LONDON — The British capital’s social circuit is set to get busier with the Royal Academy of Arts’ 258th summer exhibition preview party on June 10.
This year’s event will be cochaired by leading names across film, music, fashion and contemporary art, including sitarist and composer Anoushka Shankar; British actor Archie Madekwe; Eva Langret, Frieze’s director of the Europe, Middle East and Africa region; royal academician and champion of bold fashion looks Grayson Perry, and Laura Weir, chief executive officer of the British Fashion Council.
A London summer fixture, the RA’s summer exhibition preview party gives ticketed guests, who would pay 575 pounds or 850 pounds depending on the experience package, early access to buy works at the world’s longest-running contemporary art show, which has taken place annually since 1769.
Weir, who just unveiled her ambitious strategic plan to rewire the BFC and grow its gross annual revenue by 38 percent to 18 million pounds by 2030, is expected to underscore the event’s role at the intersection of art, film, music and the performing arts to inspire and shape cultural creation.
“British fashion is a catalytic cultural force,” said Weir, who worked as chief creative at Selfridges before last year joining the organizer of London Fashion Week and the Fashion Awards.
“The RA Summer Exhibition creates an impactful moment to celebrate that spirit of exchange so naturally. As cochair this summer, I’m looking forward to strengthening those connections, bringing together different creative communities, and championing the cultural innovation that exists across the U.K.,” she added.
“I have been a big fan of the exhibition for years. What makes the RA Summer Exhibition so special is its openness and accessibility. There’s something democratic about the exhibition, with works by established names sitting alongside emerging talent. It’s a special cultural moment that welcomes an incredibly broad audience, from seasoned patrons to those just beginning to discover or collect contemporary art,” Weir continued.
Anoushka Shankar
Courtesy
The London-born Shankar, who has received 14 Grammy Award nominations, said it feels significant to represent her community, both culturally and musically, for one of London’s biggest social events during the summer.
“As a Londoner, I’ve loved the RA for years. Over the years, I’ve had friends who’ve had their break there, friends who’ve worked there, and artists to experience who’ve inspired me throughout,” she added.
The RA has also appointed broadcaster Clara Amfo, an honorary trustee of the institution, as its inaugural music curator for the party. She will oversee the night’s DJs and performers, extending her remit from Glastonbury’s live coverage to the Burlington House courtyard.
The Summer Exhibition, coordinated this year by Royal Academician Ryan Gander, will once again bring together emerging and established artists across painting, print, photography, sculpture, architecture, and film, with the majority of works for sale.
The RA summer party has also traditionally been a playground for London’s social elites to make bold fashion statements.
Last year Helena Bonham Carter picked a full, floral, embroidered, layered look by Simone Rocha, and Alexa Chung donned a strapless dress from Erdem’s fall 2025 collection. It featured a watery female portrait by painter and fellow Royal College of Art graduate Kaye Donachie.
