Wells Cathedral is preparing to become a major contemporary art gallery this autumn as Wells Art Contemporary returns with work from artists around the world.

The annual exhibition will run from Saturday, 10 October to Saturday, 7 November, with 20 site-specific installations spread through the Cathedral and around 100 artworks displayed in the Cloisters.

This year's installation theme is "For what is time?", inspired by St Augustine, with artists invited to create work responding both to the idea of time and to the Cathedral itself.

The exhibition is the result of an international open competition, with thousands of works submitted each year before a selection is made for display in Wells.

Painting, sculpture, drawing, photography and film are among the media represented in the Cloisters, while the site-specific works are designed to interact directly with the Cathedral's architecture and historic spaces.

Wells Art Contemporary, often known simply as WAC, was established in 2012 and has grown into an annual fixture in the city's cultural calendar.

The contrast between contemporary work and the medieval setting is central to the exhibition, with installations appearing in spaces that were never designed as conventional galleries.

WAC director Paddy O'Hagan has previously described that combination as one of the exhibition's defining features, with new work shown against the backdrop of one of England's most significant Gothic buildings.

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The 2026 exhibition will also include collaborative works from local community groups alongside pieces selected through the main competition.

Artists taking part are eligible for a range of prizes, including cash awards, residencies and professional development opportunities, as well as the Chubb Bulleid Solicitors People's Prize, which is decided by public vote.

The exhibition will be open Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 4.30 pm and on Sundays from 11 am to 3 pm, although visitors are advised to check Cathedral opening times before travelling because it remains a working place of worship.

Admission is free for residents of the Diocese of Bath and Wells, while normal Cathedral admission arrangements apply to other visitors.

Further information is available through the Wells Art Contemporary website and Wells Cathedral.

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