return to The Old Truman Brewery for two editions, the first in March and the second during Frieze Week in October.

Date: 7-10 March 2024 and 10-13 October 2024. Website: theotherartfair.com. Instagram: @theotherartfair.

Ceramic Art London Fair

Ceramic Art London returns to London in April 2024. Photo by Tom Crew.

#FLODown: Ceramic Art London celebrates its 20th year in 2024 at a larger venue, Olympia. Organised by The Craft Potters Association, it is Europe's largest ceramics fair featuring 120 makers and attracting a strong international presence. The fair welcomes international exhibitors from countries including Guatemala, Greece and South Korea, offering a range of prices from £50 to £10,000.

Date: 19 -21 April 2024. Website: ceramicartlondon.com. Instagram: @ceramicartlondon.

Affordable Art Fair

Affordable Art Fair. Image courtesy of Affordable Art Fair.

#FLODown: The Affordable Art Fair made its debut on the London art scene in October 1999 at Battersea Park. With a mission to democratise the art world and make art accessible to all, the fair features a blend of local, national, and international galleries. Each event presents affordable artworks by established artists and rising stars, along with artist performances, talks, workshops, and family-friendly activities. There will be two Affordable Art Fairs in London this year, returning to Battersea in March and Hampstead in May.

Date: Battersea Spring, 6 - 10 March 2024. Hampstead, 8 - 12 May 2024.Website: affordableartfair.com. Instagram: @affordableartfairuk.

Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair

Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair. October 2023. Photo by MTotoe.

#FLODown:The Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair, now in its 9th year, is the largest international art fair devoted to highly collectible contemporary prints. It showcases leading galleries and renowned artists such as Tracey Emin, David Hockney, Grayson Perry, and Gavin Turk. Additionally, there's an annual Curated Hang featuring innovative new works, spotlighting emerging talents worldwide. Situated at London’s historic Royal Arsenal, the fair is conveniently reachable from Central London via the Elizabeth Line.

Date: 21 – 24 November 2024. Website: woolwichprintfair.com. Instagram: @woolwichcontemporaryprintfair.

Eye of the Collector

Installation view of Eye of the Collector 2023. Photo: Linda Nylind.

#FLODown: Eye of the Collector, a recent addition to London's art show lineup, provides a distinctive art fair experience at the historic Two Temple Place. Founded by Nazy Vassegh, the fair distinguishes itself by presenting artworks as if they were part of a collector's personal collection. The 2024 edition will mark the fourth iteration of the fair.

Date:The Eye of the Collector typically takes place in May 2024. The date has not been confirmed yet.Website: eyeofthecollector.com. Instagram: @eyeofthecollectorlondon.

British Art Fair

Emma Bennett 'This Abeyance', 2023 Oil on oak panel 21x27cm, courtesy Charlie Smith London.

#FLODown: Established in 1988, the British Art Fair, formerly known as the 20th Century British Art Fair, is a dedicated showcase of Modern and Contemporary British Art. Gaining prominence during a surge in the international modern art market, the fair is renowned for featuring works by acclaimed artists such as Barbara Hepworth and contemporary figures like Tracey Emin and Banksy. The 2024 edition will be held at the Saatchi Gallery in September 2024.

Date: 26 - 29 September 2024. Website: britishartfair.co.uk. Instagram: @britishartfair

StART Art Fair

StART Fair. Saatchi Gallery. October 2023. © MTotoe.

#FLODown: StART Fair, founded in 2014, has been dedicated to showcasing the work of lesser-known artistic communities. Hosted annually at the Saatchi Gallery, the fair takes over three floors with a mix of curated projects, gallery presentations, and independent artistic exhibitors. Celebrating its 10th year in 2023, StART is set to continue its commitment to emerging artists during Frieze Week in October 2024.

Date: StART typically takes place in October 2024, dates yet to be confirmed. Website: startartfair.com.

Art + Design Weeks

Kensington + Chelsea Art Week and Public Art Trail

Chelsea + Kensington Art Week. Photo by Katie Edwards.

#FLODown: Kensington + Chelsea Art Week (KCAW), a notable fixture on London's arts calendar since 2018, has become a summer highlight, aiming to promote Kensington and Chelsea as a vibrant cultural hub. The event draws local and international audiences with numerous free cultural events, including a public art trail, unique installations, and engaging murals.

Date: 20 – 30 June 2024. Website: kcaw.co.uk. Instagram: @kcawlondon.

London Craft Week

#FLODown: London Craft Week, a city-wide festival that began in 2015, has become a significant global celebration of exceptional craftsmanship. The curated programme of events showcases the creative talent behind beautiful objects, narrating stories of inspiration and process. The event has grown substantially, attracting nearly a quarter of a million visitors in 2023, featuring over 700 makers and 200 partners from 40 countries. The 2024 edition marks the festival's tenth anniversary.

Date: 13–19 May 2024. Website: londoncraftweek.com. Instagram: @londoncraftweek.

Clerkenwell Design Week

Steve Messam's inflatable textile installations at Clerkenwell Design Week 2023.

#FLODown: Clerkenwell, home to the highest concentration of creative businesses and architects globally, is a pivotal design hub. Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) celebrates this vibrant community by uniquely showcasing top interiors brands. Featuring 600+ showroom events, 11 curated exhibitions, installations, talks, and a fringe programme, CDW is a key design festival in the city. The 2024 edition of CDW is scheduled for May.

Date: 21-23 May 2024. Website: clerkenwelldesignweek.com.. Instagram: @clerkenwelldesignweek.

London Sculpture Week

Samson Kambalu, Antelope (2022) The Fourth Plinth. Photo credit: James Jenkins. 

#FLODown: London Sculpture Week is a weeklong celebration of public art in the capital. In collaboration with Sculpture in the City, Frieze Sculpture, The Line, and the Mayor of London’s Fourth Plinth Programme, the week highlights sculptures in key locations such as The Regent’s Park, Trafalgar Square, East London’s The Line, and the City of London.The aim is to enhance London's public art scene and make contemporary sculpture accessible to a broad audience. Sculpture in the City achieves this by offering free guided walking tours led by City of London guides, along with family workshops and performances throughout the week.

Sculptures from the 2023/24 Sculpture in the City exhibition are currently on display across the city until spring 2024. Stay tuned for the dates of the 2024/25 London Sculpture Week; it's anticipated to take place in September.

Website: sculptureinthecity.org.uk. Instagram: @sculptureinthecity.

London Art Week

London Art Week takes place annually in London in the Summer. Photo by Andrea de Santis.

#FLODown: London Art Week combines physical gallery exhibitions with online presentations, featuring a flagship summer event aligning with the Classic and Old Master auction season every July. The diverse art showcased, spanning from antiquity to the 21st century, includes paintings, drawings, sculptures, rare books, and decorative arts. In 2023, LAW expanded to include rare books and decorative arts for the first time. Exhibitions are hosted across London, complemented by unique online presentations, talks, and events in the spring and autumn, supported by leading international galleries and auction houses.

Date: Summer’s London Art Week: 28 June - 5 July 2024. Website: londonartweek.co.uk. Instagram: @londonartweek_

Festivals

London Design Festival

Medusa by Sou Fujimoto & Tin Drum. London Design Festival.

#FLODown: The London Design Festival, established in 2003 by Sir John Sorrell CBE and Ben Evans CBE, plays a crucial role in positioning London as a global design capital. Serving as a platform for numerous design narratives through talks, workshops, and exhibitions, the festival highlights London's creativity, featuring new designs, installations, and emerging trends. The upcoming 2024 edition is scheduled to take place in September, continuing its tradition of celebrating and promoting design excellence.

Date:14 - 21 September 2024. Website: londondesignfestival.com. Instagram: @l_d_f_official.