Across:
8 Velázquez's first ('Velázquezs' first = V-) connection to Goya (Goya) travelling (= anagram indicator) (Goya = -OYAG-) to Spain (-E) (VOYAGE) involves a journey overseas (VOYAGE),
9 A foreign (a = UN-) institute (-I-) near Limerick (limerick -VERSE) (UNIVERSE) with a space for everybody (UNIVERSE),
10 False alarm for the bank’s (‘FAlse alaRM’ for the banks = FARM) stockholder (FARM),
11 Old (O-) bishop (-B-) is well-read (-LITERATE) (OBLITERATE) in Kill (kill = OBLITERATE),
12 A small little plant (BONSAI) that’s good for the nice people (Nice/French ‘good’ = BON-) from South Africa (-SA-) to get in first (‘In’ first = -I) (BONSAI),
14 Super ale (super ale) drunk (= anagram indicator) (super ale = PLEASURE) by Joy (PLEASURE),
15 Say what you like (FREEDOM OF SPEECH), lack of restrictions (FREEDOM) had nothing (O-) to do with key (music key -F) address (SPEECH) (FREEDOM OF SPEECH),
18 Fortune-teller (MYSTIC-) is a (-A-) student (learner = -L) (MYSTICAL) of the occult perhaps (MYSTICAL),
20 Turns up (= reversal indicator), one (-I) pool (money/pot = -TOP-) is cold (-C-) for duck (duck = O-) (OCTOPI) and a number of the molluscs (OCTOPI),
22 Collections of numbers (PHONE BOOKS) produced by most them in 21 down (most of ‘phones’ = PHONE) and 24 down (‘book’ = BOOK-) for initial score (initial ‘Score’ = -S) (PHONE BOOKS),
24 Nearly all those in 24 down (nearly all ‘book’ = BOO-) heading for Tauranga (heading for ‘Tauranga’ = -T) (BOOT) or Wellington (Wellington BOOT),
25 They won’t accept a drink (PIONEERS) from those breaking new ground (PIONEERS),
26 The Lily (FLOWER) of The Nile? (FLOWER / river).
Down:
1 Record (POTATO) by Queen? (POTATO),
2 Composed (CALM) segment of physical map (segment of ‘physiCAL Map’ = CALM),
3 Corn pie (corn pie), soup (= anagram indicator) (corn pie = PECORIN-), duck (-O) (PECORINO) and cheese (PECORINO cheese),
4 Illustrated without artiste (‘illustrated’ without ‘artiste’ = llud = DULL) of the boring stuff (DULL),
5 Bit of advice (TIP-) from one of those found in 24 across (-TOE found in ‘boot’) (TIPTOE) – carefully watch your step? (TIPTOE),
6 Unfortunate (= anagram indicator) reports, etc., (reports etc = RETROSPECT) in survey of past events (in RETROSPECT),
7 Recites (recites) problem (= anagram indicator) (recites = ES-TERIC) about old (-O-) (ESOTERIC) stuff that’s puzzling to most (ESOTERIC)
13 Takeaway the bitterness (SWEETEN-) in (-IN-) Government (-G) (SWEETENING) by sugar-coating (SWEETENING),
14 Pressure (P-) is never-ending (‘neveR’ ending = -R-) on wise type (wise -OWL) (PROWL) to walk in the footsteps of a beastly type (PROWL),
16 Measured metrically (RHYTHMIC) for one of the regulars (RHYTHMIC),
17 Parade’s (parades = SHOWS OFF) exhibits (SHOWS) not quite right (OFF) (SHOWS OFF),
19 The Wire’s (CABLES) accountant (CA-) and lawyer (-BL-) sides with Edward Bowers (sides with ‘Edward bowerS’ = -ES) (CABLES),
21 Park (P-) close to homes (close/end to ‘homeS’ = -S) behind (= position indicator) Polish (polish/refine = -HONE-) (PHONES) mobiles (PHONES),
23 Good books (Old Testament = O-T) about you and I (us = -US-) (OUST) to put out (OUST),
24 Sound of disapproval (BOO-) from Kelvin (-K) (BOOK) in Order (BOOK).