You’re standing on the South Bank. The breeze off the Thames is doing that weird thing where it’s somehow both humid and chilly. August in London is a mood, and usually, that mood involves trying to escape the crowds by ducking into the nearest massive brick building. If you’re heading toward the chimney, you’re looking for Tate Modern exhibitions August 2025.
Most people think summer at the Tate is just about the big "blockbuster" names you see on the side of a bus. Honestly? They’re kinda right, but also totally missing the point. This August is actually one of the weirdest—in a good way—programming blocks I've seen in years. We aren't just looking at oil paintings. We're looking at fabric houses, drag legends, and Aboriginal masterpieces that have never touched European soil before.
The Big Ones: Tate Modern Exhibitions August 2025
If you only have two hours, you’re going to be torn.
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First up is Leigh Bowery. This show is basically the definition of "too much is never enough." Bowery was the king of the 80s underground club scene, a guy who turned his own body into a literal sculpture using spandex, sequins, and sometimes just duct tape. The exhibition runs until August 31, 2025, so you’re catching it right at the finish line. It’s loud. It’s explicit. It’s definitely not your grandma’s art show. You’ve got his wild "looks" on display, alongside Lucian Freud paintings where Bowery was the model. The contrast is jarring.
Then there’s Do Ho Suh. Walk the House.
It’s in the Genesis Gallery and it’s basically the opposite of Bowery’s chaos. Suh makes these incredible, life-sized replicas of his past homes out of translucent fabric. You can literally walk through his old apartment in New York or his childhood home in Seoul, but everything is made of ethereal, ghost-like polyester. It’s haunting. It’s about memory and feeling like you don’t quite belong anywhere.
Why Emily Kam Kngwarray Is the One to Beat
If you want to talk about what’s actually important this summer, it’s the Emily Kam Kngwarray retrospective.
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This is huge. It’s the first time a major European museum has given her a solo show of this scale. She was a senior Anmatyerr woman from the Utopia region of Australia. She didn’t even start painting on canvas until she was in her 80s, and then she just... exploded.
- The scale: Some of these canvases are massive.
- The technique: She used dots and lines to map out "Dreamings"—essentially the spiritual and ecological blueprints of her land.
- The vibe: Standing in front of these feels like looking at a living map of the earth’s energy.
The show opened in July 2025 and it’s staying through the winter, but seeing it in the bright August light coming through the Tate’s windows is something else.
What Most People Miss
The Turbine Hall is usually where the "big" stuff happens, but in August, the real action is often tucked away.
Check out the UNIQLO Tate Play summer commission. It’s technically for families, but honestly, adults use it as a giant interactive playground just as much. It runs until August 25. Every year they bring in an artist to create something you can draw on, build with, or walk over. It’s one of the few places in the gallery where the "Please Do Not Touch" rule is thrown out the window.
And if you’re a night owl, keep an eye on Tate Modern Lates. On August 28, 2025, they’re doing a massive late-night event. We’re talking DJ sets, workshops, and bars staying open until 10:00 PM. It’s usually themed around the current commissions—expect a lot of experimental vibes inspired by the new Infinities Commission in the Tanks.
Logistics (The Boring But Necessary Bit)
London in August is a gauntlet.
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- Book ahead. I cannot stress this enough. Even if you're a Tate Member and get in for "free," you still need to snag a timed slot for the big shows like Do Ho Suh or Leigh Bowery.
- The Friday/Saturday Perk. From late summer 2025, the gallery started staying open until 9:00 PM every Friday and Saturday. If you want to avoid the school trip crowds, go at 7:00 PM. The lighting in the Blavatnik Building is way better at dusk anyway.
- The "Corner" Bar. It’s on Level 1 of the Natalie Bell Building. They’ve been doing this "Flesh Fabric" beer specifically for the Leigh Bowery show. It’s weird, it’s pink, and it’s surprisingly good.
Is It Worth the Hype?
Look, art is subjective. Some people will walk into the Leigh Bowery show and think it’s just a bunch of old club clothes. Others will walk through Do Ho Suh’s fabric houses and think it’s just "expensive curtains."
But what the Tate Modern exhibitions August 2025 line-up does really well is force you to look at "modern" art through a global lens. It’s not just a bunch of dead European guys anymore. You’re seeing Aboriginal sovereignty, South Korean displacement, and London queer history all in one afternoon. That’s a lot to process between bites of a £12 sourdough sandwich, but it’s worth the headache.
Your Next Steps
- Check the dates: Leigh Bowery ends August 31, so if you're visiting in late August, make that your priority.
- Download the app: Tate has a decent digital guide that saves you from paying £5 for a paper booklet.
- Start at the top: Take the lift to the Level 10 viewing terrace in the Blavatnik Building first. Get your bearings, see the London skyline, and then work your way down through the exhibitions. It's much easier on the legs.
- Dress for the AC: The galleries are kept at a very specific temperature to protect the art. It’s usually freezing compared to the humid August air outside. Bring a light layer unless you want to spend the whole time shivering in front of a Picasso.
Go for the art, stay for the air conditioning, and don't forget to look up in the Turbine Hall. Sometimes the smallest details are the ones that actually stick with you.
Actionable Insights for Visitors:
If you are planning to hit multiple shows, grab a Tate Membership on the spot. It's around £70-90 depending on the tier, but it pays for itself if you're seeing three major exhibitions and bringing a guest. Plus, you get into the Members' Room on Level 5, which has some of the best (and quietest) views of St. Paul's Cathedral in the entire city. Stick to the late-night sessions on Fridays and Saturdays to avoid the peak tourist rush between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM.