The British Art Show (BAS) is a major survey exhibition organised every five years to showcase contemporary British Art. The next exhibition in the series, which will be number 7, is to be held in 2005. Each time it is organised, the show tours to three UK cities. It has become so large that it requires a number of venues to accomodate it.

The exhibition is selected by three people who are appointed for their knowledge of contemporary art, Previously these had been artists and critics but more recently they have been selected from curators.

Of recent shows, the most regarded was that of 1995 which spotlighted the emergence of the Young British Artists. The 2000 show is thought to have been less successful, as the selectors were curators who sought to promote their own artists, resulting in an unwieldley group of 40. The 1990 show caused controversy as it did not include an Scottish artists although the exhibition was opening in Glasgow as part of their European Capital of Culture programme.