Fairy Tales Exhibition Leads British Library's 2026-27 Events

In 2026 the British Library’s major exhibitions will explore the enchanting world of fairy tales and the legacy of the crime writer Agatha Christie.

Fairy Tales (March 27, 2026 – August 23, 2026) will focus on the history of treasured stories from childhood and the heroes, villains and fantastical creatures that inhabit them, from Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella and Hansel and Gretel to Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast. Featuring interactive activities, Fairy Tales will highlight how tales from Europe and beyond continue to be revisited and reinvented.

Presented items will range from original manuscripts to colourful illustrations, graphics and theatre costumes, showcasing retellings of classic fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen, the Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault as well as stories from India, China, Africa and North America.

The life and works of the bestselling novelist Agatha Christie will be covered in an exhibition running October 30 2026 – June 20, 2027. Next year marks 100 years since the publication of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, part of the Hercule Poirot series. The exhibition will explore not only the origins of her fictional sleuths like Poirot and Miss Marple, but will also explore Christie's life, travels, and wide-ranging interests including archaeology and pharmacology.

Visitors will be able to gain an unprecedented insight into her writing process, through notebooks, personal letters, early manuscript drafts, and listen to her own dictaphone recordings. The exhibition will also include personal objects belonging to Christie, many of which provided direct inspiration for her stories.
The exhibition will also explore how Christie influenced crime writing, her experiences adapting her work for the stage, and the impact her books continue to have as they are revisited and reworked for a global audience.

Outside London, Story Explorers at 
Leeds Central Library (February 19, 2026 – May 30, 2026) will be a free, family-friendly interactive show for children aged 2–9 and their families, taking them on a trip to the far reaches of outer space, the depths of the jungle and the bottom of the ocean floor.