The Ikon Gallery based in Brindleyplace has announced an expansive programme for 2026, reaffirming its status as one of the UK’s most dynamic contemporary art institutions. Founded in 1964 as an artist-led initiative in the Bullring, the gallery remains free to the public and committed to presenting cutting-edge work from both British and international artists.
Ikon’s 2026 exhibition calendar centres on innovation and cultural dialogue, anchored by three significant shows.
Opening the year is Break the Mould (25th March – 6th September), the final instalment of the gallery’s craft-focused trilogy. This edition spotlights contemporary ceramics.
Running concurrently, Angela de la Cruz: UPRIGHT (25th March – 6th September) brings together unseen works by the acclaimed artist alongside a new collaboration with Birmingham Royal Ballet. The exhibition examines the human body through themes of vulnerability, resilience, and physical tension.
Closing the year is the first major UK survey of Balraj Khanna (30th September – 21st February), charting five decades of abstract painting shaped by migration, memory, and the natural world. Together, the trio of exhibitions underscores Ikon’s ongoing commitment to diverse perspectives and incredible art.
Ikon’s influence will extend beyond its Brindleyplace home through two notable off-site initiatives. At the Library of Birmingham, What are the odds? Ikon Creative Health (21st January – 28th June) examines the role of art in health and care settings, adding to the gallery’s growing portfolio of socially engaged projects.
Internationally, Ikon strengthens its global profile as Melanie Pocock, Artistic Director (Exhibitions), joins the curatorial team for the 2026 Bangkok Art Biennale—one of Asia’s leading contemporary art events.
Ikon’s 2026 programme also places significant emphasis on education and community partnerships. BCU Tuesdays, developed with Birmingham City University, offers free admission every Tuesday while opening up new outreach opportunities for local secondary schools.
Thanks to continued support from the Freelands Foundation, the Ikon Youth Programme will again activate Slow Boat, a converted canal narrowboat that serves as a floating art school delivering creative experiences to communities along the region’s waterways.
Meanwhile, Ikon’s longstanding Art in Prisons initiative will maintain artist residencies at HMP Grendon, HMP Spring Hill and HMP Birmingham, reflecting the gallery’s belief in the transformative role of art within the criminal justice system.
With an agenda that spans local engagement, international collaboration, and world class exhibition-making, Ikon’s 2026 programme positions the gallery for another year at the forefront of contemporary art.
