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Royal Drawing School End of Year Exhibition 2026: dates, venue, and what to expect

The Royal Drawing School in Shoreditch is the only postgraduate-level institution in the UK dedicated entirely to drawing. Each December, its Drawing Year cohort mounts an end of year exhibition of over 500 drawings, prints, and works on paper, with prices starting at £100 and most works available to buy on the night. 2026 dates have not yet been published as of April 2026, but the show traditionally runs in early to mid December. This page will be updated as soon as the school confirms its 2026 schedule.

At a glance

  • Show: The Drawing Year 2026 End of Year Exhibition
  • Confirmed window: Early to mid December 2026
  • 2025 dates as a planning proxy: opened 3 December 2025, ran for around three weeks
  • Venue: Maria Manetti Shrem Gallery Studios, Royal Drawing School, 19 to 22 Charlotte Road, London EC2A 3SG
  • Admission: Free
  • Cohort: approximately 30 graduating Drawing Year students
  • Works: over 500 drawings, prints, and works on paper, "prices starting at £100"
  • Closest stations: Old Street, Shoreditch High Street, Liverpool Street

Confirmation status: 2026 dates have not been published. Use the 2025 December opening as a planning proxy. We will update this page within 24 hours of any official announcement on the Royal Drawing School events page.

When is the exhibition?

The Drawing Year End of Year Exhibition runs in December, not in the May to July window most other UK degree shows follow. That timing reflects the calendar of the Drawing Year programme itself, which begins in October each year and runs through to the following autumn. The end of year exhibition is the show where the just-graduating cohort presents finished work.

Based on the 2025 schedule, the show opened on 3 December and ran for around three weeks. If the school keeps the same cadence, plan for an opening between 1 and 5 December 2026.

Where to find it

The exhibition takes place at the school's home in Shoreditch, at 19 to 22 Charlotte Road, London EC2A 3SG. The building backs onto Rivington Street and is part of the working artist community in this corner of east London.

Getting there:

  • Tube: Old Street (Northern line) is around five minutes walk.
  • Overground: Shoreditch High Street is around five minutes walk.
  • National Rail: Liverpool Street is a 10 to 12 minute walk.
  • Bus: 26, 35, 47, 48, 78, 149, 242, 388 all serve Shoreditch.

The Maria Manetti Shrem Gallery Studios are inside the main building. Reception will direct you on arrival.

Private view and opening night

The Royal Drawing School does not list a public-facing private view for the end of year exhibition itself. There is, however, a separate annual selection event called Best of The Drawing Year that happens in November at Christie's, Mayfair. That preview is invite-led and a separate event from the school exhibition.

If you want to be in the building on opening night for the December show, the first evening of the run is usually the busiest and most social, with current students, alumni, and tutors all present.

What is on show

The exhibition features over 500 drawings, prints, and works on paper made during the Drawing Year. Media commonly include graphite, charcoal, ink, gouache, watercolour, etching, monotype, and lithography. The Drawing Year cohort is small, around 30 students, and each artist contributes multiple pieces, hung salon-style across the gallery and studios.

Most works are for sale on the night, with prices starting at £100. The school's own framing: "an opportunity to see and buy work at an early stage in the careers of these artists."

What makes the Royal Drawing School distinctive

The Royal Drawing School is the only school in this guide that focuses solely on drawing as a primary practice. It was founded in 2000 by HRH The Prince of Wales (now His Majesty the King) and Catherine Goodman to address a gap in higher art education around observational drawing and life drawing as serious disciplines.

Two practical implications for visitors:

  • Buying entry point is unusually low. £100 buys a real work on paper from a graduate of one of the most rigorous drawing programmes in the world. That makes the December show a genuinely accessible entry point into collecting.
  • Timing is your friend. The December slot means you can give a small original drawing as a Christmas or end-of-year gift. The school is well aware of this and the show is set up for it.

Tips for visiting

  • Arrive on the first weekend if you want to buy. The strongest works tend to be reserved or sold quickly.
  • Wear soft soles. The studios have varied flooring and you will be on your feet for an hour at least.
  • Bring a list of who you collect or want to support. With 500 works on the walls, decision fatigue is real.
  • Use the catalogue. A printed catalogue (or online version) helps you keep track of which artist made which piece.
  • Take a friend who draws. Drawing exhibitions are richer when looked at with someone who can talk about mark-making.

Are you a graduating Drawing Year artist?

If you are graduating from The Drawing Year and want a clean digital home for your portfolio, build your Etch page in under 15 minutes. Mobile-first, with QR labels for the studio walls and reserve buttons for visitors who want to buy on the spot. Free during the show and for thirty days after.

For pricing works on paper for your first sale, see the Etch Exhibition Playbook on how to price your degree-show artwork.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Royal Drawing School End of Year Exhibition 2026? 2026 dates have not been published as of April 2026. The show typically opens in early December. We will update this page when official dates are confirmed.

Is the exhibition free? Yes. Admission is free.

Where is the Royal Drawing School? At 19 to 22 Charlotte Road, London EC2A 3SG, in Shoreditch. The closest tube is Old Street (Northern line).

Can I buy work at the exhibition? Yes. Most of the 500+ works on show are for sale, with prices starting at £100.

How many artists are in the Drawing Year? Around 30 students per cohort. The end of year exhibition shows work from the entire graduating year.

What does the show include? Drawings, prints, and works on paper across charcoal, graphite, ink, watercolour, gouache, etching, lithography, and other works on paper.

Who founded the Royal Drawing School? The school was founded in 2000 by HRH The Prince of Wales (now His Majesty the King) and Catherine Goodman.

Sources

Last updated 12 May 2026. Compiled by Etch from official Royal Drawing School listings. If 2026 dates have published since, email hello@etchapp.art and we will refresh within 24 hours.