Tate St Ives – Opening Times, Exhibitions & Tickets

Tate St Ives sits on Porthmeor Beach in Cornwall, part of the Tate group and a gallery dedicated to modern British artists with deep ties to the region. Since opening in June 1993, it has drawn visitors with a combination of collection displays and temporary exhibitions that span modern and contemporary art from around the world. The gallery is often described as the seaside arm of the Tate network, reflecting St Ives’ legacy as a hub of British Modern Art.

Practical questions dominate user searches: when can you visit, where do you park, what is showing now, and how ticketing works with the nearby Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden. The answers are spread across official Tate pages, third-party tourism sites, and social media, making a consolidated guide useful for trip planning.

Details from Tate’s own visitor pages, its history page, Wikipedia, Art Fund, and other reliable sources provide a clear picture of the gallery. Some information, such as the specific current exhibition or the 2026 programme, has not yet been announced.

What Are Tate St Ives Opening Times?

• Tate St Ives opened in June 1993 and in its first six months welcomed over 120,000 visitors – 50,000 more than the original full-year target.
• The gallery is the seaside arm of the Tate group, reflecting St Ives’ legacy as a hub of British Modern Art.
• It presents both Tate collection displays and a dynamic exhibitions programme featuring modern and contemporary art from around the world.
• User search behaviour shows strong demand for practical visit logistics: opening times, parking, and joint Barbara Hepworth tickets.
• Rothko is a notable exhibition-related query, indicating interest in modern masters at the St Ives venue.
• The online shop is a separate but related user need, suggesting coverage of both on-site retail and remote purchasing options.

Tate St Ives is open daily in summer from 10:00 to 17:20. In winter the gallery is generally open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 16:20, with last admission 20 minutes before closing. These times come from the Tate St Ives official visit page and are echoed by third-party sources such as St Ives Cornwall and Art Fund.

The gallery has no general visitor car park. One accessible parking space for Blue Badge holders is available at the Barnoon area and must be booked in advance. The nearest public parking is at Porthmeor Short Stay and Barnoon Long Stay car parks. For full details, the Tate St Ives visual story (accessibility and visitor guide) provides comprehensive information.

The address is Porthmeor Beach, St Ives, Cornwall TR26 1TG. The phone number is +44 (0)1736 796226.

What Is the Current Exhibition at Tate St Ives?

The specific title of the current exhibition at Tate St Ives is not named in available sources. The official Tate visitor page indicates that opening times and ticketing can vary when galleries are closed, but no exhibition title appears in the available data. Users looking for the latest show should check the Tate St Ives official visit page for the most up-to-date programme information.

Is There a Rothko Exhibition at Tate St Ives?

Interest in a Rothko exhibition at Tate St Ives is evident from search queries, but no confirmation exists whether a Rothko show is currently on display, upcoming, or has been scheduled. The gallery’s exhibition programme has featured modern masters in the past, but no specific Rothko details are available from the official pages or third-party references used here.

Is There a Joint Ticket for Tate St Ives and Barbara Hepworth Museum?

A joint ticket arrangement between Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden is mentioned by outside sources and by Tate’s official Instagram account. The Barbara Hepworth Museum is located at Barnoon Hill, St Ives TR26 1AD, and its opening times are Sunday to Friday 10:00 to 17:20, Saturday 10:00 to 16:00.

However, no official price or current booking terms for a combined ticket are provided in available sources. The safest reading is that a combined visit is possible, but visitors should verify ticket structures directly through Tate’s current booking pages or ticket desk.

What Are the Tate St Ives Exhibitions Coming in 2026?

The full 2026 exhibition programme for Tate St Ives has not been published in available sources. The gallery’s official visitor page and visual-story page are included in this research, but they do not list specific 2026 exhibition titles. Users planning a visit in 2026 should monitor the Tate St Ives official visit page for future announcements.

Does Tate St Ives Have a Shop?

Yes, Tate St Ives has an on-site shop located on Level 4, opposite the café. The shop offers art-related merchandise and gifts. Whether the shop operates an online store for Tate St Ives-specific products is not confirmed by available sources. The broader Tate online shop may carry some items, but dedicated online retail for this branch remains unclear.

For visitors, the shop is part of the gallery experience. Those seeking to purchase remotely should check the main Tate website for e-commerce options.

When Did Tate St Ives Open? A Brief Timeline

1. 1993 (June) – Tate St Ives opens.
2. 1993 (six months after opening) – Over 120,000 visitors, 50,000 more than the original full-year target.
3. 2026 (future) – Future exhibition programme is a key user question; details should be updated from official Tate event listings.

The history of the gallery is documented on the History of Tate St Ives page, which notes that St Ives itself had already established a reputation as a hub of British Modern Art before the gallery opened.

What Is Confirmed and What Remains Uncertain?

Why Does Tate St Ives Matter? The Broader Context

St Ives has long been a centre for British Modern Art, and Tate St Ives serves as the physical embodiment of that legacy. The gallery’s position between local artistic heritage and international contemporary programming creates a unique visitor proposition. Its close relationship with the Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden – just a short walk away on Barnoon Hill – strengthens the case for a combined visit, which is reflected in strong user demand for joint tickets.

Search behaviour indicates that visitors need both practical trip-planning information and programme-specific updates. The 2026 exhibition query points to advanced planning behaviour, meaning the page should offer a clear path to official future listings. The gallery’s role as the seaside branch of the Tate network also ties it to the broader cultural landscape of London’s Tate Modern, Tate Britain, and other institutions, though those connections are outside the scope of this guide.

What Do Official Sources Say About Tate St Ives?

Alongside displays from the Tate collection, the gallery presents modern and contemporary art from around the world through a dynamic exhibitions programme.

Tate official visit page

Tate St Ives is an art gallery in St Ives, Cornwall, England, exhibiting work by modern British artists with links to the St Ives area.

Wikipedia

The Tate St Ives Cornwall is the seaside arm of the Tate group & depicts St Ives’ legacy as a hub of British Modern Art.

Art Fund

The Tate Gallery, St Ives opened in June 1993 and in just six months welcomed over 120,000 visitors – 50,000 more than the original target for the entire year.

History of Tate St Ives

What Should Visitors Know About Tate St Ives?

Tate St Ives offers a distinctive mix of modern British art and international contemporary exhibitions in a stunning coastal setting. Plan around seasonal opening hours, arrive without a car if possible (nearest public parking at Porthmeor or Barnoon), and check the official website for current exhibitions and joint ticket options with the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden. The 2026 programme has not yet been announced, so monitor Tate’s pages for updates. Accessibility needs are well catered for with one bookable Blue Badge space and a comprehensive visual story guide.

Frequently Asked Questions