FRIEZE START IN LONDON: HERE’S WHAT TO SEE EVEN WITHOUT A TICKET

Frieze Week is well underway in London, where the fair’s arrival in 2003 has grown into an annual gathering of international artists, galleries and collectors. For those unfamiliar, the week is anchored by two distinct art fairs in Regent’s Park. Frieze London is devoted to contemporary art, while Frieze Masters, introduced in 2012, spans millennia of art history, from antiquities and Old Masters to work from the late 20th century.

Regardless of whether you’re attending the fairs (or consider yourself an art aficionado), there are a number of ways to immerse yourself in the art world throughout the week. From free outdoor sculpture to participatory installations and exhibitions in unexpected settings, there’s plenty to explore without a fair ticket.

image courtesy of FRIEZE

Official Frieze Sculptures 2026

Autumn is already one of the best seasons to experience Regent’s Park, and the addition of Frieze Sculpture offers yet another reason to visit. Curated by Fatoş Üstek, the exhibition’s 14th edition brings the work of eleven international artists to the park’s English Gardens. Among them are Angel Otero’s Dreams and Salt, a doorway descending beneath the grass, and Tarini Sethi’s The Sun Bathes Its Friends and Neighbours, where intricate stainless-steel screens depict mythical scenes. Open from the 16th of September to the 1st of November, the outdoor exhibition is free to visit and doesn’t require a fair ticket, offering everyone the chance to enjoy the art.

Dover Street Market revisits SIX

If something creative is happening in London, it’s safe to say Dover Street Market will be part of the conversation. This time, it revisits SIX, the magazine edited by Rei Kawakubo, with images displayed in its windows and across the ground floor. Published in eight issues between 1988 and 1991, it brought photography, art and design into Kawakubo’s editorial world, with contributors including Peter Lindbergh, Eileen Gray and Jean Cocteau. The display offers a glimpse into the references surrounding Comme des Garçons, and a reason to linger after purchasing, or simply browsing.

Frieze at No.9 Cork Street

Away from Regent’s Park, Frieze’s permanent space at No.9 Cork Street brings together exhibitions by Jordan Nassar and Robin F. Williams. Nassar’s No History of Shapes, presented by The Third Line, features hand-embroidered works drawing on Palestinian tatreez, while P·P·O·W presents Act Natural, Williams’s first UK solo presentation. On the 16th and 17th of October, Mr & Mrs Smith presents To Seek, To Find, a photography exhibition curated by Brandei Estes, with contributors including Tina Barney and Martin Parr. For anyone keen to build an afternoon around a few exhibitions, Cork Street is a good place to begin.

Mount Street Neighbourhood Arts Festival

Mount Street has a programme of its own during Frieze Week, with photography, books and conversations taking over spaces around the neighbourhood. Until the 17th of October, visitors can browse the Hauser & Wirth Publishers pop-up at 62 South Audley Street or register for breakfast conversations hosted by A Vibe Called Tech.

A highlight of the festival is Miles Aldridge’s 15 Minutes of Fame, bringing his temporary portrait studio to the South Audley Street space. Inspired by his 2024 TIME cover shoot with Elton John, each 15-minute sitting produces unique Polaroids to keep. Sessions cost £380 for up to four people and can be booked online.

PAD London in Berkeley Square

Whilst this may be a separate fair, those filling their week with creative activities should consider visiting PAD London. At Berkeley Square, international galleries bring together historical and contemporary design, from furniture and lighting to ceramics and jewellery. Highlights include ceramics by Kate Malone at Adrian Sassoon, alongside jewellery from Hemmerle, Nikos Koulis and Buccellati. Public entry runs from the 15th to the 18th of October, with adult tickets costing £30.

Groundwork Exhibition at Rosewood London

Open since the 9th of October, Rosewood London’s latest exhibition gives visitors another reason to step inside its Holborn home. Groundwork is the first group exhibition within The Living Gallery, the hotel’s rotating artist residency programme supporting emerging talent. An open call for THE TAGLI’s 2026 Mentorship Award, held in partnership with the hotel, attracted more than 350 applicants. The exhibition brings together new work by award winner James Evans and shortlisted artists Minye Yue and Charlie Russell. One of the most interesting aspects of the exhibition is how differently the artists approach their work, drawing on their own backgrounds and experiences, from Russell’s working-class perspectives to Yue’s exploration of our relationship with nature through textiles. 

Orfeo Tagiuri at Poliform

It’s not the first time Poliform’s King’s Road showroom has brought art into its space, having previously displayed Paolo Roversi’s photography in its windows. This year, the Italian furniture brand joins as an official Frieze Week Partner, presenting a series of carved-wood works by London-based artist Orfeo Tagiuri, curated by Frieze Studios. Visitors can head down to the showroom throughout Frieze Week, where the presentation is open to the public.