Vincent van Gogh continues to captivate audiences like no other. With 334,589 visits, the recently concluded Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers exhibition at the National Gallery has officially become the most popular ticketed exhibition in the museum’s history.
Running from 14 September 2024 to 19 January 2025, the exhibition surpassed the attendance of previous record-holders, including Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan (323,827 visits) and Velázquez (302,520 visits).
The record-breaking numbers included an astonishing final weekend, during which the exhibition ran non-stop for 36 hours from Friday evening to Saturday night (17–18 January) to meet overwhelming demand. This marked only the second time in the museum’s history that such an around-the-clock event was held, the first being the Leonardo da Vinci exhibition in 2012. Over the closing weekend alone, more than 19,500 people, or one visitor every 10 seconds, walked through the gallery’s doors to see Van Gogh’s incredible works.
An Exhibition That Redefined Van Gogh
Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers provided visitors with a unique and moving exploration of the artist’s imaginative transformations. This was the National Gallery’s first exhibition entirely dedicated to Vincent van Gogh and included over 60 works from museums and private collections across the globe.
Sir Gabriele Finaldi, Director of the National Gallery, summed up the significance of the exhibition perfectly, saying, “Van Gogh has become a talisman for passion, authenticity and commitment to his art. The paintings in this exhibition are among his most striking works and have a freshness and immediacy about them. The show presents Van Gogh as a very serious painter, but his ‘lust for life,’ as Irving Stone put it, remains evident and infectious.”
The exhibition’s catalogue was so popular that it even made it onto the Sunday Times Bestseller list, further cementing the show’s immense cultural impact.
A Landmark in the National Gallery’s Anniversary Celebrations
The success of Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers comes as the National Gallery begins its celebrations of its 200th anniversary, offering an inspiring showcase of its ability to honour and reimagine the classics in exciting new ways. This blockbuster marked the first of two high-profile ticketed exhibitions honouring the milestone.
Next up in the anniversary lineup is Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300–1350 (8 March ? 22 June 2025), which will feature masterpieces by some of the most celebrated Italian artists of the 14th century, many of which have never been shown together. This critically acclaimed exhibition comes to London after its run at New York’s Metropolitan Museum.
Further celebrating this momentous year, the National Gallery will host two additional ticketed exhibitions in 2025.
- José María Velasco: A View of Mexico (29 March ? 17 August 2025), the UK’s first exhibition devoted to one of Mexico’s most revered 19th-century artists.
- Radical Harmony: Helene Kröller-Müller’s Neo-Impressionists (13 September 2025 ? 8 February 2026), an exhibition featuring works by Georges Seurat, Paul Signac, and Anna Boch among others, many of which come directly from the Kröller-Müller Museum in the Netherlands.
Complementing these exhibitions are several innovative projects, including the re-opening of the Sainsbury Wing on 10 May, a stunning new Learning Centre (opening on 3 March), and the Supporters House, a dedicated space for Members and donors launching later in the year. Additionally, May will see the unveiling of C C Land: The Wonder of Art, a major rehang of the National Gallery’s exceptional permanent collection.
For Those Who Missed It
Although Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers has ended, its legacy continues with the Exhibition on Screen film. This 90-minute documentary, directed by David Bickerstaff, offers audiences close-up views of the artworks and insider commentary from curators Cornelia Homburg and Christopher Riopelle, as well as critics like Rachel Campbell-Johnston. Now playing in cinemas across the UK and Europe, it offers a second chance for viewers to connect with one of the most beloved artists in history.
A Lasting Legacy
With an average of 2,676 visitors per day over its 125-day run, Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers has solidified its place among the most visited exhibitions in the National Gallery’s history. More than just numbers, the show will be remembered as a triumph of bringing timeless art and human emotion to life.
From Van Gogh’s striking works to the exciting exhibitions still to come, 2025 promises to be a transformative year for the National Gallery as it celebrates two centuries of artistic excellence and cultural enrichment. Whether through past glories or upcoming marvels, this is unquestionably an institution at the top of its game.