Maria Balshaw, director of London’s Tate, has announced she will step down in spring 2026 after nearly a decade leading the museum network. She joined in 2017, succeeding Nicholas Serota, and previously directed the Manchester Art Gallery and the Whitworth Art Gallery. During her tenure, she oversaw major exhibitions including “The EY Exhibition: Van Gogh and Britain” (2019), a Yoko Ono retrospective, and “Sargent and Fashion.” Her final project will be co-curating the largest-ever survey of Tracey Emin at Tate Modern, running from February 27 to August 31, 2026.
Balshaw’s departure matters because it comes at a challenging time for Tate, which recently cut about 40 roles due to a deficit budget and faced staff walkouts over pay. Visitor numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels—down 25% at Tate Modern, 32% at Tate Britain, and 37% at Tate St Ives. Her successor will need to boost attendance and secure funding, though the newly launched Tate Future Fund, which has raised at least £50 million, provides some financial relief. Balshaw is credited with diversifying the collection, improving gender balance, and expanding the museum’s geographic scope, with membership reaching 150,000.