Renoir and Love: A Major Exhibition Coming to London’s National Gallery

London art lovers are in for a magnificent treat this autumn as the National Gallery prepares to host the most significant exhibition of Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s work in the UK for two decades. Renoir and Love, opening on 3 October 2026 and running through 31 January 2027, promises to be one of the cultural highlights of the year, bringing together over 50 masterworks by the beloved French Impressionist.

This marks the first exhibition devoted entirely to Renoir at the National Gallery since 2007, making it a long-awaited celebration of one of art history’s most cherished painters. The timing couldn’t be more perfect, as London’s art scene continues to recover and thrive, offering visitors an unmissable opportunity to immerse themselves in Renoir’s luminous world of affection, joy, and human connection.

The exhibition’s crown jewel will undoubtedly be Renoir’s iconic Bal au Moulin de la Galette (1876), on loan from the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. This masterpiece captures the essence of Parisian leisure in the late 19th century and will be making its UK debut—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for British audiences to witness this celebrated work in person. The painting epitomizes everything that made Renoir special: his ability to capture fleeting moments of happiness, the play of dappled sunlight through leaves, and the gentle intimacy of human interaction.

What sets this exhibition apart is its thematic focus on love and human relationships in their myriad expressions. As exhibition co-curator Christopher Riopelle explains, “More than any of his contemporaries, Renoir was committed to chronicling love and friendship and their informal manifestations as keys to modern life.”

The exhibition will explore the full spectrum of human affection through Renoir’s eyes—from tender romantic moments to the boisterous camaraderie of café culture, from the gentle care of child-rearing to the electric atmosphere of courtship and flirtation. Visitors will journey through sun-dappled woodlands where lovers steal quiet moments and bustling Parisian streets where the drama of urban romance unfolds.

Renoir and Love focuses on the most crucial two decades of the artist’s career, from the mid-1860s to the mid-1880s. This period witnessed Renoir’s evolution from his early experimental works through his peak Impressionist years and into his later, more sculptural style. By the early 1880s, Renoir was moving away from pure Impressionism’s fascination with light effects toward more solid, classically-inspired compositions, yet he never abandoned his core themes of friendship and joy in nature.

The exhibition will include several of his full-length figure compositions, including the National Gallery’s own The Umbrellas (1881, reworked 1885), demonstrating how Renoir elevated everyday scenes into paintings “worthy of the museum.” His famous Dance compositions—universally beloved symbols of French fin-de-siècle culture—will showcase his ability to capture movement, music, and the sheer exuberance of life itself.

This ambitious exhibition represents a remarkable international collaboration between three major institutions: the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the National Gallery, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. The partnership has enabled the gathering of exceptional loans from prestigious collections worldwide, including works from the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen, the Städel Museum in Frankfurt, Sweden’s Nationalmuseum, and major American institutions like the J. Paul Getty Museum and the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC.

The exhibition’s journey began in Paris at the Musée d’Orsay (17 March – 19 July 2026) before coming to London, and will conclude at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston (20 February – 13 June 2027), creating a truly transatlantic celebration of Renoir’s genius.

Visitors to the National Gallery this autumn can expect an emotionally rich and visually stunning experience. The exhibition will be arranged thematically rather than chronologically, allowing audiences to trace the evolution of love and human connection across Renoir’s most productive period. From intimate portraits that capture the psychology of affection to large-scale compositions celebrating communal joy, the show promises to reveal new depths in familiar masterpieces while introducing lesser-known gems.

The curatorial approach emphasizes Renoir’s unique ability to find the extraordinary in the ordinary—his gift for transforming simple moments of human interaction into profound artistic statements about the nature of love, friendship, and social connection in the modern world.

Renoir and Love runs from 3 October 2026 to 31 January 2027 at the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. As this is expected to be one of the most popular exhibitions of the year, advance booking will be essential. The National Gallery typically offers timed entry tickets to manage crowds and ensure the best possible viewing experience.

Mark your calendars for October 2026—this is one exhibition that will undoubtedly be worth the wait.