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Glasgow School of Art Degree Show 2026: dates, venue, and what to expect

Glasgow School of Art is Scotland's leading art and design institution and one of the most-watched degree shows in the UK. The 2026 main show runs 29 May to 7 June 2026 at the Garnethill Campus, with the Master of Fine Art show following from 13 to 21 June 2026. An online showcase launches at gsashowcase.net on Thursday 28 May 2026 at 5pm, before the physical show opens. All free, all open to the public.

At a glance

  • Main Degree Show: Friday 29 May to Sunday 7 June 2026
  • Master of Fine Art (MFA) Show: Saturday 13 June to Sunday 21 June 2026
  • Online showcase launch: Thursday 28 May 2026, 5pm at gsashowcase.net
  • Schools showing in the main run: Mackintosh School of Architecture, School of Fine Art, School of Design, School of Innovation and Technology
  • Venue: Garnethill Campus, GSA reception at 164 Renfrew Street, Glasgow G3 6RQ
  • Admission: Free
  • Closest stations: Glasgow Queen Street, Charing Cross, Cowcaddens (subway)

Confirmation status: 2026 dates confirmed by GSA on the official Showcase and Exhibitions pages.

When is the GSA Degree Show 2026?

GSA splits its degree shows into two distinct runs.

  • Main Degree Show: 29 May to 7 June 2026, covering the BA / BDes / BArch programmes from the Mackintosh School of Architecture, School of Fine Art, School of Design, and School of Innovation and Technology.
  • Master of Fine Art Show: 13 to 21 June 2026, the postgraduate fine art cohort.

The online companion at gsashowcase.net opens at 5pm on Thursday 28 May, the day before the physical show.

Daily opening hours for 2026 are not yet confirmed on the GSA site. Historical pattern is daily 10am to 5pm during the public run.

Where to find it

GSA's main campus is on Garnethill, in central Glasgow. The reception for visitors during the show is at 164 Renfrew Street, Glasgow G3 6RQ. The show itself is spread across multiple buildings on campus including the Reid Building, the Stow Building, and the Bourdon Building. Pick up a campus map at reception.

A note on the Mackintosh Building. The famous Charles Rennie Mackintosh-designed building, adjacent to the campus, is currently undergoing restoration following the 2014 and 2018 fires. It is not the venue for the show. Plan to be in the Reid and Stow buildings.

Getting there:

  • Rail: Glasgow Queen Street is around 12 minutes walk via Sauchiehall Street.
  • Subway: Cowcaddens (Glasgow Subway) is 5 to 7 minutes away.
  • Bus: Multiple routes serve Sauchiehall Street.
  • Walk: From central Glasgow, walk up Hope Street and turn west onto Renfrew Street.

Private view and opening night

GSA's 2026 private view date and time have not yet been listed on the official Showcase page as of late April 2026. In prior years there has been an opening event the evening before public hours start. Watch the GSA Showcase site and @glasgowschoolofart for confirmation.

For the MFA strand, expect a separate opening on or around Friday 12 June 2026.

Who is showing

The main run covers four schools:

  • School of Fine Art: Painting and Printmaking, Sculpture and Environmental Art, Photography, Communication Design.
  • Mackintosh School of Architecture.
  • School of Design: Communication Design, Interaction Design, Interior Design, Product Design Engineering, Silversmithing and Jewellery, Textiles.
  • School of Innovation and Technology.

The MFA strand runs the postgraduate fine art programme as a separate later show.

Cohort sizes are not numerically published for 2026.

What makes GSA distinctive

Two things stand out.

First, Glasgow itself. Glasgow has been one of the most consistent emerging-art ecosystems in Europe for over thirty years. Glasgow Boys (the late 19th-century artist group), Glasgow Miracle (the 1990s-2000s), and the city's Turner Prize-winning alumni list (Simon Starling, Richard Wright, Susan Philipsz, Martin Boyce, Duncan Campbell, Charlotte Prodger) have made Glasgow a school that punches well above its size. The annual Degree Show is a key entry point to that scene.

Second, the rebuild context. GSA has rebuilt its operations around the Reid and Stow buildings since the fires that damaged the Mackintosh Building. The institution's resilience through that rebuild is part of its current identity. Visitors should know not to expect the Mackintosh frontage; the show happens in newer, equally serious studio buildings.

Tips for visiting

  • Plan a Glasgow weekend. Pair the show with the Glasgow Print Studio, the Hunterian Art Gallery (University of Glasgow), CCA Glasgow, and Tramway.
  • Glasgow Subway is fast. The Cowcaddens stop drops you minutes from campus.
  • Try the GSA Vic Bar. Student-run, on campus, useful for a mid-show pint.
  • Sauchiehall Street is the food street. Plenty of options within five minutes.
  • The MFA Show runs two weeks after the main show ends. Worth a separate trip.
  • Check the online showcase at gsashowcase.net before you visit, to plan which work to see.

Are you a graduating GSA artist?

If you are graduating from GSA in 2026 and want a clean mobile-first portfolio site for the visitors who walk past your work in Reid or Stow, build your Etch page in 15 minutes. QR labels for the studio wall, reserve flow for visitors who fall for a piece, free during the show and for thirty days after.

For pricing first works, 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 GSA Degree Show 2026? The main BA show runs 29 May to 7 June 2026. The MFA show runs 13 to 21 June 2026. The online showcase launches 28 May.

Is the GSA Degree Show free? Yes. Free public admission.

Where is the GSA Degree Show held? At the Garnethill Campus in central Glasgow. Reception at 164 Renfrew Street, Glasgow G3 6RQ. The show runs across the Reid Building, Stow Building, and other campus buildings.

Is the show in the Mackintosh Building? No. The Mackintosh Building is currently being restored after the 2014 and 2018 fires. The 2026 show is in the Reid and Stow buildings on campus.

Can I buy work at the GSA Degree Show? Yes. Most graduating artists list work for sale. Prices and contact arrangements are with each artist.

Is there an online version? Yes. The online showcase at gsashowcase.net launches on Thursday 28 May 2026 at 5pm and stays live alongside the physical show.

When is the MFA Show? 13 to 21 June 2026, separate from the main BA show.

Sources

Last updated 27 April 2026. Compiled by Etch from official Glasgow School of Art listings. If you spot something out of date, email hello@etchapp.art and we will correct it within 24 hours.