Edinburgh College of Art Graduate Show 2026: dates, venue, and what to expect
Edinburgh College of Art is the University of Edinburgh's art school, and one of the largest in the UK by combined cohort. The 2026 Graduate Show runs from Friday 29 May to Friday 5 June 2026 at the Lauriston Place campus, with a late opening on Thursday 4 June until 8pm. Around 500 graduating art students show work across the building, with separate Costume and Fashion shows running earlier in May. Free entry, but booking is essential to manage capacity.
At a glance
- Show: ECA Graduate Show 2026
- Dates: Friday 29 May to Friday 5 June 2026
- Opening times: 10am to 5pm daily; late opening Thursday 4 June until 8pm
- Costume Show: Friday 15 May 2026
- Fashion Show: Friday 22 May 2026
- Additional events: screenings, concerts and performances 27 May to 4 June 2026
- Venue: Edinburgh College of Art, 74 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9DF
- Admission: Free, advance booking essential
- Closest stations: Edinburgh Waverley, Edinburgh Haymarket
Confirmation status: 2026 dates and structure confirmed by ECA on the Edinburgh College of Art events page with bookings open via Eventbrite.
When is the ECA Graduate Show 2026?
The main show runs Friday 29 May to Friday 5 June 2026. Daily hours are 10am to 5pm, with a late opening on Thursday 4 June until 8pm. The late opening is the busiest single window during the run.
Around the headline graduate show, ECA stages a few additional events:
- Costume Show: Friday 15 May 2026
- Fashion Show: Friday 22 May 2026
- Screenings, concerts, performances: 27 May to 4 June 2026
If you want to see one of these specifically, check the ECA events page for venue and ticketing.
Where to find it
ECA is at 74 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9DF. The main building is the historic 1907 Edwardian baroque art school, sitting just south of the Castle and Grassmarket area in central Edinburgh. The campus is large and the show spreads across the main building, the Hunter Building, the Evolution House, and several other studios.
Getting there:
- Rail: Edinburgh Waverley is around 15 minutes walk. Edinburgh Haymarket is around 20 minutes walk.
- Bus: Multiple Lothian Buses routes serve Lauriston Place.
- Tram: The closest tram stop is Princes Street, about 12 minutes walk.
- Walk: From the Royal Mile, head south down Victoria Street, through the Grassmarket, up Candlemaker Row to Lauriston Place. About 15 minutes.
Booking and private view
Booking is essential, but free, via the ECA Graduate Show 2026 Eventbrite page. The University manages capacity through timed entries.
A specific public-facing private view date for 2026 is not separately published as of late April 2026. The Thursday 4 June late opening (until 8pm) acts as the main evening visit window for the public.
Who is showing
The 2026 Graduate Show covers all five ECA discipline areas:
- Art: Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Intermedia, Performance Costume.
- Design: Graphic Design, Illustration, Product Design, Jewellery and Silversmithing, Textiles.
- Music: Composition and performance graduates exhibit and perform.
- Architecture.
- Landscape Architecture.
Around 500 graduating art and design students show across the wider event, per ECA's own coverage in recent years.
What makes ECA distinctive
ECA is the largest art school in Scotland by combined cohort and is part of the University of Edinburgh, one of the world's top-ranked universities. That gives it a different profile from GSA. Edinburgh has more cross-disciplinary students (more architecture, more music, more landscape architecture in the same building), which makes the show wider and more varied than a pure art school.
ECA also runs alongside the Edinburgh Art Festival in August and August Graduate Show, so visitors planning a longer trip can pair June and August events.
Tips for visiting
- Book early. Capacity is managed; tickets fill close to the late opening.
- Late Thursday is the buzziest evening. Most alumni and Edinburgh art crowd visit then.
- Pair with the Royal Scottish Academy. Walking distance, on Princes Street.
- National Galleries of Scotland are 15 minutes walk from ECA.
- Grassmarket has plenty of food if you want a longer Edinburgh day.
- August Edinburgh Art Festival is the second window for ECA-adjacent visits later in summer.
Are you a graduating ECA artist?
If you are graduating from ECA in 2026 and want every visitor to be able to see prices, reserve, or buy without an awkward exchange, build your Etch page in 15 minutes. Free during the show and for thirty days after, with QR labels for the studio walls and a clean mobile experience for visitors.
For pricing first works for sale, see how to price your degree-show artwork. For the full UK calendar, see the UK Art Degree Shows 2026 calendar.
Frequently asked questions
When is the ECA Graduate Show 2026? Friday 29 May to Friday 5 June 2026.
Is the show free? Yes. Free admission, but advance booking is essential via Eventbrite to manage capacity.
Where is Edinburgh College of Art? At 74 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9DF, in central Edinburgh, south of the Castle.
What time does the show open? 10am to 5pm daily, with a late opening Thursday 4 June until 8pm.
Can I buy work at the ECA Graduate Show? Yes. Most graduating artists list work for sale. Prices and contact details are with each artist.
Are there other ECA events in 2026? Yes. Costume Show 15 May, Fashion Show 22 May, plus screenings, concerts and performances 27 May to 4 June.
How do I book? Through the ECA Graduate Show 2026 Eventbrite listing.
Sources
Last updated 8 May 2026. Compiled by Etch from official Edinburgh College of Art listings. If you spot something out of date, email hello@etchapp.art and we will correct it within 24 hours.