The Ashmolean Museum has unveiled its 2026 exhibition programme, promising a year of discovery, creativity, and cultural reflection.
Opening in spring, In Bloom: How Plants Changed Our World will take visitors on a breathtaking journey across continents, tracing how beloved plants and flowers were transported over oceans to reshape landscapes, economies, and entire cultures.
In October 2026, Aphrodite: The Making of a Goddess will explore the enduring allure of the Greek goddess of love, beauty, and desire — from her ancient Cypriot origins to her transformation into the Roman Venus and her lasting influence on art, literature, and modern thought.
The ticketed exhibitions will be complemented by a dynamic series of free displays and temporary shows, featuring contemporary artists alongside treasures from the museum’s own world-class collections.
As part of the Ashmolean NOW programme, Bangladeshi artist Soma Surovi Jannat will present new work from March, exploring themes of climate, culture, and care.
From November, acclaimed British photographer Garry Fabian Miller will exhibit new works in dialogue with 19th-century painter Samuel Palmer, whose landscapes have deeply inspired his practice.
Other highlights include Colonial Views of India, a remarkable display of late 19th-century photographs captured by a British colonial officer, and Sisters, Brothers, Others, which examines depictions of nationality and ethnicity in modern China.
Full listings and exhibition dates will be available shortly on the Ashmolean Museum page.
