Art After Dark, Art of London’s free art and culture programme, returns from 03-10 February 2026 with a week-long celebration of London’s nightlife through art and music, including a special after-hours DJ-set at the National Gallery. Inspired by the city’s club culture, the programme brings together large-scale public artworks, late-night gallery openings and exclusive music experiences across the West End.
Channelling the energy and spectacle of a live music festival, internationally acclaimed London based artist Lakwena Maciver (Tate Britain, Southbank Centre, Somerset House) will headline and launch the programme with her landmark public artwork, Rise and Shine, a 7-metre-tall tower of stacked disco lightboxes, in Piccadilly Circus.
Installed at one of the West End’s most recognisable landmarks, the soaring artwork reimagines the site’s analogue heritage through kaleidoscopic colour and a soundtrack inspired by community music culture. Its acid-bright visuals and illuminated forms reference the nightlife of the 1980s and 1990s, a period that influenced music genres from hip-hop to drum and bass.
Art After Dark will also animate the West End with a programme of late-night events, including a special one-off after-hours DJ event at The National Gallery on 5 February. Celebrating music culture, guests will enjoy an exclusive live DJ set inside the Gallery after closing time, offering a rare chance to dance after dark with friends in one of London’s most iconic cultural institutions. Tickets available for ‘Art After Dark – The Afterparty at The National Gallery’ via The National Gallery website here.
The public art will be unveiled across the West End, with new digital artworks displayed daily on the giant Piccadilly Lights and screens within the West End, offering a vivid backdrop for culture seekers as they stroll through the district.
Throughout the week, the West End will host late-night gallery openings, bookable art tours via Art of London Gallery HOP!, special offers and live performances at local bars and nightclubs, including the Hard Rock Café, The London Reign Showclub, BOX Piccadilly, and Haymarket Hotel, and an exclusive Q&A with Lakwena, in partnership with Apple.
Artist Lakwena 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”.
Kirsty Tullett-Jones, Director of Marketing and Communications at Art of London said: “Art After Dark 2026 is almost here, and this year it returns as a week-long celebration where music and art collide. Lakwena’s extraordinary installation will light up the West End with the colour, rhythm and energy that define London’s music culture. From late-night gallery hops and themed performances across the West End to a very special DJ-led after-party at The National Gallery, this year’s programme truly has it all. We want Londoners and visitors alike to feel the buzz, share the joy, and be part of something unforgettable in the heart of the capital.”
Paul Gray, Deputy Director and COO of the National Gallery said: “The National Gallery is delighted to partner with Art of London as the host venue for the after-party for this significant programme of art across the West End. As the nation’s gallery, this event continues our ongoing mission to bring people and paintings together in innovative ways and celebrate art with everyone”.
Councillor Ryan Jude, Cabinet Member – Climate, Ecology, Culture and Air Quality, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting Art After Dark once again and look forward to seeing this exciting programme come to life across the West End. Initiatives like this showcase London’s vibrant cultural scene in some of the city’s most iconic locations, making the arts accessible for all to enjoy”
Art of London returns with its seasonal art and culture programme, Art After Dark led by artist Lakwena Maciver, from 03-10 February 2026. Visit artoflondon.co.uk/artafterdark.
