Don’t Miss: David Hockney’s window at The Turner
David Hockney Comes to Margate: Major Turner Contemporary Installation Opening 1 April.
Photo credit: Jean-Pierre Gonçalves de Lima
One of the world’s most celebrated artists is coming to Margate.
From 1 April 2026, David Hockney will transform the vast Sunley Window at Turner Contemporary with a monumental new artwork overlooking Margate beach.
The installation marks the gallery’s 15th anniversary and will be one of the most anticipated things to do in Margate in spring 2026, joining a growing programme of major Turner exhibitions and events happening this year.
David Hockney Margate: A Sunrise Over the Sea
The work, measuring an impressive seven by ten metres, will depict a glowing sunrise in Normandy, based on a painting Hockney created during 2020 while living in northern France.
During that year, the artist produced a remarkable series of works capturing the changing seasons, weather and light, often using digital tools like his iPad.
For Margate, the image will stretch across the gallery’s floor-to-ceiling window, framing the North Sea beyond. By day it will interact with the shifting light outside; by night it will glow across the seafront.
The result will be a powerful meeting of landscape, colour and coastal atmosphere themes that have long fascinated Hockney.
A Conversation Between Hockney and Turner
The Turner was built on the site where JMW Turner once stayed during visits to Margate, painting the skies and light that inspired some of his most famous works.
Hockney has often cited Turner as a major influence, particularly for his approach to landscape and colour.
Installed in the Sunley Window, this new work creates a striking dialogue between the two artists who have both been captivated by the changing qualities of light and the emotional power of nature.
A Highlight of Margate’s Art in 2026
The installation will run from 1 April to 1 November 2026, making it one of the standout Margate art exhibitions of 2026.
Visitors will be able to see the work both inside the gallery and from the seafront outside, where it will become a glowing landmark visible across Margate’s shoreline.
The installation also coincides with a major exhibition of Hockney’s Normandy works at the Serpentine Galleries in London, giving Margate’s audiences a rare chance to encounter the artist’s work outside the capital.
Don’t miss it…
David Hockney: Sunley Window Installation
1 Apr – 1 Nov 2026 / Turner
Open Tuesday – Sunday and Bank Holidays, 11am – 5pm.
Free
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