From sweeping views of the British landscape to the visionary sculpture of Barbara Hepworth, the vibrant abstractions of Haroun Hayward and the enduring influence of Alfred Wallis, 2026 brings an inspiring mix of historic and contemporary art into dialogue across our galleries.

In summer 2026, we open a major exhibition exploring how artists reimagined the British landscape over the course of the 20th century. British Landscapes: A Sense of Place brings together outstanding paintings, prints and drawings created between 1910 and 1970 – a period when Britain’s countryside and coast were anchors of identity, imagination and resilience. 

Through works by Ivon Hitchens, Graham Sutherland, Paul Nash, Eric Ravilious, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham and others, the exhibition charts the many ways artists responded to a rapidly changing world. From the pastoral revival of the 1920s to Surrealist visions and the bold abstraction emerging after the Second World War, the landscape becomes a lens for understanding shifting culture, wartime anxieties and new artistic freedom. 

Drawn from our renowned collection and key long-term loans, this exhibition offers a powerful look at how artists captured – and sometimes reinvented – a sense of place. 

Running alongside British Landscapes: A Sense of Place, we present the first solo institutional show by Haroun Hayward. Known for his vibrant, rhythmic paintings, Hayward blends references from postwar British landscape painting with the cultural pulse of 90s dance, rave and graffiti. 

For this exhibition, Hayward creates a new body of work in dialogue with our collection and inspired by the Sussex landscape, including the atmospheric arboretum at West Dean, where he recently undertook a residency with the Gallery. His distinctive oil-stick technique, influenced by the South Asian and West African textiles collected by his mother, gives his work a tactile, embroidered quality. 

Expect colour, movement and a celebration of hybridity that feels both deeply personal and joyfully expansive. 

Our much-loved Community Programme responds to the themes of landscape and Hayward’s dynamic approach to composition in a new collaborative artwork. Community artists will experiment freely with materials and ideas, creating a collective response that celebrates individuality while coming together as a powerful shared expression. 

In autumn, we open Barbara Hepworth and Greece, the first exhibition to explore Hepworth’s lifelong fascination with Greek myth, drama and the extraordinary landscapes of the Aegean. 

Her 1954 visit to Greece marked a pivotal moment of renewal in her career. The sculptures, drawings and lithographs that followed show how the light, colour and ancient histories of the Greek islands shaped her evolving ideas of form, space and the human figure. 

Presented at the height of her international acclaim, these works reveal the profound impact of place on Hepworth’s vision. 

Also opening in November is an exhibition celebrating fisherman-turned-painter Alfred Wallis, a key influence on many of the 20th century’s most important British artists. 

Beginning to paint at the age of 70 with no formal training, Wallis developed a striking visual language marked by flattened perspectives, directness of colour, and the instinct to record daily life. His paintings were treasured by Ben and Winifred Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth, Christopher Wood, Peter Lanyon, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham and others who recognised his originality. 

The exhibition will bring together paintings by Wallis which were owned by these artists, alongside key contemporary works by the artists themselves. Exploring why so many leading figures acquired paintings by Wallis, the exhibition will reveal his lasting influence on modernist approaches to perspective, form, colour, composition and lived experience, while also showing how his work remained ultimately inimitable. 

Visitors in early 2026 can still enjoy two major exhibitions already open in the Gallery: 

William Nicholson 

Until 10 May 2026
The first major exhibition of Nicholson’s work in two decades — from luminous still lifes and celebrated prints to portraits, landscapes, and works shaped by the shifting politics of his time. 

Caroline Walker: Mothering 

Until 26 April 2026
Powerful, intimate and beautifully observed, Walker’s paintings explore the labour, tenderness and complexity of early-years care. 

With a year of exhibitions that bring together landmark modern works, new commissions, and fresh perspectives on British art, 2026 promises to be an inspiring moment at Pallant House Gallery and we look forward to welcoming you through our doors. 

If you’d like unlimited access to everything in the year ahead, Friends of Pallant House Gallery enjoy free entry to all exhibitions, special discounts and exclusive benefits – a wonderful way to support the Gallery and stay connected throughout the season. Find out more.