Theatre Picasso at Tate Modern: Complete Guide & Tickets 2025

What is the Theatre Picasso exhibition?

Theatre Picasso at Tate Modern is a major exhibition celebrating the centenary of Picasso’s iconic painting The Three Dancers (1925). Featuring over 45 works, it explores how performance, theatre, and dance shaped the artist’s vision and identity throughout his career.

For a deeper understanding of Picasso’s creative evolution and his place within the Tate’s permanent collection, consider a Tate Modern Private Tour with our expert guides.

About the Exhibition: Theatre Picasso

Theatre Picasso invites visitors into a theatrical exploration of Pablo Picasso’s multifaceted genius. Curated by Wu Tsang and Enrique Fuenteblanca, the show transforms Tate Modern’s George Economou Gallery into a stage where painting, performance, and identity meet.

Coinciding with the 21st anniversary of Tate Modern’s opening, the exhibition shines a spotlight on Picasso’s fascination with performers — dancers, actors, circus acrobats, and bullfighters — who inspired many of his most expressive works. Through these figures, Picasso constructed his own persona: the artist as performer.

Over 45 works are on display, including paintings, sculptures, textiles, and works on paper, many shown in the UK for the first time. Highlights include The Three Dancers (1925), alongside rarely seen loans from major European collections.

Artists and Must-See Works

The exhibition presents a dialogue between Picasso’s masterpieces and contemporary reflections by Wu Tsang and Enrique Fuenteblanca. Together, they reinterpret Picasso’s theatrical universe through sound, video, and performative installations.

Visitors will encounter key pieces such as:

• The Three Dancers (1925) – the starting point of the exhibition.
• Arlequin (1917) – Picasso’s fascination with commedia dell’arte figures.
• Blue Circus Performer – a rare study revealing his empathy for the stage world.
• Costume Designs for Parade (1917) – collaborations with Jean Cocteau and Erik Satie.

Complementing these, new works by Wu Tsang and Fuenteblanca offer a contemporary counterpoint, merging dance, sound, and film to highlight Picasso’s performative imagination.

Planning Your Visit: Dates, Tickets & Tips

Theatre Picasso is now open at Tate Modern, Bankside. The exhibition runs until 12 April 2026.

• Dates: 17 September 2025 – 12 April 2026
• Opening Hours: Sunday–Thursday 10.00–18.00; Friday & Saturday 10.00–22.00
• Location: Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG
• Tickets: From £14. Advance booking recommended.
• How to Get There: Closest stations: Blackfriars, Southwark, or London Bridge.

Why Visit Theatre Picasso?

Few exhibitions capture Picasso’s theatrical spirit so vividly. Theatre Picasso reveals how performance influenced his creativity — from early designs for the Ballets Russes to his lifelong fascination with transformation, masks, and the stage. It’s an unmissable opportunity to see Picasso anew, through the lens of theatre and identity.

Practical Information

• Dates: 17 September 2025 – 12 April 2026
• Opening Hours: Sunday–Thursday 10.00–18.00; Friday & Saturday 10.00–22.00
• Location: Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG
• Tickets: From £14. Available via Tate Modern website.
• How to Get There: Nearest Underground: Blackfriars, Southwark, London Bridge

Conclusion

Theatre Picasso is more than an art exhibition — it’s a stage where painting, dance, and identity merge. Celebrating 100 years of The Three Dancers, it offers a fresh way to experience Picasso’s legacy within the vibrant setting of Tate Modern. Don’t miss this extraordinary journey through art and performance.

Enhance your visit with a Tate Modern Private Tour to dive deeper into the museum’s world-renowned collection.

This article was curated by the London Museum Tours team. With years of experience guiding visitors through London's permanent collections and temporary exhibitions, our goal is to help you plan the perfect visit.