London’s cultural season begins with a sharper focus this September. Major shows include Stan Douglas at Victoria Miro, Dirty Looks at the Barbican, Kerry James Marshall’s landmark survey at the Royal Academy, and Lee Miller’s retrospective at Tate Britain. Alongside these, Cai Guo-Qiang at White Cube and Hugh Hayden at Lisson Gallery expand the city’s international reach, while Queeriosities and new student platforms highlight grassroots energy. Together, they signal a city balancing material honesty, archives, and community-driven curation.