Explore and celebrate the histories of art, design and architecture at The Art History Festival.

The Art History Festival is a UK-wide, free, annual event for the public, organised and promoted by the Association for Art History. It brings the richness of art history alive to a public audience, enthuses people with our subject and increases awareness of the fact that the experiences we enjoy with works of art are produced and presented by those who study or research art history.

The festival consists of free public events staged by participating galleries, museums, arts organisations and individuals from all parts of the UK, as well as by the Association itself, over one week in September. The programme includes free talks, tours, workshops and family activities, including in-person, live online and recording events.

Inaugurated in 2021, the Festival goes from strength to strength. Our 2024 Festival drew over 18,000 attendees, with 94 listings from 85 partners across the UK and beyond. See our 2024 Festival Evaluation and Impact Report to learn more.

We are grateful for the generous support of the National Gallery Trust.