Between the joys of summer's outdoor cinemas and bars, and the excitement of Christmas, there's a little thing called autumn. We've pulled together some of the best events happening in London in September, October and November 2026 to keep you going as the nights grow darker and the days get chillier.
Cultural events in London: Autumn 2026
TOTALLY THAMES: Totally Thames is a whole month of events celebrating our waterways. Talks, walks, live performances, boat trips and workshops feature, with 2026 highlights including beginners' kayaking sessions, a riverside performance by a super-choir, and an art installation on the disused Blackfriars railway bridge columns — and these are a mere drop in the ocean/river, in a programme that's flooded with things to get up to. 1-30 September 2026
SAMUEL PEPYS DAY: City of London Guides mark the anniversary of the Great Fire of London — and celebrate the man who recorded it in detail — with their third annual Samuel Pepys Day, offering Pepys-themed tours around the City. 4 September 2026
FOURTH PLINTH INSTALLATION: It's all change on Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth, as current installation Mil Veces un Instante (A Thousand Times in an Instant) by Teresa Margolles is replaced with Tschabalala Self's Lady in Blue. 10 September 2026
LONDON PODCAST FESTIVAL: Headphones at the ready for London Podcast Festival at Kings Place, which sees both mainstream and niche podcasts filmed in front of a live audience, with some recordings streamed online too. No Such Thing As A Fish, and Beef and Dairy Network are among the participants this year. 3-13 September 2026
BLACK ON THE SQUARE: Celebrate London's Black cultural and creative talent at the fourth edition of Black On The Square, a free festival in Trafalgar Square offering live music and performances, activities for children, games, stalls, and a wealth of Black-owned food stalls. FREE, 5 September 2026
QUEEN'S PARK BOOK FESTIVAL: This year's Queen's Park Book Festival is the final edition of the literary event, and it's going out with a bang: authors Philip Pullman, Sebastian Barry and Jacqueline Wilson are among the big names making an appearance, along with British Museum curator Michael Lewis celebrating the Bayeux Tapestry's return to the UK. 5-6 September 2026
LONDON TRANSPORT: See a tiny version of London's transport system as the King's Cross Model Railway Club opens a one-day London's Transport in Miniature exhibition, in collaboration with the London Underground Railway Society. See various layouts including the fictional/semi-fictional Waddesdon Manor, Carlton Vale and Lammas Lane, all of which might look a little bit familiar... 6 September 2026
CHISWICK BOOK FESTIVAL: Adele Parks, Iain Dale, Jacqueline Wilson, Kate Mosse, Mary Portas and Sophie Hannah are just some of the famous names on the schedule at Chiswick Book Festival, taking place at a variety of venues including Chiswick Cinema, Chiswick Library and Hogarth's House. 9-14 September 2026
MARKFIELD ROAD FESTIVAL: Taking place in South Tottenham for the last two years Markfield Road Festival is a free arts and music festival for all ages. 2026 programme TBA, but last year it included open arts studios, short films screenings, live music performances, workshops including life drawing, and a carnival procession featuring local school children. Keep an eye on the website for 2026 updates. 11-13 September 2026
CELEBRASIA: South East Asian culture is celebrated at Battersea Power Station's CelebrASIa festival. Browse themed market and food stalls, try your hand at crafts including basket weaving, and watch panel discussions on topics ranging from food and literature to fashion and culture. 11-13 September 2026
HERITAGE OPEN DAYS: Not only do we get Open House (below) in September, but Heritage Open Days too. This nationwide programme of events — including several in London — invites you inside hidden places, to celebrate history and culture. In London that includes walks, behind-the-scenes tours, and a chance to visit the place we once suggested might be the best shed museum anywhere, Dulwich's British Vintage Wireless and Television Museum. FREE, 11-20 September 2026
OPEN HOUSE LONDON: It's the most wonderful time of year, when all manner of London buildings and structures — usually off-limits to the public — fling open their doors. Our previous personal Open House London highlights include going inside the St Pancras clock tower, and up on the roof of 55 Broadway. Read about our picks for 2026 here. 12-20 September 2026
LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL: The 24th edition of London Design Festival showcases London as the design capital of the world. We're expecting the usual blend of displays and exhibitions, talks and more. 12-20 September 2026
LETTERS TO THE FUTURE: Amelia Dimoldenberg, Ash Sarkar and Olly Alexander lead Letters to the Future, a Southbank Centre tackling some of the biggest issues of our time. Cultural figures including creators, writers, activists and thinkers curate a programme of panel discussions, interspersed with talks, performances, free gigs, DJs sets, and spoken word. Topics including housing, the future of digital media, and the climate crisis. 18-20 September 2026
CAMDEN INSPIRE: Community festival Camden Inspire doubles up as the Camden Climate Festival, with a theme of Gathering For The Future. Enjoy a low-carbon community feast, take part in gardening and fermenting sessions, pick up ideas at panel discussions and round tables, and get stuck into evening entertainment including a climate-themed pub quiz. 26 September 2026
SHEEP DRIVE: One of London's wackiest annual events is the London Bridge Sheep Drive and Livery Fair. Each year, a chosen celebrity has the honour of herding sheep over Southwark Bridge while the public watch, followed by a livery fair at the north end of the bridge. Keep an eye on the website for this year's announcement. FREE, 27 September 2026
THE LAMBETH FRINGE: Now in its 11th year, the Lambeth Fringe (previously known as Clapham Fringe) has announced an impressive 200 shows for its 2026 programme, spread across 28 venues. NHS doctors perform in comedy show GP Receptionist Appreciation Society; Cornershop Showdown is ab interactive parody of a '70s game show, among an overwhelming selection of shows. 24 September-25 October 2026
MONTH OF THE DEAD: Ghoulishly good festival of death Month of the Dead takes place throughout October, leading up to Halloween with talks on the macabre, cemetery tours, film screenings, and a necrocopia of other events taking a cerebral look at death and the afterlife. 1 October-1 November 2026
CHELSEA HISTORY FESTIVAL: The National Army Museum, the Royal Hospital Chelsea and Chelsea Physic Garden team up again for Chelsea History Festival, which covers local, national and global history through walks, talks and other events. 1-4 October 2026
BLACK HISTORY MONTH: October is Black History Month, honouring the often unheralded accomplishments of Black Britons in all fields throughout history. It's national, with events running all year, but things happening in London this month can be found on the Black History Month site. Throughout October
BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL: After a truncated, three-day version of Bloomsbury Festival took place last year, it's back to full strength for 2026, taking place throughout the month of October to celebrate its 20th anniversary. 1-31 October 2026
BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL: The full programme for the 70th BFI London Film Festival is due to be announced in September, but it's usually full of gala nights and UK and world premiere screenings, and is probably the biggest event of the year for the London film industry. 7-18 October 2026
ART FAIRS: Two of London's biggest art fairs take place in October, bringing members of the art industry from all over the globe back to the capital. Frieze London (14-18 October 2026) sets up shop in Regent's Park, with galleries showcasing work by contemporary artists in a variety of media. Over in east London, The Other Art Fair (8-11 October 2026) takes over the Old Truman Brewery, with a focus on artworks available for all budgets, from over 100 artists.
LONDON LITERATURE FESTIVAL: Dua Lipa curates this year's London Literature Festival at Southbank Centre, overseeing a packed programme featuring names including Zadie Smith, Malorie Blackman and Patti Smith 21 October-1 November 2026
MCM COMIC CON: Halloween isn't the only reason to dig out your fancy dress costume at the end of October. MCM Comic Con returns to ExCeL for three days of celebrity guests, panel discussions, cosplay, tabletop and video games and more. 23-25 October 2026
HALLOWEEN: Things get spooky in London towards the end of October as Halloween looms. Check back nearer the time for our guide to the best Halloween events for both kids and adults, as well as scary film screenings around town. In the meantime, why not start planning a trip to one of these charming pumpkin patches near London. 31 October 2026
DIWALI: Diwali falls on 8 November this year, and London's official celebrations in Trafalgar Square are due to take place a couple of weeks before (25 October 2026), with live music, dancing and more. Keep an eye on our event listings for details of other Diwali celebrations around town. FREE, late October-early November 2026
FIREWORKS: Keep an eye on our Bonfire Night guide, which we'll update with details of this year's fireworks events as and when they're announced. Around 5 November
LORD MAYOR'S SHOW: If you're a sucker for pomp and pageantry, don't miss the Lord Mayor's Show. The event marks the outgoing Lord Mayor (actually the Lady Mayor this year) being replaced by the new one, and takes the form of a grand procession. Full details will be confirmed closer to the time, once the new Lord Mayor is announced. FREE, 14 November 2026
REMEMBRANCE: There are always special events in London around 11 November, to mark Armistice Day, or Remembrance Day. We'll bring you details closer to the time. 11 November 2026
EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL: Get down with the trumpets at the EFG London Jazz Festival, which offers 10 days of live performances at venues including Barbican, Southbank Centre and the Royal Albert Hall. Norwegian-Brazilian musician Charlotte Dos Santos, the experimental Robocobra Quartet, and Parisian group Caravan Palace are among this year's headliners. 13-22 November 2026
New exhibitions in London: Autumn 2026
BAYEUX TAPESTRY: Probably London's — if not the UK's — most anticipated exhibition of the whole year is the British Museum's temporary custodianship of the Bayeux Tapestry, leaving France for the first time since it was most likely created here in England. Tickets for visits until 31 December have sold out, with tickets for dates later than that going on sale soon — sign up to the mailing list for alerts, as it's going to be very popular. 10 September 2026-July 2027
ES DEVLIN: Artist and designer Es Devlin is the subject of an autumn exhibition at the Design Museum. Look back on her 30-year career in the first museum show in the UK dedicated to her work, which has featured in collaborations in theatre and opera as well as Olympic ceremonies, Superbowl half-time shows and monumental stadium sculptures. 18 September 2026-11 April 2027
OSSIE CLARK: The Fashion and Textile Museum's newest exhibition Ossie Clack/Celia Birtwell spotlights the life and work of legendary rock-and-roll fashion designer Ossie Clark and his collaborator and wife Celia Birtwell. 2 October 2026-April 2027
TIM WALKER'S FAIRYLAND: British photographer Tim Walker has spent five years photographing LGBTQ+ trailblazers for major National Portrait Gallery exhibition, Tim Walker's Fairyland: Love and Legends. Dozens of activists, performers, artists, and writers feature in the photos, alongside a book with contributions written by Travis Alabanza, Russell T Davies, Shon Faye, Lisa Power and Joelle Taylor. 8 October 2026-31 January 2027
THE 90S: Former British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful OBE quest curates Tate Britain's exhibition The 90s spanning photography, fashion, art and design in a decade of optimism, freedom, and rebellion. 8 October 2026-14 February 2027
LIGHT AND MAGIC: Tate Britain celebrates the birth of art photography in Light and Magic, an exhibition about pictorialism, the first international art photography movement, developed across the world from the 1880s to the 1960s. 14 October 2026-21 February 2027
HOKUSAI: Experience Mount Fuji as Japanese printmaker Katsushika Hokusai saw it 200 years ago. Dulwich Picture Gallery brings together the complete set of Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, Hokusai's depictions of the mountain in different lights and seasons. 20 October 2026-17 January 2027
BECOMING AMERICA: The Science Museum marks 250 years of America's independence with free display Becoming America, which displays maps, paintings, instruments and artefacts relating to scientific breakthroughs between the 1760s-90s. FREE, 23 October 2026-25 April 2028
AGATHA CHRISTIE: 50 years since the death of novelist Agatha Christie, the British Library opens a major exhibition on her life and work. View notebooks, personal letters, early manuscript drafts, dictaphone recordings and personal objects belonging to Christie, and find out how her work shaped the entire crime writing genre. 30 October 2026-20 June 2027
CHARLIE MACKESY: Author and illustrator Charlie Mackesy — creator of The Boy, The Fox, The Mole and The Horse — is the subject of a new Dulwich Picture Gallery exhibition. View never-before-seen early sketches, unpublished studies, and original works from across Mackesy’s career. 3 November 2026-7 February 2027
THROUGH OUR EYES: The first group exhibition in the UK to celebrate the vibrant art and culture of the Sámi people, Through our Eyes: Sámi Art and Culture opens at Somerset House. View works by 19 artists from Europe’s only recognised indigenous people, whose traditional land spans the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. 6 November 2026-February 2027
NUE BLACK AESTHETIC: The Design Museum celebrates contemporary Black designers who are reshaping the British design landscape, in furniture, architecture, fashion, and installation, exploring identity, culture, community, and more. 6 November 2026-8 August 2027
BLOOMSBURY DUO: Vanessa Bell — sister of Virginia Woolf — and her husband Duncan Grant were the most famous artistic duo of the Bloomsbury Group. View their works and learn about their relationship at Tate Britain. 12 November 2026-11 April 2027
VAN EYCK: One of our art critic's pick of the top exhibitions to see in London in 2026, Van Eyck: The Portraits at The National Gallery brings all of the Flemish painter's portraits together for the first time in history. 21 November 2026-11 April 2027
New theatre shows in London: Autumn 2026
BLOODSPORT: Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey) stars in Ava Pickett’s new play, Bloodsport: After Helen of Troy, at Theatre Royal Stratford East. The story follows Helen’s return after a war fought in her name, and explores family ruptures and the cost of leaving. 3 September-10 October 2026>
THELMA & LOUISE: As we reported earlier this year, a Thelma & Louise musical opens at the Young Vic. Amy Lennox and Rachel Tucker star as the inseparable friends who throw off the shackles of male-dominated life for the weekend, going on the run in a 1966 Thunderbird convertible. 3 September-24 October 2026
STANDARD OF LIVING: Rory Kinnear and Royal Ballet principal Natalia Osipova star in The Standard of Living, a new play by James Graham (writer of Dear England, and Punch). Telling the astonishing story of rebel economist and member of the Bloomsbury Group, John Maynard Keynes, it gets its world premiere at Theatre Royal Haymarket. 21 September-12 December 2026
STING: Legendary musician Sting performs in a new production of his musical, The Last Ship, at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Watch the moving story of a community of shipbuilders faced with the closure of their shipyard, rooted in Sting's own childhood, and soundtracked with some of his songs. 22 September-12 October 2026
RENT THE MUSICAL: Legendary musical RENT dances its way back into the West End, taking up residency at Duke of York's Theatre. Inspired by Puccini's La Bohème, it's the story of a group of young artists trying to make their way in New York City. From 26 September 2026
HEATED RIVALRY: An unofficial parody musical of smash hit TV series Heated Rivalry lands at Underbelly Boulevard Soho, with a lively score accompanying gentle ribbing of the hockey drama. 7 October-1 November 2026
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: Disney's High School Musical cheerleads its way into the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, marking 20 years since the film first introduced us to Troy, Gabriella and the students of East High. 12 October 2026-3 January 2027
SURINDERELLA: Stratford East Theatre offers a Bollywood take on traditional panto in the form of Surinderella. The family-friendly show features Surinder, a sweet young woman stuck in a never-ending chore list thanks to her two selfie-obsessed, Insta-vlogging stepsisters, Lovely and Bubbly. 20-31 October 2026
RADIOHEAD + SHAKESPEARE: Shakespeare's Hamlet accompanied by reworked songs from Radiohead's Hail to the Thief is the unlikely flavour of a new crossover show at Barbican. 31 October 2026- January 2027
Family-friendly events in London: Autumn 2026
OCTOBER HALF TERM: October half term usually falls the final week of the month. We'll bring you our guide to family-friendly half term events and activities closer to the time.
CHRISTMAS AT KEW: Too early for the 'C' word? Probably, but in our opinion, one of the season's highlights is Christmas at Kew, and it always sells out way in advance so you'll want to book sharpish. The botanical gardens come alive after dark with twinkling fairy lights, photogenic light trails, laser shows and a fire garden — all executed to perfection if previous years are anything to go by. 13 November 2026-3 January 2027. Plenty of other winter lights trails open around this time too.
WINTER WONDERLAND 2026: Winter Wonderland pitches up in Hyde Park in mid-November. You can still expect rides, an ice rink, circus shows, a Christmas market and food and drink stalls, but like last year, you'll need to prebook to enter the site. 19 November 2026- 3 January 2027
ICE SKATING: London's Christmas ice rinks start opening from October/November. We'll update our complete guide to where you can take to the ice this autumn and winter as details are announced.
Food and drink events in London: Autumn 2026
MEATOPIA: Carnivorous foodie festival Meatopia brings up to 75 live-fire chefs to Tobacco Dock, each serving one carefully curated dish cooked over wood or charcoal, with bars, bands and DJs woven into the mix. 3-6 September 2026
BARNET FOOD FESTIVAL: Eat your way around an airfield, as Barnet Food Festival takes place at the RAF Museum. Enjoy street food from around the world alongside live music and a kids' zone. 12-13 September 2026
THE BIG BRINE: If you find yourself in a pickle this month, make your way over to Hackney Bridge for The Big Brine, a foodie festival celebrating all things fermented, pickled and brined. Taste, sip, crunch and explore various dishes, alongside live music, chef demos and other entertainment. 12-13 September 2026
CURRY FESTIVAL: After a successful return last year, the Brick Lane Curry Festival is back, celebrating the food and culture of the East End's Bangladeshi and South Asian community. It begins with a parade, followed by street entertainment and various foodie stalls offering regional and specialty dishes. It's free to attend, and if you register in advance for a free ticket you can save 20% at participating restaurants on the day. 20 September 2026
HALAL FOOD FESTIVAL: The World Halal Food Festival brings dozens of food stalls to the London Stadium in Stratford, offering you a chance to sample Halal food from around the world, from burgers and hot dogs to cakes and pastries. Watch celebrity chefs whipping up their own Halal dishes and, if you like what you see, stock up on ingredients at the shopping stalls before you leave. 26-27 September 2026
THANKSGIVING: As always, Thanksgiving falls on the last Thursday in November. Plenty of London restaurants usually serve up traditional feasts for American expats, and anyone else who fancies getting in on the action — we'll update our guide to Thanksgiving in London closer to the time. 26 November 2026
Free things to do in London this autumn
GDIF: Greenwich + Docklands International Festival continues for the first week in September, offering free open-air theatre, circus and dance performances in east London. Highlights of the final week include Nature Speaks, an immersive storytelling experience in Thamesmead, and Dancing City, which brings performances to a variety of outdoor spaces in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. FREE, 21 August-6 September 2026
DOGGETT'S COAT AND BADGE: The historic Doggett's Coat and Badge Thames race sees apprentice watermen scull the 7.3km stretch from London Bridge to Cadogan Pier. The event, first held in 1715 and named after Thomas Doggett, starts at London Bridge, and anyone can watch along the river side. FREE, 2 September 2026
ART ON YOUR DOORSTEP: After treating Croydonites to free art earlier this year, the National Gallery's Art On Your Doorstep scheme pops up in Brentford with a free outdoor exhibition of the nation's favourite artworks. While the real deals are safely stashed away in galleries, life-sized replicas have been created in fine detail, and go on display around the west London neighbourhood. FREE, 4 September 2026-February 2027
GREAT RIVER RACE: Sort of like the London Marathon on water, the Great River Race is a 21.6 mile dash along the Thames between Millwall and Richmond, with all manner of rowing boats taking part. It's free to watch from the river banks and bridges on the day — full details and timings here. FREE, 12 September 2026
CLASSIC BOAT FESTIVAL: All manner of vintage vessels moor up at St Katharine Docks (next to the Tower of London) for the Classic Boat Festival. Even if you don't know your port from your starboard, it's a fascinating spectacle, with around 40 preserved vessels on display, including Dunkirk Little Ships. FREE, 12-13 September 2026
FRIEZE SCULPTURE: If Frieze Art Fair (mentioned above) is out of your price range, there's art to be ogled for free. For several weeks, sculptures are dotted around Regent's Park for Frieze Sculpture, a trail that's open to everyone. Full details for 2025 are expected soon, plus, the park looks fantastic as the leaves begin to turn. FREE, 16 September-1 November 2026
THE BURBERRY TRENCH: After a barnstorming run of incredibly popular (though admittedly pricey) fashion exhibitions, the V&A South Kensington opens a free display tracing the history of the Burberry Trench coat. Find out how the fashion icon went from practical outerwear to coveted item. FREE, from 21 September 2026
AUTUMN WALKS: London's parks and open spaces look fantastic as the leaves change. We've picked some of our favourite places to walk in autumn, to catch the trees in their orange, red and gold finery.
Sports events in London: Autumn 2026
ICE HOCKEY: September sees the start of the ice hockey season again, with four teams to watch here in London. Here's everything you need to know before you go to your first match.
RICHMOND RUNFEST: Lace up your trainers and do some laps around Kew Gardens for Richmond Runfest. The 10k route stays entirely within the gardens, while the half and full marathons start there, and finish in Richmond. 12 September 2026
LONDON CYCLING FESTIVAL: Get on yer bike for the London Cycling Festival, with rides and wheeled events happening all over the capital. Find festival hubs at locations including Victoria Park and St Paul's Cathedral, and take part in group rides, including some designed with families in mind. FREE, 20 September 2026
SHOREDITCH HALF: London's newest running event is the Shoreditch Half, a closed-loop half marathon route by the team behind the Hackney Half Marathon. It takes place on closed roads, beginning and ending in Shoreditch Park, and though places to run have sold out, you can still turn up to cheer on the runners. 20 September 2026
ULTIMATE SEVENS: Brand new rugby championship Ultimate Sevens has its inaugural edition this month, with the grand final taking place at Brentford Stadium. Following matches in Spain, Wales and France featuring elite men’s and women’s players in a fast, knockout format across six clubs, the winners are crowned here in London. 24 September 2026
NFL IN LONDON: Across three Sundays in October, four American Football teams play at two different stadiums here in London. Tottenham Hotspur and Wembley both host NFL in London games this season, though tickets sold out quite quickly so are hard (but not impossible) to come by now. 4, 11, 18 October 2026 (exact dates TBC)
ROYAL PARKS HALF: The Royal Parks Half Marathon takes runners on a route through four of the eight Royal Parks (Hyde Park, Green Park, St James's Park, Kensington Gardens), and other closed roads around central London. Get yourself a place via a charity, or turn up on the day to support the runners. 11 October 2026
