Queer Britain, the UK’s national LGBTQ+ museum, to reopen

Queer Britain, the UK’s national LGBTQ+ museum, will reopen its doors on 4 February 2026 with a completely refreshed programme of exhibitions across its four galleries. The relaunch coincides with LGBT+ History Month, offering visitors an opportunity to explore diverse queer stories and experiences through more than 200 objects drawn from collections nationwide, including contributions from the National Football Museum, the Women’s Liberation Music Archive, and private lenders.

The new Collections Gallery will present six themed sections, each shedding light on different aspects of LGBTQ+ life:

• Resist!: Examining activism and resistance, with a focus on the Black Lesbian and Gay Centre, a pivotal force in 1980s and 1990s LGBTQ+ organising. Co-curated by filmmaker Veronica McKenzie and community members, the display includes rarely seen posters and pamphlets.
• Club Kids: Celebrating alternative spaces for connection, opening with a showcase of Club Kali, the UK’s first club night for LGBTQ+ people of South Asian heritage.
• Queer Creativity: Highlighting artistic expression, including the Women’s Liberation music-making movement of the 1970s and 1980s, which featured major contributions from lesbian, bisexual, queer and trans women.
• Body and Mind: Reclaiming narratives around health, illness and disability, featuring a panel from the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt, part of the largest community arts project in history.
• Live, Laugh, Love: Exploring domesticity and relationships, with stories such as the unconventional bond between Bloomsbury Group members Lytton Strachey and Dora Carrington.
• The World Around Us: Investigating queer life in wider society, opening with the story of Justin Fashanu, the first Black footballer to command a £1 million transfer fee, who came out publicly in 1990.

Alongside these permanent displays, Queer Britain will host a series of special exhibitions throughout 2026, including:

• Queer Print (4 Feb – 3 May): A deep dive into radical print cultures, showcasing magazines, flyers, posters and zines from the Queer Britain archive.
• 40 Years of BFI Flare (4 Feb – 3 May): Celebrating the evolution of Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ film festival through its iconic posters.
• Trans is Human (5 Aug – 27 Sept): Portraits by renowned photographer Mariano Vivanco, produced by Jake and Hannah Graff, celebrating the lives of thirteen trans individuals.
• Everyone Involved (21 Oct – 15 Nov): An immersive installation by artist Ian Giles, revisiting A Gay Song - the first LGBTQ+ protest song recorded on vinyl in 1972 - re-recorded by the original band 52 years later.

Further exhibitions, including a partnership with Diageo, will be announced later in the year. The museum’s programme will also feature author talks, creative workshops and panel discussions, ensuring Queer Britain remains a vibrant hub for LGBTQ+ culture and history.