Moctezuma: Aztec Ruler - For the fourth in its series of major exhibitions dedicated to great rulers, the BM focuses on the last elected Aztec Emperor, Moctezuma II, who reigned between 1502 and 1520 and consolidated control over a politically complex empire that stretched from the Pacific to the Gulf of Mexico. Regarded as semi-divine by his subjects, Moctezuma was also a battle-hardened general who built a new palace and reinstated the court. However, the arrival of the Spanish during his reign signalled the collapse of the native world order and the imposition of a new civilisation that eventually became modern Mexico. Exhibits include works commissioned, by Moctezuma, including the stone monument 'Teocalli of Sacred Warfare', a turquoise and gold mask, and paintings detailing the Spanish conquest. 24 September – 24 January 2010

Garden and Cosmos: The Royal Paintings of Jodhpur - Paintings made for the royal courts of India in Jodhpur between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. These paintings brought together traditional Rajasthani styles and combined them with styles developed in the imperial Mughal courts. Subjects vary from scenes of life in the palaces to metaphysical concepts, the scale ranges from miniatures to monumental panels. Until 23 August

India Landscape - To tie in with the museum's 'Indian Summer' season of exhibitions and events, this year's temporary forecourt garden, in association with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is filled with plants from India and divided into areas representing the different climate zones of the subcontinent. Until 27 September

Medals of dishonour - The darker tradition of medal-making is explored in this display with works from the sixteenth century to the present by Marcel Duchamp, David Smith, Grayson Perry and others. Until 27 September

After Darwin: Contemporary Expressions - Artists and writers draw inspiration from Darwin's book 'The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals'. Art commissions include 'gorillagorillagorilla' by Diana Thater, which looks at the behaviour of Western Lowland Gorillas in Cameroon, and work by Jeremy Deller and Richard Wiseman. There's also new literature and poetry by Mark Haddon and Ruth Padel.  Until 29 November

Wildlife Photographer of the Year - The beauty, drama and infinite variety of the natural world is celebrated in this annual photography competition and exhibition, which is a joint enterprise between the Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine.  23 October –26 April 2010

Futurism - Speed and movement through the eyes of the early twentieth century Italian Futurists and their associates.  Until 20 September
Stutter - Six artists explore themes of disruption and discontinuity in thought and language, among them Michelangelo Pistoletto and Anna Barham, in the Level 2 Gallery.  Until 16 August
Per Kirkeby - First UK survey of work by the Danish artist, featuring sculptures and large-scale paintings from the 1960s onwards.   Until 6 September

Classified - Recent major acquisitions of British contemporary art, including Jake and Dinos Chapman's 'Family Collection', two works from Damien Hirst's recent gift to the Tate, paintings by Phillip Allen and Fiona Rae, and sculpture by Rebecca Warren.  Until 23 August
Eva Rothschild - A single work for the Duveen Galleries by the London-based artist known for her geometric constructions in a range of materials. Until 29 November

Buckingham Palace – Annual summer opening of the 19 State Rooms, which includes a 450-metre walk along the west side of the Palace garden, offering views of the garden, Palace and lake. This year's special exhibition is 'Queen and Commonwealth: The Royal Tour', a selection of dresses, jewels, photographs and gifts presented to the Queen by people of the Commonwealth since the London Declaration of 1949, which recognised the British sovereign as the head of the Commonwealth.  26 July – 30 September

Summer Opening of Parliament – Entertaining, anecdotal tours conducted by Blue Badge guides during the summer recess of parliament run every fifteen minutes. Starting at Victoria Tower, they take in the Queen’s Robing Room, the Royal Gallery, the Prince’s Chamber, the Chamber of the House of Lords, the Central Lobby, House of Commons, Members' Lobby and St Stephen’s Chapel. Tours last an hour and a quarter.   3 August – 3 October

Open House London – This annual, London-wide event offers the opportunity to view, free of charge, a huge range of buildings of architectural interest which are not normally open to the public. As well as the government buildings, private homes, historic houses, schools, town halls and other buildings open for tours, there are also site visits to ongoing construction projects. Certain events require pre-booking; a full programme is available from mid-August from the website: www.openhouse.org.uk
19-20 September