Ipswich to host landmark ‘Constable 250’ exhibitions and events in 2026

In 2026, Ipswich will take centre stage in a national celebration marking the 250th anniversary of the birth of iconic Suffolk-born artist John Constable (1776–1837). Recognised as one of Britain’s most influential painters, Constable’s legacy will be honoured through a year-long programme of exhibitions at Ipswich Borough Council’s Christchurch Mansion. 

Constable 250 will feature three major exhibitions, led by Colchester and Ipswich Museums supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund, Arts Council England, and other key partners. These will showcase rare and internationally significant artworks on loan from the Tate, Victoria & Albert Museum, Royal Academy, National Galleries of Scotland, and the Government Art Collection.

Across the anniversary year, Constable’s art and legacy will be explored through:

Constable: A Cast of Characters - 28 March to 14 June 2026. Introducing those who inspired and supported the artist, featuring personal letters, period costume, and historical artefacts. Together with loans from private collections will be works from the Colchester and Ipswich collections by a wide range of artists with links to Constable, and new sculpture by artist and descendant, Sasha Constable.

Constable: Walking the Landscape - 11 July to 4 October 2026. A celebration of Constable’s deep connection to the Suffolk countryside he loved and was passionately inspired by, including rarely seen works on loan and in Suffolk for the first time, and his most personal paintings from his childhood home.

Constable to Contemporary - 24 October 2026 to 28 February 2027. A dynamic exhibition exploring modern responses to Constable’s legacy, with new works by local artists and community groups.

Integral to Constable 250 and building on themes from the exhibitions will be a programme of community events and learning programmes sparking a connection between art and the natural world for audiences across the county. Running from January 2026 to March 2027, this programme will include:

• Creative workshops and artist-led sessions for families and schools across six school holidays.

• Talks and tours of local areas linked with the artworks on show.

• Collaborations with:

·       Aspire Black Suffolk – inclusive storytelling and youth engagement.

·       Suffolk Community Libraries – immersive play experiences for under-fives.

·       Suffolk Archives – Constable on Tour mobile exhibitions across the county.

·       CHIp – for young artists in Suffolk to explore the relevancy of Constable today and create new work.

·       Suffolk Artlink/Brave Art – Suffolk wide programme for learning disabled and neurodivergent artists will create new work themed around the exhibitions.

·       Unconventional Constable – a mixed reality pop-up exhibition.

·       A sound artwork created by the artist Stuart Bowditch, of field recordings from the locations of Constable’s artworks today.

Councillor Carole Jones, Ipswich Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning and Museums, says: “Today, 11 June, is the 249^th anniversary of John Constable’s birth in 1776 and a perfect time to unveil these ambitious plans for these Constable 250 celebrations.

“Through three stunning exhibitions, our Museums team are bringing world-famous artworks to Ipswich. Seen alongside many pieces from the Ipswich Museums’ Constable collection, these once-in-a-lifetime loans will tell the story of our own Suffolk-born artist whose radical approach revolutionised landscape painting.

“We are very grateful to all the organisations supporting Constable 250 and partnering with us to make it possible. Together with the Museums’ team, I’m looking forward to welcoming many visitors to Christchurch Mansion and all the Constable 250 events throughout next year.”

Eleanor Root, Cultural Partnerships Lead, Suffolk Community Libraries, says: “We hope this project will ignite a love for Constable’s landscapes in our youngest library users. Inspired by Constable’s iconic ‘Golding Constable’s Kitchen Garden’ painting, we will be collaborating with Make Play, an Ipswich-based children’s art organisation, to tour a playscape for under-fives around libraries and other local venues.”

Derek Davis, Cabinet Lead, Babergh District Council, says: “Being home to the birthplace of John Constable, we welcome these landmark celebrations in 2026. We are pleased and proud to be supporting the project via ‘Unconventional Constable’, a mixed reality viewing of Constable’s artworks and school children’s response in the form of a pop-up exhibition.”

Tonia, Director of Learning and Development, Aspire Black Suffolk, says: “We’re proud to be partnering once again with Colchester and Ipswich Museums on the Constable 250 programme. This partnership reflects our continued commitment to reframing historical narratives and increasing access for our global majority communities. It will be exciting to see new generations engage with heritage through collaborative and inclusive storytelling.”

A spokesperson for Suffolk Archives says: “We’re looking forward to taking the project out and about across the county in 2026 with our Archives on Tour trailer, to place Constable’s life and art within the context of the unique natural landscape of Suffolk which we enjoy today.”

Information about all the collections, exhibitions, and events at Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich, including the current Colour Shape Pattern exhibition on display at the Wolsey Art Gallery until 22 February 2026, is available at: Visit Us at Ipswich Museums | Ipswich Museums