This event has finished
Fairy Tales
A family exhibition at the British Library on fairy tales from around the world, told through manuscripts, illustration and pop-up books.
- Dates
- 27 March – 23 August 2026
- Where
- British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB
- Type
- Exhibition
- Organiser
- British Library
Fairy Tales ran at the British Library from 27 March to 23 August 2026. Aimed at families, it traced classic stories such as Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella and Hansel and Gretel alongside versions from India, China, Africa and North America, with retellings by Hans Christian Andersen, the Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault.
The lead curator was Laura Walker. Items on display included Lewis Carroll's original manuscript of Alice's Adventures Under Ground, illustrations by Arthur Rackham, Quentin Blake and Ivan Bilibin, early printed editions of Perrault and the Grimms, Disney concept art for Cinderella, pop-up books and puppets from Little Angel Theatre's production of The Snow Queen.
For illustrators and children's writers, it was an unusually rich survey of how the same stories have been retold, redrawn and redesigned over several centuries.
Sources: British Library press release: Fairy Tales opens; British Library 2026 exhibitions announcement.
Organised by British Library. Tingle Press lists it as an event worth your time and is not the organiser. Check the organiser's website for final details.