Ralph Rugoff will step down from his role as director of the Hayward Gallery in Spring 2026, the Southbank Centre has announced.
Formerly director of the CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts in San Francisco, Rugoff joined the Hayward Gallery in London as director in 2006. Over two decades, he personally curated 23 shows at the Hayward, developed the international touring of exhibitions, created an ongoing programme of public artworks across the Southbank Centre and, in 2008, initiated new free programming in what is now the HENI Project Space. Alongside his work at the Hayward Gallery, Rugoff participated in several international exhibitions, including as guest curator of the 2015 Biennale de Lyon and artistic director of the 2019 Venice Biennale.
Elaine Bedell, CEO of the Southbank Centre said that ‘Ralph’s extraordinary passion and visionary leadership has seen the Hayward Gallery carve out an important space in the global contemporary art scene – showcasing diverse voices, platforming the greatest living international and British artists and making the space a welcoming and entertaining place for audiences across London and beyond.’
The Southbank Centre will begin an international search for Ralph Rugoff’s successor in Autumn 2025.
