Last updated: 22 August 2026. Exhibition dates, standard ticket prices and opening hours were checked against Tate’s current listings.
Tate Modern is free to enter for its collection displays, and you do not need to book general admission. Tickets are required for major temporary exhibitions and some events. As of 22 August 2026, current ticketed exhibitions include Tracey Emin, Frida Kahlo, Ana Mendieta and Julio Le Parc, with standard adult prices ranging from £15 to £25. Tate Modern is in the former Bankside Power Station beside the River Thames in London.
Key takeaways
- General entry is free: you can visit Tate Modern’s collection displays without booking a timed general-admission ticket.
- Temporary exhibitions cost extra: current standard prices include £22 for Tracey Emin: A Second Life, £25 for Frida: The Making of an Icon, £18 for Ana Mendieta and £15 for Julio Le Parc: Light. Colour. Action.
- Regular opening hours: 10.00–18.00 Sunday to Thursday and 10.00–21.00 Friday and Saturday.
- Summer 2026 extension: current Tate exhibition listings show opening until 20.00 on Sundays through 30 August and until 20.00 on Monday 31 August. Check Tate before travelling because temporary hours can change.
- Tate Collective: people aged 16–25 can join free and book £5 tickets for Tate exhibitions.
- Tate Members: Members receive free exhibition entry and normally do not need to book in advance.
Tate Modern ticket prices at a glance
The main collection remains free. The prices below are the standard exhibition prices listed by Tate on 22 August 2026; concessions and other offers may also be available.
| Ticket or exhibition | Standard price | Booking | Current dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main collection displays | Free | No general-admission booking needed | Ongoing |
| Tracey Emin: A Second Life | £22 | Book ahead for your preferred time | Until 31 August 2026 |
| Frida: The Making of an Icon | £25 | Advance booking recommended | Until 3 January 2027 |
| Ana Mendieta | £18 | Book ahead for your preferred time | Until 17 January 2027 |
| Julio Le Parc: Light. Colour. Action | £15 | Book ahead for your preferred time | Until 3 May 2027 |
| Tate Collective, ages 16–25 | £5 per exhibition | Join free, sign in and book | Eligible Tate exhibitions |
| Tate Members | Included with membership | Normally no advance booking required | Eligible Tate exhibitions |
Always confirm the final price and available time slots on Tate’s official booking page before purchasing.
Is Tate Modern free to enter?
Yes. Tate Modern’s main collection displays are free for everyone. You can arrive during opening hours and enter without booking a general-admission ticket. You only need a ticket if you want to visit a paid temporary exhibition, booked tour or ticketed event.
Products Worth Considering
What exhibitions are currently at Tate Modern?
The exhibition programme changes throughout the year. These are the main ticketed exhibitions listed by Tate on 22 August 2026:
- Tracey Emin: A Second Life — until 31 August 2026; standard ticket £22.
- Frida: The Making of an Icon — until 3 January 2027; standard ticket £25.
- Ana Mendieta — until 17 January 2027; standard ticket £18.
- Julio Le Parc: Light. Colour. Action — until 3 May 2027; standard ticket £15.
Products Worth Considering
What can you see for free right now?
Alongside the permanent collection displays, Tate Modern also has changing free commissions, installations and family programmes. In late August 2026, free highlights include Infinities Commission: nora chipaumire: gadzi through 26 August and UNIQLO Tate Play: Lina Lapelytė: Line After Line After Line After Turn through 31 August.
Because free displays and temporary programmes change regularly, check Tate’s live What’s On listings shortly before your visit.
Check current Tate exhibitions and events
How to book Tate Modern tickets
You do not need to book for the free collection. For temporary exhibitions, paid events and tours, booking online is the safest way to secure your preferred entry time, particularly for popular exhibitions and weekends.
Tate Members receive unlimited free exhibition entry and normally do not need to reserve a time slot; they can arrive with their membership card. Tate Collective is free for people aged 16–25 and offers £5 tickets to Tate exhibitions.
If you visit with a carer or helper, Tate offers a complimentary companion ticket. Select the relevant companion option when booking an exhibition ticket.
Tate Modern visitor information
Book Tate exhibitions and events
What are Tate Modern’s opening hours?
Tate Modern’s regular opening hours are 10.00–18.00 Sunday to Thursday and 10.00–21.00 Friday and Saturday.
There are occasional temporary extensions. For summer 2026, Tate’s current exhibition listings show opening until 20.00 on Sundays through 30 August and until 20.00 on Monday 31 August. Check the official visitor or exhibition page before travelling if you plan to arrive late in the day.
Special events and programmes
Tate Modern runs talks, tours, workshops, performances and evening programmes throughout the year. Some are free and others require a separate ticket.
Tate Modern Lates are special evening programmes that can include music, talks, workshops, films and performances. These should not be confused with the gallery’s regular Friday and Saturday opening until 21.00, so check the event listing to see whether a Tate Modern Late is scheduled for your date.
Collection highlights
Tate Modern displays changing selections of international modern and contemporary art rather than putting Tate’s entire collection on view at once. Expect painting, sculpture, photography, film, installation and performance-based work, with displays changing over time.
The Turbine Hall is one of the museum’s best-known spaces for large-scale installations, while the Tanks are used for performance, installation and time-based art. If you only have a short visit, combining the Turbine Hall with one or two collection areas gives you a useful introduction without trying to cover every floor.
Accessibility and facilities
All Tate Modern entrances are step-free. Tate states that lifts serve every floor of both the Natalie Bell Building and the Blavatnik Building, and fully accessible toilets are available on the concourses on every floor.
A quiet room is available on Level 4 of the Natalie Bell Building, and ear defenders can be borrowed from the ticket desks. Tate also provides accessibility information, a visual story and visitor resources that can help you plan before arrival.
Check Tate accessibility information
Architecture and design
Tate Modern occupies the former Bankside Power Station. Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron led its conversion into an art museum, which opened in 2000. The same architects designed the major extension now known as the Blavatnik Building, which opened in 2016.
The industrial scale of the original power station remains particularly visible in the Turbine Hall, one of the museum’s defining architectural spaces.
Dining and shopping
Tate Modern has cafés and other places to eat or drink, as well as gallery shops selling art books, prints, gifts and items connected with current exhibitions. Opening arrangements for individual restaurants, cafés and shops can differ from gallery hours, so check Tate if a particular venue is important to your visit.
How long should you spend at Tate Modern?
There is no fixed visit length. For a quick visit, focus on the Turbine Hall and one or two collection areas. Allow more time if you are adding a major ticketed exhibition, several collection floors, a meal or a special event. Trying to see the entire building in one short visit can make the experience feel rushed.
Tips for visiting Tate Modern
- If you only want the permanent collection and free displays, you can arrive without booking general admission.
- Book major temporary exhibitions in advance if you need a particular entry time.
- Check the exhibition end date carefully; Tate Modern’s programme changes frequently.
- Friday and Saturday opening until 21.00 can be useful if you prefer an evening visit.
- Check temporary opening-hour extensions before travelling, especially during holidays and special programmes.
- Wear comfortable shoes and choose a few priority galleries instead of trying to cover every floor.
- If accessibility matters to your visit, review Tate’s visual story, access information and available facilities before arrival.
FAQs
Is Tate Modern free?
Yes. Tate Modern’s main collection displays are free to enter. Temporary exhibitions, tours and some events require separate tickets.
Do I need to book a ticket to enter Tate Modern?
No. You do not need to book general admission for the free collection. You should book if you want to visit a paid temporary exhibition, tour or ticketed event.
How much are Tate Modern exhibition tickets?
Prices depend on the exhibition. As of 22 August 2026, standard tickets are £22 for Tracey Emin: A Second Life, £25 for Frida: The Making of an Icon, £18 for Ana Mendieta and £15 for Julio Le Parc: Light. Colour. Action. Check Tate before booking because prices can change.
Are there discounts on Tate Modern tickets?
Yes. Tate Collective is free to join for ages 16–25 and provides £5 exhibition tickets. Tate Members receive free exhibition entry. Concessions may also be available for individual exhibitions.
Do Tate Members need to book exhibitions?
Tate Members normally do not need to book. Members receive unlimited free exhibition entry and can arrive with their membership card, subject to Tate’s current membership conditions.
What are Tate Modern’s opening hours?
Regular hours are 10.00–18.00 Sunday to Thursday and 10.00–21.00 Friday and Saturday. Temporary extended hours may apply on selected dates, so check Tate before a late visit.
Is Tate Modern wheelchair and step-free accessible?
Yes. Tate says all Tate Modern entrances are step-free. Lifts serve every floor of the Natalie Bell and Blavatnik buildings, and accessible toilets are available on the concourses on every floor.
Conclusion
For most visitors, Tate Modern does not require an admission ticket: the main collection and many displays are free. The main cost comes from optional temporary exhibitions. If one of the current headline exhibitions is a priority, check its price and book a suitable time before travelling. Otherwise, you can simply arrive during opening hours and explore the free collection.
