PAINTED TOMB-CHAPEL OF NEBAMUN

The year kicks off in grand style with the opening of a new permanent gallery at the British Museum. The painted tomb-chapel of Nebamun is dedicated to 11 surviving fragments of the stunning wall paintings from an Egyptian tomb, dating back to about 1350. British Museum (www. britishmuseum.org 020-7323 8000), opens Jan 21

A CONTINUOUS LINE: BEN NICHOLSON IN ENGLAND

Tate St Ives looks close to home with an exhibition of work by local boy Ben Nicholson, an excellent show that appeared first at the Abbott Hall Gallery, Kendal. Tate St Ives (www.tate.org.uk 01736 796226), Jan 24-May 4

ANDREA PALLADIO: HIS LIFE AND LEGACY

In late January the season begins to gather pace with something unusual - an architecture show at the Royal Academy of Arts. Focusing on the great Italian architect, it is the first exhibition devoted to Palladio to be staged in London in 30 years and celebrates the quincentenary of his birth. Royal Academy (www.royal academy.org.uk 020-7300 8000), Jan 31-Apr 13

ALTERMODERN

February explodes with blockbuster shows at the Tates and elsewhere. The Tate Triennial swings round

to Tate Britain again.

Tate Britain (www.tate.org.uk 020-7887 8888), Feb 3-Apr 26

VAN DYCK & BRITAIN

A look at the great 17th- century painter's time in King Charles's court and his legacy in Britain. Tate Britain (www. tate.org.uk 020-7887 8888), Feb 8-May 17

RODCHENKO & POPOVA: DEFINING CONSTRUCTIVISM

Tate Modern looks at the Russian avant-garde's two most influential artists. Spanning 1917-29, 350 objects are featured. Tate Modern (www.tate.org.uk 020- 7887 8000), Feb 12-May 17

LEONARDO DA VINCI

An exciting show of ten drawings by the Renaissance polymath from the Royal Collection at Manchester Art Gallery. Many of these have never been on permanent display because of their fragility, so this is a real treat. Manchester Art Gallery (www.manchestergalleries.org 0161-235 8888), Feb 14-May 4

THE RUSSIAN LINESMAN

The Hayward is being handed over to the 2007 Turner prize- winner Mark Wallinger, who is curating a show on the subject of the “liminal”, which the Shorter Oxford Dictionary describes as: “Of, pertaining to, or constituting a transitional or initial stage of a process. Also, marginal, incidental, insignificant,” which is completely different to the other dictionary definition that we found, which in turn goes some way to indicating why it's a starting point for an art exhibition. Wallinger's consistent wit and clear thinking should make this an engaging show. It will later tour to Leeds and Swansea. Hayward Gallery (www.hayward. org.uk 020-7494 1434),

Feb 18-May 3

SHAH ABBAS: THE REMAKING OF IRAN

In February the British Museum reopens its Reading Room for the third in a

series of four exhibitions on great rulers. In the autumn it is the turn of the Aztec ruler Moctezuma.

British Museum (www.british museum.org 020-7323 8000), Feb 19-Jun 14

GLENN BROWN

Tate Liverpool showcases the contemporary artist with a large-scale retrospective. Tate Liverpool (0151-702 7400 www. tate.org.uk), Feb 20-May 10

RONI HORN

Major overview of work by the contemporary sculptor and installation artist. Tate Modern (020-7887 8000 www.tate. org.uk), Feb 25-May 25

GERHARD RICHTER

Taking over from the Gerhard Richter retrospective at the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art, which ends tomorrow, the National Portrait Gallery in London offers a show of portraits, including Lesende (above), by arguably the world's greatest living painter.

National Portrait Gallery (www.npg.org.uk), Feb 26-May 31 020-7321 6612

PICASSO: CHALLENGING THE PAST

When Dr Nicholas Penny took over as director at the National Gallery in February last year, he was quoted as saying that “the responsibility of a major gallery is to show people something they haven't seen before”. However, the National's spring exhibition is showing more than 60 works by the best- known artist of the 20th century. Tickets are already on sale. National Gallery (www.nationalgallery.org.uk 020-7747 2885), Feb 25-Jun 7

THE END OF THE LINE: ATTITUDES IN DRAWING

Drawing is the subject of a touring show from the Hayward, which arrives at the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art before moving on to Liverpool and Edinburgh. Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (www.visit mima.com 01642 726720), Feb 27-May 10

CONSTABLE PORTRAITS: THE PAINTER AND HIS CIRCLE

A somewhat genteel show opens at the National Portrait Gallery in March, providing a “window into Regency society as it thrived outside the metropolis”. National Portrait Gallery (www.npg.org.uk 020- 7321 6612), Mar 5-Jun 14

THEATRE AND PERFORMANCE GALLERY COLLECTION

It's a good year for new galleries, with the first of several at the V&A opening in March. The Theatre and Performance galleries will cover all aspects of the subject, from costumes to posters (left). Magnificent Medieval and Renaissance Galleries open in November. Victoria and Albert Museum (www.vam. ac.uk 020-7942 2000), opens Mar 18

TURNER AND ITALY

One of the great British painters is on show at the Scottish National Gallery - but he'll be conducting a love affair with another country.

Scottish National Gallery (www.nationalgalleries.org 0131-624 6200), Mar 27-Jun 7

BAROQUE 1620-1800: STYLE IN THE AGE OF MAGNIFICENCE

The V&A opens its first major exhibition of the year at the height of spring, reflecting the abundance of the season. Expect lavishness and opulence in everything from painting to theatre and performance. V&A Museum (www.vam.ac.uk 020-7942 2000), Apr 4-Jul 19

ISA GENZKEN/GOSHKA MACUGA

The Whitechapel Gallery in East London reopens in April after a massive renovation that has vastly expanded the gallery space. The opening programme includes the first major UK retrospective by the German artist Genzken. On display are works from the British Council collection in the new Collections Gallery, which provides a showcase for little-known public collections, and a site-specific work by one of last year's Turner Prize nominees, Goshka Macuga. Whitechapel Gallery (www.whitechapel.org 020-7522 7888), opens Apr

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