The British Museum announces return of Major Fundraising Event
The British Museum has announced the 2026 British Museum Ball. Taking place on Saturday 17 October 2026 it will once again be the defining highlight of London's cultural and social calendar this autumn.
This year the Museum announced the award-winning artist and designer, Es Devlin will be the Ball's Artistic Director for 2026. Devlin will bring her internationally acclaimed and interdisciplinary approach to the evening's event. Conceived as a night where art, history, performance and fashion converge, the Ball will offer a truly unforgettable moment at one of the world's most iconic institutions.
The theme and visual identity of the 2026 Ball will be red, the earliest pigment known to have been used by humans in artistic expression. Red is a unifying thread woven through all three of the Museum's upcoming displays, from the embroidered wool of the Tapestry, the stripes of the American flag to the rich hues found across centuries of Korean art.
Proceeds from this year's Ball will support the British Museum's Masterplan, one of the most ambitious cultural redevelopment projects undertaken anywhere in the world. The ball will play a vital role in supporting this vision, helping to reimagine the Museum for generations to come, while reinforcing its position as a cultural force at the heart of London's creative landscape.