The West End’s Famous Free Late-Night Public Art Show Art After Dark Returns For 2026 Next Week

With the dark evenings and miserable weather still dragging on, Londoners could really do with a boost right now. And what better than a free seven-day celebration of the city’s art, music and night life? 

Art After Dark will give us a reason to look forward to the evenings next week. It’ll be bringing light, music and colour to the streets of the West End from February 3 until February 10.  

The main event at Art After Dark is a free public art trail. And the headline artwork this year is ‘Rise and Shine’ by London-based artist Lakwena Maciver. Towering seven metres in the middle of Piccadilly Circus, the installation (pictured below) is made up of disco light boxes and intends to channel the energy of ’80s and ’90s London nightlife. Illuminated with acid-bright visuals and playing a soundtrack of hip-hop, soul and funk, you’re unlikely to miss it. 

Maciver said: ‘This installation is a celebration of joy, community, and the vibrant energy that pulses through London’s music scene. By unveiling it in Piccadilly Circus, we’re inviting everyone to gather, dance, and experience London’s music culture in a space transformed by colour, light, and sound. I’m looking forward to bringing people together to celebrate and support the culture that defines our city.’

More public art will be unveiled across the West End for the week-long event, including new digital artworks displayed daily on the enormous Piccadilly Lights and screens. 

A whole host of galleries are getting involved, too. On Thursday February 5, there’s a crawl across the West End’s finest independent and commercial galleries, like Cristea Roberts (currently showing an exhibition of work by Georg Baselitz) and The Mayor Gallery (which has an exhibition of radical European artists). You can either book on an expert guided tour from £10 or do a free self-guided tour. 

The following night, the National Gallery, Royal Academy of Art and National Portrait Gallery will all keep their doors open until 9pm for a Friday Late.

Beyond all the art, there’ll also be live music sessions at nearby venues like Haymarket Hotel, Box Piccadilly, San Carlo and Hard Rock Cafe plus a spectacular afterparty led by drag icon Bimini at the National Gallery on Thursday February 5. 

And if all of that wasn’t enough, a load of local eateries are offering deals and discounts in honour of the occasion. You can explore what’s up for grabs here. 

Explore all of the best exhibitions in London right now here. 

Did you see that a major Renoir exhibition is coming to London this year?

Plus: the Serpentine Pavilion is celebrating its 25th anniversary this summer with a dazzling installation.