The top events and things to do in London in March, April and May 2026.
Cultural events in London in Spring 2026
WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH 2026: March is Women's History Month, so there's plenty going on to celebrate the achievements of women and non-binary people, including exhibitions and one-off events, as well as International Women's Day celebrations. Browse our pick of events.
THE OTHER ART FAIR: The Other Art Fair takes over the Old Truman Brewery for four days of artwork that's accessible to all. Affordable and original pieces are up for grabs, alongside immersive installations, live performances and a bar. 5-8 March 2026
ST PATRICK'S DAY 2026: Around the middle of March each year, many Londoners embrace their distant Irish heritage by getting stuck into St Patrick's Day celebrations. The main event is the St Patrick's Day festival and parade (15 March 2026), but look out for plenty of other Irish-themed parties, supper clubs, menus, bar crawls and events. Maybe acquaint yourself with one of London's best Irish pubs too. Around 17 March 2026
EARTH HOUR 2026: For one hour on a Saturday evening, London switches the lights off for WWF's Earth Hour, raising awareness of the effects of global warming. Individual businesses and households are encouraged to take part by turning off the lights, but several of the capital's major landmarks will be plunged into darkness too. FREE, 28 March 2026
TULIP FESTIVAL: Over 100,000 bulbs bring a riot of colour to the gardens of Hampton Court Palace for its annual Tulip Festival — one of the UK's largest displays of planted tulips. Wander through the formal gardens and historic courtyards, and see 'floating' bowls in the Great Fountain and a free style of planting in the kitchen gardens. Find other places to see tulip displays in and around London. From 3 April 2026
V&A EAST OPENS: One of our cultural highlights of 2026 is the opening of the new V&A East. What'll be largest V&A outpost is located in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park with a focus on multiculturalism. Two free and permanent 'Why we make' galleries will offer up examples of creativity "from a range of countries, cultures and times". Temporary exhibitions will also feature, starting with The Music is Black: A British Story. FREE (charge for some exhibitions), from 18 April 2026
VAISAKHI FESTIVAL: Vaisakhi — the Sikh and Punjabi cultural festival — takes place on 14 April this year, but London's main celebration returns to Trafalgar Square the following weekend. The free festival features live entertainment and performances, martial arts demonstrations, a showcase of Sikh art, plus food and drink stalls. FREE, 18 April 2026
ST GEORGE'S DAY: 23 April is St George's Day, a celebration of the patron saint of England (plus Catalonia, Ethiopia and various other regions). London's free St George's Day Festival takes place in Trafalgar Square a couple of days before (19 April 2026), with live music and performers, family activities and refreshments. FREE, 19/23 April 2026
NORTH LONDON BOOK FESTIVAL: One of London’s newest literary festival, the North London Book Fest returns to Alexandra Palace with events for all ages. Tessa Hadley, Ben Aaronovitch, Rachel Parris and Laura Bates are among the names confirmed, with plenty more TBC. 23-26 April 2026
OUTDOOR CINEMA: As soon as the sun comes out, London's cinemas go al fresco, pitching up on rooftops, at palaces and in lidos across the capital. We'll provide details as soon as they're announced. In the meantime, browse London's previous outdoor cinemas to get an idea of what to expect. Usually from early May
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Sojourn to Sicily this spring — without leaving London!
One of the capital's tastiest cultural takeovers returns this spring. For five glorious days in May, SicilyFEST invites Londoners to dive deep into Mediterranean culture, which, naturalmente, involves devouring all sorts of incredible regional delicacies. All in the name of cultural enrichment, of course.
SicilyFEST 2026 takes over Islington's Business Design Centre, 30-April-4 May, giving you the chance to spend your bank holiday weekend gorging on fresh pasta, molten-hearted arancini and wickedly indulgent cannoli. We're talking the finest Sicilian street food, here — plus rare volcanic wines, Italian spritzes and sodas to wash it all down with. You'll even find gourmet products for your kitchen, so you can recreate the taste of la dolce vita at home.
There's more to SicilyFEST than food, too. This massive residency — the organiser's biggest-ever — also offers world-class performances by Italian musicians like Serena Brancale and Delia Buglisi, plus wine tastings, pasta making and so much more. Get your tickets today and prepare to immerse yourself in the (oh-so-welcoming and incredibly moreish) spirit of Sicily.
SicilyFEST. 30 April-4 May at the Business Design Centre (Islington). Tickets here.
OPEN AIR THEATRE: For a high-brow night under the stars, head to London's open air theatre in Regent's Park. The season begins in early May with the world premiere of a new Sherlock Holmes production, followed by Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Cats, and Anansi the Spider playing throughout the season. 2 May-12 September 2026
DULWICH FESTIVAL: A celebration of art and culture in the local area, Dulwich Festival has yet to announce its full programme, but usually includes an artists' open house weekend, and the Dulwich Festival Fair on Goose Green, as well as many talks, tours and shows at local venues. 8-17 May 2026
CENTRE FOR ILLUSTRATION: Another big 2026 opening is the Quentin Blake Centre For Illustration, which will be the world's largest dedicated space for illustration when it opens in a former waterworks building in Clerkenwell. Expect a series of annual exhibitions across three galleries, in addition to free public gardens, a cafe and shop, a free library and learning spaces. From May 2026
WIMBLEDON ART FAIR: More than 180 artists exhibit at Wimbledon Art Fair, giving you a chance to purchase artworks directly from their creators. There's also a rare opportunity to go inside artists' studios. FREE ENTRY, 14-17 May 2026
EUROVISION 2026 FINAL: If you're partial to sequins, disco balls and cheese by the truckload, whack 16 May in your diary. That's the date of the Eurovision final, taking place in Vienna this year. We'll bring you a guide to Eurovision parties and screenings in London closer to the date, but in the meantime, here's last year's guide, to give you an idea of what to expect. 16 May 2026
CHELSEA AND BELGRAVIA IN BLOOM: Two separate (free!) events usually run at the same time as the Chelsea Flower Show (see below): Chelsea In Bloom and Belgravia in Bloom host dramatic flower installations erected outside shops, restaurants and cafes in the area. 2026 details and themes TBC. FREE, probably from 18 May 2026
CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW 2026: A highlight for any green-fingered Londoner, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show takes over the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, with gardeners from all over the country showing off their work; stalls where you can buy flowers and plants to take home; and a chance to pick up tips from experts. 19-23 May 2026
FLOWERS: For more even more flowers, take a look at our guides to where to see cherry blossom, wisteria, bluebells and roses in London.
Family/children's events in London in Spring 2026
EASTER HOLIDAYS IN LONDON: The first two weeks of April are the Easter holidays for the majority of London schools. If you've got children or teenagers to entertain, keep an eye on our Easter holidays events guide — we'll cover shows, exhibitions and one-off events, as well as some free things to do. 28 March-12 April 2026
BANK HOLIDAYS: What with the Easter bank holidays, plus the double dose in May, our guide to spending bank holidays in London should come in handy over the next couple of months. Just remember to check opening hours before you travel, as some venues operate to different hours over bank holiday weekends.
CHEAM CHARTER FAIR: Rumour has it that the Cheam Charter Fair dates back to 1259 — though even the modern-day organisers can't verify that. Either way, head to the London-Surrey border for a traditional fair of stalls, kicked off with a procession at 9am. 2026 date TBC. FREE ENTRY, usually mid-May
Unique and quirky London events in Spring 2026
THE PASSION OF JESUS: As a gift to the people of London, the Wintershall Players perform a rendition of the Easter story for free every Good Friday (in fact there are two 90-minute performances). The event takes place in Trafalgar Square, with thousands of people turning up to watch every year. Turn up early to get a decent view. FREE, usually Good Friday (which is 3 April 2026)
TWEED RUN: Style meets cycling at the Tweed Run meanders through London's streets and parks, with cyclists competing in categories including best-dressed individuals, finest moustaches, and most elegantly adorned bicycles, among others. Stops for tea, a picnic and a celebratory cocktail are built into the schedule. How sophisticated. 18 April 2026
CANALWAY CAVALCADE: If you go down to the canal over the May Day bank holiday, you're in for a big surprise. Dozens of canal boats moor up in Little Venice for the Canalway Cavalcade, a vibrant festival with live music, children's activities and boat-based fun. FREE, 2-4 May 2026
PUPPET FESTIVAL: One of those unique London events we love, the Covent Garden May Fayre & Puppet Festival celebrates the first recorded production of a Mr Punch show, as seen/recorded by Samuel Pepys in Covent Garden in 1662, and draws puppeteers from all over the country for a procession, church service, shows, stalls and workshops. FREE, 10 May 2026
GRAND FLANEUR WALK: 'A celebration of the pure, the immutable and the pointless, taken by the bold, the adventurous and the inebriated' is how organisers describe the Grand Flaneur Walk, a stroll without purpose, with participants wearing their finest dandy, flaneur or fop outfits — think top hats, handlebar moustaches, pocket squares, pocket watches — the works! FREE, 2026 date TBC
Sport events in London in Spring 2026
PALACE HALF: If ever a half marathon route was fit for a king/queen, it's the Palace Half. Start your run at the gates of Hampton Court Palace and take in the local area — including crossing the Thames twice, before finishing in the palace gardens. Plenty of charities are still looking for runners to take part on their behalf at time of writing. 15 March 2026
RIVER RACE: The Head of the River Race is rowed annually from Mortlake to Putney, with up to 400 crews of eights taking part. Get down to the river's edge to watch the action. FREE to watch, 28 March 2026
KEW THE RUN: Another one for London's athletic types, Kew the Run is a 10K or half marathon route finishing in Kew Gardens. The 10K course (Saturday) is contained entirely within the gardens, while the half marathon (Sunday) starts and ends in the gardens, meandering down to Ham House in Richmond and back. 28-29 March 2026
2026 BOAT RACES: The Oxford-Cambridge Boat Races take place in over Easter weekend 2026. They'll be broadcast on TV as usual, but if you're keen to see them in person, get down there early to grab your spot by the river. Preferably a pub garden. FREE to watch, 4 April 2026
LONDON MARATHON 2026: It's the time of year when thousands of runners pound the streets in London — many in bizarre costumes — to raise money for fantastic causes. This year's London Marathon follows the usual route and format. Even if you're not watching or taking part, be aware of widespread road closures, bus diversions and the like, on and around the route. 26 April 2026
Music events and festivals in London in Spring 2026
For a detailed look at music festivals taking place in London this year — from early spring round until the autumn — have a browse of our guide to London's best music festivals, and get booking.
BARNES MUSIC FESTIVAL: Pianists, saxophonists, organists, singers and a concert band are some of the performers lined up for this year's Barnes Music Festival, which takes place at venues across the area. The Music in the Dark concert is a particularly popular aspect of the programme, so book ahead if it takes your fancy. Under-12s get free entry as part of the festival's Youth Programme. 7-22 March 2026
COUNTRY TO COUNTRY: Three days of country music come to The O2 as Country To Country festival returns. Rising Nashville stars take to the stage(s) between sets from headline acts including Keith Urban, Zach Top and Brooks & Dunn. 13-15 March 2026
TEENAGE CANCER TRUST: Elbow, Garbage, the Manic Street Preachers and Wolf Alice are among the headliners at a series of gigs in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust, at the Royal Albert Hall. 23-29 March 2026
MESSIAH ON GOOD FRIDAY: For the 150th time, the Royal Choral Society performs Handel's Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall on Good Friday — a tradition that's only ever been interrupted by the Blitz and Covid. 150 singers are conducted by the choir's Music Director Richard Cooke, and accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and a quartet of soloists. 3 April 2026
ROUNDHOUSE THREE SIXTY: Roundhouse Three Sixty (formerly known as In The Round) is back at Camden Roundhouse. Running throughout the month across the entire site, the programme features music, spoken word, theatre, visual arts, podcasts and club nights — all celebrating unapologetic and boundary-pushing artists. Imogen Heap, Kae Tempest and Vogue Rites all feature, and the legendary Roundhouse Poetry Slam is back. 8-29 April 2026
LATIN MUSIC FESTIVAL: La Linea Latin music festival shimmies into several venues around central London. It opens with Portuguese singer Sara Correia performing live at Barbican to launch her new album. Browse the full programme. 20 April-6 May 2026
BRICK LANE JAZZ FESTIVAL: The Brick Lane Jazz Festival returns for a weekend of live music. Headline acts include American multi-instrumentalist Kwame Yeboah, jazz keys player Charlie Stacey and south London producer Footshooter. 23-26 April 2026
New exhibitions in London this Spring
STUBBS: The works of visionary British painter George Stubbs — best known for his portrait of racehorse Scrub — are collected together in a free display at the National Gallery. It shines a spotlight on the 18 months Stubbs spent studying and drawing the anatomy of horses in the 1750s. FREE, 12 March-31 May 2026
WARTIME LONDON: View the effects of the Second World War in London through the works of artists who were active at the time. The Imperial War Museum's free exhibition Beauty and Destruction: Wartime London in Art contains over 45 paintings and drawings alongside photographs, film, objects and oral histories, showcasing scenes from the Docklands to St Paul's. FREE, 20 March-1 November 2026
LAST PRINCESSES OF PUNJAB: Punjabi princess and suffragette icon Sophia Duleep Singh, and five women who shaped her life, are in the spotlight in a new exhibition at Kensington Palace. Sophia and her sisters Catherine and Bamba; her mother Bamba Muller; grandmother Jind Kaur; and godmother Queen Victoria each became powerful changemakers in their own right. 26 March-8 November 2026
FAIRY TALES: Interactive displays, theatrical design, costumes and activities feature in family-friendly exhibition Fairy Tales at the British Library. Familiar characters and magical creatures are brought to life as you learn how fairy tales have been transformed through time. You can step into a couple of tales too, by sitting at the Three Bears' breakfast table, telling the genie your wish and smelling the wicked witch's potions. 27 March-23 August 2026
SCHIAPARELLI: The V&A South Kensington's fashion exhibitions are always phenomenally successful, and they'll be hoping for another hit with Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art. It tells the story of fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli, including the inspiration she took from the Surrealism movement, and the fashion house she established, which is still going strong today. From 28 March 2026
HENRY MOORE: Kew Gardens gets a makeover when over 100 pieces by Henry Moore are installed, including 30 monumental sculptures set throughout the Gardens, and 70 works on paper, models and smaller pieces displayed in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art. 9 May 2026-January 2027
WHISTLER AT TATE BRITAIN: 150 works of art by James McNeill Whistler go on display at Tate Britain, on loan from the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. Perhaps best known among the pieces is Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1 (aka Portrait of the Artist's Mother/Whistler's Mother), shown alongside Whistler's notebooks, self-portraits and large canvases, including his soupy depictions of the industrialised Thames. 21 May-27 September 2026
New theatre shows in London this spring
I'M EVERY WOMAN: Singer Alexandra Burke stars in I'm Every Woman: The Chaka Khan Musical at Peacock Theatre. Watch the life and career of Khan, spanning 22 albums, 25 chart-topping hits and 70 million records sold, come to life on stage. From 5 March 2026
ROMEO & JULIET: One of London's most anticipated theatre shows of 2026 is Romeo & Juliet at the Harold Pinter Theatre, starring Sadie Sink (Stranger Things) and Noah Jupe (Hamnet) as the star cross'd lovers of Shakespeare's romantic tragedy. 16 March-6 June 2026
INTER ALIA: Transferring to the West End after a run at the National Theatre, Inter Alia opens at Wyndham's Theatre, with Rosamund Pike returning as judge Jessica Parks, who is trying to balance her career with the demands of motherhood. 19 March-20 June 2026
THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND: Based on a memoir and film of the same name, the true story of William Kamkwamba is told in new musical The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind, at Soho Place. William designs and builds a windmill to make his Malawi village's broken water pump work again, and saves the local area from drought. 29 April-18 July 2026
GENTLEMAN JACK: The story of powerful Yorkshire woman Anne Lister — better known as Gentleman Jack — is told through dance, in a production by the Northern Ballet at Sadler's Wells. 19-23 May 2026
HIGH SOCIETY: Call The Midwife star Helen George stars in Barbican Theatre's big Summer production, High Society, about a socialite who's about to remarry her ex-husband at the wedding of the year. Felicity Kendal also stars. 19 May-11 July 2026
BEETLEJUICE: Tim-Burton-film-turned-Broadway-musical-extravaganza Beetlejuice lands in the West End, telling the tale of Lydia Deetz — a strange teenager sharing her home with a pair of newly-deads and the demonic 'ghost with the most', Beetlejuice. From 20 May 2026
Food and drink events in London in Spring 2026
HOT SAUCE FESTIVAL: How hot is too hot for you? Find out at the Hot Sauce Festival in Peckham, where hundreds of small-batch sauces from 40+ traders are available to try and buy, along with live music, games, street food — and a bar for palate-cleansing drinks. 9-10 May 2026
LONDON COFFEE FESTIVAL: Get your fill of caffeine and then some, at the London Coffee Festival, a four-day programme of tastings, demos, competitions, shopping and more at The Truman Brewery on Brick Lane. 14-17 May 2026
FOODIES FESTIVAL: Head to Syon Park for Foodies Festival, a three-day celebration of all things edible (and quaffable), with a side of live music. Pixie Lott, The Wanted and Scouting For Girls are among the performers, with live demos by celebrity chefs, street food and artisan markets, kids' cookery sessions, pop-up bars and more. 23-25 May 2026
