You don't need to trek down to London to catch world-class sculpture, iconic portraiture, or radical DIY art - there is more than enough sitting right on our doorstep this month if you know where to look.
Given the heat and train lines also... maybe that wide berth should be considered (for now, southerners).
Across August, Leeds is playing host to everything from Oscar-winning Hollywood photography and Dada pioneers to immersive mill takeovers and park-based abstract painting.
While the big city centre galleries are holding down some proper heavy hitters this month, August is quietly stacked with great exhibitions in places you might not normally think to look—from quiet library archives on campus to country estates, independent studio cellars, and even a park in Beeston.
If you're looking to take in a bit of culture over the next few weeks, here is the complete rundown of 13 exhibitions and art displays happening across the city.
13. Making Space (29 August 2026)
A colourful, freely painted abstract work incorporating drawing in other media to celebrate fluid mark-making and contemporary visual composition. 🎨 The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery, University of Leeds | Provided