Es Devlin to Direct 2026 British Museum Ball with Red Theme
Es Devlin has been named the Artistic Director for the British Museum Ball scheduled for Saturday, 17 October 2026. This year's event will embrace a red theme to coincide with the museum's autumn initiatives, which include the Bayeux Tapestry loan, a celebration of the U.S. founding's 250th anniversary, and a showcase of Korean creativity. The previous Ball in 2025 generated over £2.5 million for international collaborations. Funds from the upcoming event will aid in the museum's Masterplan redevelopment. Igor Tulchinsky serves as the honorary chair. Nicholas Cullinan, the Museum Director, highlighted the Ball's significance in fostering global connections. Devlin, a London native born in 1971, boasts an extensive background in stage design and has garnered multiple accolades, including three Oliviers and a Tony. She also holds a position as a visiting Professor at Oxford.
Key facts
- Es Devlin appointed Artistic Director of 2026 British Museum Ball
- Ball takes place Saturday 17 October 2026
- Theme is red, linked to three exhibitions: Bayeux Tapestry, US 250th anniversary, Korean creativity
- Red is earliest pigment used by humans in artistic expression
- 2025 Ball had nearly 900 guests, 70% new to museum, raised over £2.5 million
- 2026 proceeds support British Museum Masterplan redevelopment
- Igor Tulchinsky (WorldQuant) is honorary chair for Bayeux Tapestry exhibition support
- Nicholas Cullinan is Museum Director
- Devlin born in London 1971
- Devlin designed for Royal Opera House, National Theatre, Metropolitan Opera, London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics, Super Bowl 2021 and 2022
- Public installations at Tate Modern, Trafalgar Square, Pinacoteca di Brera, Castle Howard, Miami Beach, Lincoln Centre
- First female architect of UK Pavilion at World Expo (2020)
- Retrospective at Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum; 2026 exhibitions at Design Museum London, Casa Bradesco São Paulo, Futura Seoul, Powerhouse Parramatta Sydney
- Awards: three Oliviers, Tony, Ivor Novello, London Design Medal, Eugene McDermott Award, honorary doctorates, CBE
- Fellowships at Royal Academy of Music, Royal Society of Arts, UAL, Bloomberg; visiting Professor at Oxford
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- British Museum
- WorldQuant
- Royal Opera House
- National Theatre
- Metropolitan Opera
- Tate Modern
- Pinacoteca di Brera
- Castle Howard
- Lincoln Centre
- Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum
- Design Museum London
- Casa Bradesco
- Futura
- Powerhouse Parramatta
- Royal Academy of Music
- Royal Society of Arts
- UAL
- Bloomberg
- University of Oxford
- University of Bristol
- University of Kent
- MIT
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- France
- Milan
- Italy
- Castle Howard
- Miami Beach
- United States
- Lincoln Centre
- New York
- São Paulo
- Brazil
- Seoul
- South Korea
- Sydney
- Australia
Sources
- Artlyst —