London College of Communication Shows 2026: dates, venues, and what to expect
London College of Communication, the UAL college at Elephant and Castle, runs three separate shows in 2026 rather than a single degree show. Photography opens the season in mid May. Design follows in early June. Screen wraps the run in late June. Each is free, each opens with a public Eventbrite RSVP launch evening, and all three happen in the same Elephant and Castle building.
At a glance
- Photography Show: 12 to 16 May 2026
- Design Show: 3 to 6 June 2026
- Screen Show: 17 to 20 June 2026
- Venue: London College of Communication, Elephant and Castle, London SE1 6SB
- Admission: Free, Eventbrite RSVP for each launch evening
- Closest stations: Elephant and Castle (Bakerloo, Northern, mainline rail)
Confirmation status: Dates and opening times for all three shows confirmed by UAL on the LCC Shows page.
When are the LCC Shows 2026?
LCC's 2026 schedule:
- Photography Show: 12 to 16 May 2026.
- Launch: Tuesday 12 May, 6pm to 9pm
- Wednesday to Friday: 2pm to 8pm
- Saturday 16 May: 10am to 5pm
- Courses: BA Commercial Photography, BA Photography, BA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography
- Design Show: 3 to 6 June 2026.
- Launch: Wednesday 3 June, 6pm to 9pm
- Thursday to Friday: 2pm to 8pm
- Saturday 6 June: 10am to 5pm
- Courses include BA Illustration and Visual Media, BA Graphic and Media Design, BA Design for Art Direction, plus other design programmes.
- Screen Show: 17 to 20 June 2026.
- Launch: Wednesday 17 June, 6pm to 9pm
- Thursday to Friday: 2pm to 8pm
- Saturday 20 June: 10am to 5pm
LCC is the earliest of the major UAL shows on the calendar (Photography mid May), so it kicks off the London grad-show season.
Where to find it
LCC is at Elephant and Castle, London SE1 6SB. The college sits opposite the Elephant and Castle station and tube interchange. The building is the long, low UAL block that has been there since the 1960s. Redevelopment of the area is ongoing but the college has stayed in place.
Getting there:
- Tube: Elephant and Castle (Bakerloo, Northern lines) is right outside.
- Rail: Elephant and Castle mainline is part of the same interchange.
- Bus: Multiple routes including 1, 12, 35, 40, 45, 53, 63, 68, 100, 133, 155, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 196, 343, 344, 360, 363, 415, 453, 468.
The building has a clear public entrance off Elephant and Castle's south side. Reception will direct you to whichever show is on.
Launch evenings
Each of the three shows opens with a free public launch evening that doubles as a private view.
- Photography launch: Tuesday 12 May 2026, 6pm to 9pm.
- Design launch: Wednesday 3 June 2026, 6pm to 9pm.
- Screen launch: Wednesday 17 June 2026, 6pm to 9pm.
Eventbrite RSVP required, but free. Launch links go live a couple of weeks before each show.
Who is showing
LCC's curriculum is structured around communication, so most of the work is media-led rather than fine-art-led.
- Photography Show courses: BA Commercial Photography, BA Photography, BA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography. Each programme has a strong industry pipeline.
- Design Show courses: BA Illustration and Visual Media, BA Graphic and Media Design, BA Design for Art Direction, plus several others. Most relevant for visitors interested in editorial illustration and emerging graphic design.
- Screen Show courses: Animation, film, sound, post-production, and screen-based design programmes.
Cohort sizes are not numerically published for 2026.
What makes LCC distinctive
LCC is one of the most industry-connected UAL colleges. Photography graduates often move directly into editorial commissions for The Guardian, the BBC, the FT, and the broadsheet weekly magazines. Illustration graduates tend to land book covers, editorial commissions, and brand work within months of graduating.
For visitors, the practical effect is that the work tends to be polished, presentation-ready, and priced more like a working portfolio than a student show. Buyers and commissioning editors take LCC seriously.
Tips for visiting
- Pace yourself across the three shows. Each is short (4 to 5 days). Photography in May, Design in early June, Screen in mid June. You can hit all three across one month.
- Photography launch is the busiest single evening. It is the start of the London grad-show season and the photo industry shows up.
- Bring a portfolio if you commission. LCC graduates often hand out cards on the night.
- Mercato Metropolitano is a 10 minute walk for food after a visit.
- Bus to Tate Modern is short. Easy half-day pairing.
Are you a graduating LCC artist?
If you are graduating from LCC and want a clean, mobile-first portfolio site that visitors can reach by scanning a QR on the wall, build it on Etch. Free during the show and for thirty days after, with QR labels and a reserve flow for buyers and commissioners. Etch handles the checkout and payouts; you arrange collection or delivery with the buyer.
For pricing photography or illustration editions, see how to price your degree-show artwork. For private view night logistics, see how to run a private view: the checklist.
Frequently asked questions
When is the LCC Degree Show 2026? LCC runs three separate shows. Photography 12 to 16 May. Design 3 to 6 June. Screen 17 to 20 June.
Is the LCC Show free? Yes. All three shows are free with a free Eventbrite RSVP for the launch evenings.
Where is LCC? Elephant and Castle, London SE1 6SB. Right outside the Elephant and Castle station.
Which courses show at LCC? Photography (Commercial, Photography, Photojournalism), Design (Illustration, Graphic and Media Design, Design for Art Direction, plus others), Screen (animation, film, sound, post-production).
Can I buy work at the LCC Shows? Photography editions and illustration prints are typically for sale. Most graduates list works directly with prices. Screen-based work is usually not for sale but the artists are commissionable.
When is the LCC Photography Show launch? Tuesday 12 May 2026, 6pm to 9pm. Free Eventbrite RSVP.
Sources
Last updated 5 May 2026. Compiled by Etch from official UAL LCC listings. If you spot something out of date, email hello@etchapp.art and we will correct it within 24 hours.