The President, Officers and Council are delighted to announce that the 2026 Annual Exhibition will be held from Saturday 24 October to Monday 2 November 2026 at the Alliston Centre, Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester, as part of Cirencester History Festival.
This exciting partnership places our exhibition alongside one of the country’s most engaging celebrations of history, culture and heritage.
How We Got Here
Earlier this year, the Council entered into discussions with the Mall Galleries, London, with the intention of holding our 2026 exhibition there in September. Unfortunately, the society with whom we were due to share the gallery withdrew unexpectedly three months later, leaving us without a venue. At the same time, the offices we had traditionally used for hand-in and selection closed in January 2026, making it impossible to proceed with our usual arrangements.
Faced with these unforeseen circumstances, we began searching for an alternative venue beyond London.
Plan B… Cirencester
Fortunately, Executive Secretary Claire Hucker approached friends Professor Mark Horton and his wife, Helen, who generously offered to welcome the Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers as part of Cirencester History Festival.
Professor Horton, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the Royal Agricultural University, is an internationally renowned archaeologist, author and television presenter. We are immensely grateful to Mark and Helen for embracing the Society and helping create this exciting new opportunity.
The Venue
The exhibition will be held in the impressive first-floor gallery space of the Alliston Centre. The venue is bright, spacious and modern, with excellent accessibility via both stairs and lift.
Visitors can also enjoy:
- Ample on-site parking, with additional parking available across the Royal Agricultural University campus.
- Accessible toilet facilities on both ground and first floors.
- Refreshments, including tea and coffee, available to purchase throughout the exhibition.
Getting to Cirencester
Travelling from London is straightforward, with frequent direct services from London Paddington to Kemble, taking approximately 1 hour 10 minutes. Kemble Station is only four miles from Cirencester town centre, with excellent taxi services available.
Cirencester also offers a wide range of hotels, guest houses and restaurants, making it an ideal destination for a cultural weekend away.
Artwork on a Theme Award 2026
To celebrate our association with the History Festival, the 2026 Artwork on a Theme Award will be:
The Legend of King Arthur
Professor Mark Horton will officially open the exhibition and present the Society’s awards. As part of the History Festival, Mark will also deliver his fascinating lecture:
Cirencester and the Arthurian Myth: A Quest for Camelot
In this revelatory talk, archaeologist and BBC Coast regular Professor Mark Horton explores whether Camelot—and even the Round Table—could have been located in Cirencester. Drawing upon the latest archaeological discoveries, he re-examines the evidence behind one of Britain’s greatest legends and asks why the story of King Arthur continues to captivate us today.
Following the lecture, festival guests are invited to raise a glass as the festival concludes. The bar will be open, folk quartet Feast of Fools will perform an Arthurian-inspired set, and a specially selected display of miniature works inspired by the Arthurian theme will be exhibited.
Tickets for Professor Horton’s lecture will be available through the Cirencester History Festival website from 4th September.
Looking Forward
Although we are naturally disappointed that our 2026 exhibition will not take place in London, we are genuinely excited by this wonderful opportunity to exhibit in Cirencester—a town celebrated for its rich history, craftsmanship and creative heritage.
We very much hope you will support this new venture and help make the 2026 Exhibition a memorable success for both the Society and our visitors.
We look forward to welcoming you to Cirencester this October.
With our sincere thanks,
Tom Mulliner
President
Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers
