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Big Birthday Weekend Late and Light Show

10 May 2024

From 6pm

Join us to celebrate 200 years of your National Gallery

On 10 May, your National Gallery celebrates its 200th birthday

We're kicking off our Big Birthday Weekend with a night of paintings, people, music and more, including a special performance by Jools Holland for lucky ballot winners. 

Inspired by one of the greatest collections of paintings under one roof, enjoy a special Friday Late of live music performances, DJs, talks, bars and creative workshops.

Ticket holders will be automatically entered into a ballot for tickets to the Jools Holland Concert: Rhythm and Hues.

Head outside at 9pm for a spectacular light show across the front of the Gallery. You'll have another chance to see the display at 9pm on Saturday 11 May.

All tickets are now fully booked.

 

Tickets

Free tickets are required for this special Friday Late. A maximum of 2 tickets can be booked per person.

All ticket holders will be automatically entered into a ballot for tickets to the Jools Holland concert in Room 32. Please note, general entry tickets do not guarantee entrance to this part of the event. 

All tickets are now fully booked.

Please see the event terms and conditions.

Jools Holland Concert: Rhythm and Hues

Come and discover Jools’ enthusiasm for art and his connection with the National Gallery.

Jools Introduces

Invited by music legend Jools Holland, Anna Phoebe and London Contemporary Voices will perform surrounded by masterpieces from the collection.

Music throughout the night

Explore the Gallery throughout the evening and enjoy a range of free musical performances including Bach sonatas, soundscapes and DJ sets.

Thank you to Beatport for providing the DJ equipment and Sofia Ilyas, Chief Community Officer at Beatport, who presents three female London-based artists, each showcasing the diverse electronic music spectrum with unique DJ sets.

Creative workshops and tours

Take part in free, drop-in creative sessions, tours, and mindful looks at our collection. 

Big Birthday Light Show

From 9pm on 10 and 11 May, make sure you're outside the National Gallery, in Trafalgar Square, to witness a light show projected onto the front of our building, to celebrate our birthday.

Featuring highlights from the Gallery's history and paintings brought to life, watch in awe as our building is transformed, bringing the inside out.

Produced by Nvisible Productions [external link], designed in collaboration with Visual Edge [external link] and Creative Technology [external link].

 

Featured in the Light Show:

  • Room 34, National Gallery, Photographed by Scanderbeg Sauer
  • Narrations from Gallery staff, interviews with members of the public and extracts courtesy of Exhibition on Screen from the ‘My National Gallery’ film, available to watch in cinemas from the 4 June 2024.
  • Artwork from the following three schools as part of our Take One Picture Programme:
    • Trinity Primary Academy, London
    • Blackthorn Primary School, Northampton
    • RGS The Grange, Worcester

 

Take One Picture is generously supported by Columbia Threadneedle Foundation

Sponsored by 

With additional support from the John Armitage Charitable Trust

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More events to enjoy across the weekend

Extend the celebrations with special Members' events on Thursday 9 and Friday 10 May and drop-in family activities on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 May.