Exhibitions At Yorkshire Sculpture Park In 2026

The 2026 programme at Yorkshire Sculpture Park features major art exhibitions. A landmark group show of contemporary Indigenous North American art opens in June. Other displays include LR Vandy's work on maritime history and Jakob Rowlinson's installation exploring queer archives. The park also commissions new outdoor sculptures.

Ever wondered what it would be like to see massive, thought-provoking art while strolling through 500 acres of beautiful countryside? That's exactly what Yorkshire Sculpture Park is all about. And in 2026, the park, located near Wakefield in Yorkshire, is rolling out a massive year-long programme of art that's all about big ideas.

Think about how we deal with change, what we get from the people who came before us (our inheritance), and how we transform. The artists featured in these exhibitions are looking at all this, set against a stunning landscape that has its own long history. It’s a place where art, history, and nature all crash into each other in the best possible way. This new programme of commissions and exhibitions promises a space for important dialogue.

A massive first for the underground gallery

Okay, so one of the biggest bits of news for the 2026 programme is a huge exhibition starting in June. For the first time ever, the Underground Gallery at Yorkshire Sculpture Park is hosting a group show. And it's a really special one. It’s all about contemporary Indigenous North American art. What does that mean? It’s art made by artists whose ancestors are the original peoples of North America. This is a massive deal because it’s bringing this powerful and important art to the UK on a scale never seen before. It’s a chance to see the world from a completely different perspective. The artists involved, like Rose B. Simpson and Raven Halfmoon, explore massive themes.

• Land: How people connect to the place they come from.
• Identity: Who they are and what shapes them.
• Material: The stuff the art is actually made from, and what that material means.

They are honouring ancient knowledge and ancestral wisdom, but with a totally fresh, future-facing thinking approach. It’s not about being stuck in the past; it’s about using that heritage to imagine what comes next. This landmark exhibition is set to be a highlight of the Yorkshire art scene.

From maritime tales to queer archives

The 2026 programme isn't just about one big show; there’s loads happening across the park. Over in The Weston Gallery, from spring, an artist called LR Vandy will be transforming the space. Her exhibition is rooted in maritime and textile histories. So, imagine stories of the sea, sailors, and trade, but told through fabric and other materials.

It sounds like it will be about community rituals and finding joy even when things are tough. It’s a different kind of inheritance, one tied to the ocean. Then, in the summer, things get even more interesting. Jakob Rowlinson is presenting an installation called ROTATOR. Get this: it’s a collection of hanging sculptures made from leather. But not just any leather. It’s been coloured using dyes made from oak galls, little growths on oak trees, found right there on the estate where the park is. How cool is that? The artwork itself explores queer archives. This is all about looking into the often-hidden or unrecorded histories of LGBTQ+ people. It connects craft, labour, and the nature of the park itself. It's a powerful way to make forgotten stories visible through art and material. The craft involved in this making process is super specific and connects directly to the landscape.

What's new in the great outdoors?

Of course, you can't talk about Yorkshire Sculpture Park without talking about the amazing art you find outside in the sprawling parkland. For 2026, there are some exciting new commissions planned. Andi Walker is creating a sculpture that sounds brilliant: a quilt made from slate, called Wrapped in Cold Hard Comfort. A quilt is meant to be soft and comforting, but slate is hard and cold. This piece of art will really challenge what you expect from a material.

It makes you think about what comfort really means. Another artist, Thabo Mkwananzi, is creating a special space out in the landscape. It's designed to be a spot for conversation and quiet reflection. A place to just sit and think. The work draws on ancestral wisdom but also encourages future-facing thinking. It’s about creating a moment for dialogue with yourself, with others, and with nature. It shows how art isn’t just something to look at; it can be a place, an experience, and a prompt for a good chat. This is where the community can really meet and connect.

Getting hands-on with art and making

The whole 2026 programme isn't just for looking at art from a distance. A big part of the plan is about getting everyone in the community involved. The park will be running loads of creative workshops, talks, and other projects. It's a chance for people of all ages to get stuck in. Whether it’s learning a new skill in a making session or joining a dialogue about one of the exhibitions, it's all about deepening the connection between people, the art, and the incredible landscape.

This is where art stops being a thing on a wall and becomes a living, breathing part of the community. It’s a chance to ask questions, share ideas, and be inspired. The learning programme is designed to make you think about the themes of the exhibitions, like inheritance, nature, and community, in your own life. These projects are designed to be a place where the community meet and share experiences through the power of art.

Craft, heritage and pattern in the YSP shop

And let's be honest, who doesn't love a good mooch around the shop after a day of culture? The shop at Yorkshire Sculpture Park is more than just a place to buy postcards. It has its own programme of exhibitions too. In 2026, it will feature work by artists and designers like Louise Lockhart (also known as The Printed Peanut), Annie Montgomerie, and Angela Harding. These exhibitions focus on heritage, incredible craft, and a fun, playful look at pattern and nature.

It’s a celebration of making things beautifully. You might see intricate prints of wildlife or whimsical characters crafted from different materials. It shows how art and craft can be part of everyday life. It’s a brilliant end to a visit, connecting the big ideas in the park with beautiful objects you can actually take home. The focus on pattern and craft really complements the wider art programme.

So, the 2026 programme at Yorkshire Sculpture Park near Wakefield is shaping up to be something pretty special. It’s a year packed with incredible exhibitions, from groundbreaking Indigenous North American art to sculptures that tell secret stories and play with material. It’s a celebration of artists who are thinking deeply about the world. But more than that, it’s a place where land, art, and community meet. It’s an invitation to wander through a beautiful landscape, see some amazing art, and maybe even get involved in making something yourself. It’s all about shaping the future through craft, dialogue, and new ideas. A must-visit for anyone in Yorkshire or beyond.