Graduate Shows 2026 at Arts University Plymouth

<p>Taking place during the university’s 170th anniversary year, the Graduate Shows run from <strong>Thursday 18 to Thursday 25 June</strong> across Tavistock Place and Studio 11, with free public exhibitions, an <strong>Open Day</strong> for prospective students and <strong>NXT.GEN</strong>, an event connecting South West businesses with emerging creative talent.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Taking place during the university’s 170th anniversary year, the Graduate Shows run from <strong>Thursday 18 to Thursday 25 June</strong> across Tavistock Place and Studio 11, with free public exhibitions, an <strong>Open Day</strong> for prospective students and <strong>NXT.GEN</strong>, an event connecting South West businesses with emerging creative talent.</p> <p>Opening with a <strong>Private View</strong> on <strong>Thursday 18 June, 5pm to 8pm</strong>, the shows give visitors the chance to see final-year undergraduate work across a wide range of creative disciplines, from image-making, moving image and digital practice to fashion, craft, design and fine art.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The shows are free to attend and open to families, schools, prospective students, local communities, employers, cultural organisations and anyone interested in creative talent in Plymouth and the South West. </p> <p dir="ltr">On <strong>Saturday 20 June</strong>, Arts University Plymouth will host an <strong>Open Day</strong> from <strong>10am to 3pm</strong>, giving prospective students and their supporters the opportunity to explore the campus, meet staff and students, and see graduate work across the university. <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/events/open-day-ug-june26">Click here to book your place</a>. As part of the Open Day, the university’s Crafts team will be holding drop in workshops in the ceramics workshops. <a href="https://forms.student-crm.com/Forms/view/d8af90cb-9cde-4210-85cb-b5d957cf7fba">Complete this form to register your interest.</a></p> <p>Applications for Autumn 2026 study are still open. <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/apply">Click here for more information</a> <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/apply">on how to apply</a> to one of Arts University Plymouth’s Pre-Degree, Undergraduate or Postgraduate courses, from fashion, film and fine art to graphic design, illustration, and animation.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Alongside the Graduate Shows, graduating students from Arts University Plymouth’s BA (Hons) Fashion Design course will present their final collections at <strong>The Final Cut</strong>, a catwalk show at The Box on <strong>Monday 22 June</strong>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Inspired by a range of cultural, political and personal narratives, the collections reveal each designer’s individual perspective on fashion for a changing world. Doors open at 6:30pm and the show starts at 7pm.</p> <p>Tickets for <strong>The Final Cut | Graduate Shows 2026</strong> are <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/events/the-final-cut-graduate-shows-2026">available to book online</a> from £9.38 per person.</p>

<p dir="ltr">On <strong>Wednesday 24 June</strong>, Arts University Plymouth will host <strong>NXT.GEN</strong>, a <strong>business and industry event</strong> created to connect employers with graduating creative talent.</p> <p dir="ltr">The event is designed for businesses, agencies, studios, cultural organisations and regional partners interested in working with students and graduates through placements, live briefs, one-to-one mentoring, paid commissions, graduate roles or longer-term collaboration.</p> <p dir="ltr">Guests will be invited to meet graduating students, visit course areas, see presentations and pitches, and hear how Arts University Plymouth supports students to develop the creative, technical and professional skills needed for work.</p> <p>Businesses and industry professionals interested in attending NXT.GEN can find out more and <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/events/nxt.gen-industry-event-graduate-shows-2026">register online to attend online.</a></p>

<p dir="ltr">The Graduate Shows 2026 season begins with the <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/events/foundation-diploma-graduate-shows-2026"><strong>Foundation Diploma Graduate Show</strong></a>, taking place from Thursday 21 to Friday 22 May, 10am to 2pm, at Palace Studios, Buckwell Street, Plymouth PL1 2DA. The exhibition presents work by Foundation Diploma in Art &amp; Design students who have spent the year developing their creative practice and preparing for degree-level study or other creative routes.</p> <p dir="ltr">The <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/events/extended-diploma-graduate-show-2026"><strong>Extended Diploma Graduate Show</strong></a> follows from Tuesday 2 to Wednesday 3 June, 11am to 3pm, at Palace Court, Buckwell Street, Plymouth PL1 2DA. The show features work by students on specialist post-16 creative study programmes.</p> <p dir="ltr">The <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/events/undergraduate-graduate-shows-2026"><strong>Undergraduate Graduate Shows</strong></a> run from Thursday 18 to Thursday 25 June across Tavistock Place and Studio 11. Public opening times include Friday 19 June, Saturday 20 June, and Monday 22 to Thursday 25 June, with an Open Day on Saturday 20 June, <strong>The Final Cut fashion show at The Box</strong> on Monday 22 June and <strong>NXT.GEN</strong> on Wednesday 24 June.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/events/ma-graduate-show-2026"><strong>Postgraduate Graduate Shows</strong></a> run from Monday 20 to Thursday 30 July at MIRROR and Studio 11, with a Private View on Thursday 23 July, 6pm to 8pm, and an <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/open-days"><strong>Open Day</strong></a> on Saturday 25 July, 10am to 1pm. The exhibition includes work by postgraduate students across disciplines including painting, drawing, sculptural installation, moving image, design and ceramics.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The MA Graduate Show Private View also coincides with <strong>Celebrating 170 Years: Arts University Plymouth Alumni Reunion</strong>, a special event welcoming alumni back to Tavistock Place on Thursday 23 July as part of the university’s celebration of its 170th anniversary year.</p> <p dir="ltr">Founded in 1856 as Plymouth Drawing School, Arts University Plymouth is celebrating its 170th anniversary in 2026. The university enters its anniversary year after being named University of the Year for South West England at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards for two consecutive years, in 2024 and 2025. It is also the top-scoring specialist arts university in the UK in the National Student Survey 2022 to 2025.<br /></p>