Celebrating 100 Years of the Powell-Cotton Trust

There’s never been a better time to visit Quex House and Gardens, the home of the Powell-Cotton Museum. In 2026, the Powell-Cotton Trust marks 100 years since the establishment of the charity which governs the museum, house and gardens.

This centenary year offers visitors a wonderful opportunity to explore the historic house, heritage gardens and internationally significant collections that make this place so unique.

Throughout 2026, visitors can enjoy a rich programme of collection talks, garden activities, art and music events, as well as a year-long community engagement programme aimed at capturing 100 creative responses to the collection to mark the 100th anniversary.

The centenary is an opportunity to look back at the past 100 years, at the development of the museum, the fascinating collections it holds, the story of Percy Powell-Cotton and his family, Quex House and its relationship to the local area.

www.powell-cottonmuseum.org

Chapel House Estate: The Courtyard Kitchen

Launching in February 2026, Chapel House Estate introduces The Courtyard Kitchen, a brand-new open-fire dining space set within the Glass Courtyard, designed for weddings, events and guests dining at number nine restaurant.

Guests will be able to watch chefs cook over open flames using a bespoke barbecue grill, traditional spit roast, Big Green Egg and wood-fired pizza oven - all within a relaxed, garden-inspired courtyard setting

www.chapelhouseestate.co.uk

Turner Contemporary Exhibitions

Built on the site of the guest house that JMW Turner stayed at during his time in Margate, see contemporary and historical art.

• 8th April 2025 to 2027 - Turner’s Waves Breaking on A Lee Shore at Margate - 2025 marked 250 years since the birth of artist JMW Turner. The gallery presents JMW Turner’s masterwork ‘Waves Breaking on a Lee Shore at Margate (Study for 'Rockets and Blue Lights')’, on loan from Tate. This atmospheric painting, created during one of Turner’s regular visits to Margate in the 1830s and 40s, captures the elemental force of a storm as seen from the safety of the shore.
• 22 November 2025 - 4 May 2026: Bridget Riley - landmark exhibition showcasing Riley’s seven-decade exploration into the dynamism of visual perception
• 1 April - 1 November 2026: David Hockney Sunley Window display 
• 23 May - 13 September 2026: Hulda Guzmán 'Please awake – asked Nature kindly'
• Until November 2030: Antony Gormley- 'Another Time' (Behind gallery in sea) - See one of a series of one hundred, solid cast-iron figures by Antony Gormley that explore the experience of being human.

15th Anniversary of Turner Contemporary - April 2026 marks 15 years since Margate’s Turner Contemporary, the internationally-renowned gallery named after JMW Turner opened. Showing contemporary and historic art alongside workshops, seasonal events, markets and live music.

https://turnercontemporary.org/

Operation Dynamo; The Little Ships come home to Ramsgate in 2026

Following the Commemoration of the 85th Anniversary of Operation Dynamo in 2025, The Little Ships return to Ramsgate for a 4 day extravaganza including military vehicle displays, parades, workshops and more.

www.visitramsgate.co.uk

Padel Club at Westwood Cross

Thanet’s first dedicated Padel club, is planned to open at Westwood Cross in Spring 2026. The site will offer state-of-the-art padel courts, a coastal-inspired café bar, and curated wellness facilities, all designed to bring world-class sport, community connection, and lifestyle experiences to the area. Padel is a fusion of tennis and squash, known for being social and easy to learn, and suitable for players of all ages and abilities.

www.rewdpadel.co.uk