Castle Howard celebrates its creator and architect Sir John Vanbrugh (1664-1726) throughout 2026, the 300th anniversary of his death.
Hailed as ‘The Rockstar of the English Baroque’ and ‘The original starchitect’, Vanbrugh had concurrent careers as an architect, playwright, adventurer, soldier, spy, diplomat and garden designer. Castle Howard is celebrating his legacy through exhibitions, installations, workshops, talks and performances across the year.
Celebrated architect Roz Barr presents Staging the Baroque which opens on 26 March 2026, the 300th anniversary of Vanbrugh’s death. The exhibition explores the moment when an ambitious Vanbrugh encountered the equally ambitious Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Carlisle, in the confines of the Kit-Cat Club in London. The Earl wanted to build a grand country house and Vanbrugh’s bold, theatrical vision inspired him to take a chance on this would-be architect who had never built anything before. Vanbrugh enlisted the help of Nicholas Hawksmoor and the collaboration gave rise to the masterpiece which is Castle Howard. Staging the Baroque chronicles the story of this exciting creation, combining photography and a large-scale model of the Castle Howard landscape.
In June, internationally-renowned artist and designer Es Devlin will unveil a new installation in Vanbrugh’s Temple of the Four Winds, presenting an innovative response to Vanbrugh’s vision and continuing Castle Howard’s work with contemporary artists. Made famous through the film adaptation of Brideshead Revisited, the Temple of the Four Winds was originally used as a place for refreshment and reading. The installation will honour the National Year of Reading and the space will host a series of events throughout the summer.
From 23 May, young visitors can take part in Playshapes: Castle Constructors, a new interactive play experience for children and families inspired by Vanbrugh’s architectural vision. Play blocks representing architectural elements of Castle Howard have been designed by Yorkshire-based artist Pippa Hale and supplied by Timberplay, giving young visitors the unique chance to make their own creations inspired by Vanbrugh. The experience takes place in the Colonnade, an area of the house that was destroyed by fire in 1940 and is now being opened up to visitors. There will also be a Vanbrugh story-telling day, family workshops and school visits throughout the year.
Nicholas and Victoria Howard said:
“It was Vanbrugh’s vision that brought Castle Howard to life, and now the House has the honour of celebrating its creator. There are many ways that audiences can engage with and learn about this larger-than-life character, and we are delighted to present responses by Roz Barr and Es Devlin which allow them to explore their own affinity to Vanbrugh.”
Castle Howard is Britain’s most famous country house, recognised by millions across the world as the location for Brideshead Revisited and Bridgerton. It is set in a thousand acres of sweeping parkland filled with statues, temples, lakes and fountains, and is one of the most historically significant houses in Europe. Castle Howard has been home to nine generations of the Howard family across three hundred years, with each contributing to its creation, evolution, and preservation.
Celebrated in the 1690s for his successful comedies, Vanbrugh's fame extended far beyond London's theatre world as he turned his hand to architecture, building some of England finest Baroque houses. He knew instinctively how to create buildings that were original and full of character, taking advantage of how the play of light and shadow could enhance their exteriors as well as their indoor spaces.
Roz Barr has co-curated with Sir Charles Saumarez Smith the exhibition Vanbrugh: The Drama of Architecture at the Sir John Soane’s Museum, London, from 4 March to 28 June 2026, a complimentary exhibition to Staging the Baroque.