Tate Modern weekend opening hours to be extended

The Tate Modern has announced it will extend its weekend opening hours in the autumn.

From 26 September, the London art gallery will open until 21:00 BST on Friday and Saturday evenings.

The move is intended to give more visitors the chance to visit the gallery after work, particularly young people.

The move follows the success of the Tate Modern Lates, a series of curated evening events which have welcomed over 750,000 people since 2016.

The Tate Modern normally opens at 10:00 and closes at 18:00 every day, and is free to enter.

Karin Hindsbo, director of the Tate Modern, said: “Over the last decade, Tate Modern Lates have become a cornerstone of London’s nightlife, especially among young Londoners who want to make the most of their city’s dynamic cultural scene.”

She said opening until late would make the gallery “even more accessible”.

The mayor of London said the move would help to cement London as the “cultural capital of the world, with the best nightlife anywhere”.

The Tate Modern Lates will continue even once the extended weekend hours take effect.

The events are held at the end of each month, with artist talks, workshops, film screenings and live music.

This included a takeover by British rapper Little Simz last August, with 18,500 visitors attending her curated exhibition and talk.

The next events in the Lates series are scheduled for 28 August and 26 September.