AUTUMN PURSUITS: With autumn well and truly settling in, why not wrap up and go on a walk to see London's autumn leaves at their best? Or release your inner child with a game of conkers — there are even two official conker championships taking place in London this month.
ICE HOCKEY: We're well into the ice hockey season now. Don't know much about the sport? Need a refresher? Wondering where you can watch a match? Have a read of our guide to ice hockey in London.
OKTOBERFEST 2026: The German celebration of Oktoberfest has made itself right at home on our shores. There are loads of beer-based celebrations going on in London this month if you know where to look... which we do, naturally. Read our guide to Oktoberfest events and parties to find your way to your nearest stein, bratwurst or oompah band.
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 all-too-often unheralded accomplishments of Black Britons in all fields throughout history. It's national, but we've picked a few highlights happening in London this month, including walks, talks and tours. 1-31 October 2026
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. A medical comedy night, filmmaking workshops, guided tours, Diwali celebrations and museum treasure hunts are all on the programme. 1-31 October 2026
MONTH OF THE DEAD: Ghoulishly good festival of death Month of the Dead is back, with talks on the macabre, cemetery tours, silent horror film screenings, and a necrocopia of other events taking a cerebral look at death and the afterlife. Londonist's own Matt Brown gives a talk on Maps of the Dead — how maps can reveal the lives of those who shaped the city around us. Tickets are selling fast, with some events already sold out. 1 October-1 November 2026
KOREA EXHIBITION:The big news at the British Museum at the moment is the (sold-out) Bayeaux Tapestry exhibition, but it's also opening Korea, which looks at the peninsula's history and cultural life through objects including ceramics, Buddhist sculpture, paintings and items associated with royal courts. 1 October 2026-31 January 2027
BIG DRAW FESTIVAL: Worldwide celebration of drawing the Big Draw Festival is launched at the apt venue of the House of Illustration, which opened earlier this year in Clerkenwell. Across two days, take part in workshops, talks and activities for all ages for both lifelong artists and enthusiastic doodlers. 2-3 October 2026
LONDON LATINO FILM FESTIVAL: The inaugural London Latino Film Fest presents around 60 films from across Latin America and its diasporas, staged across multiple London venues with screenings, Q&As, industry sessions and a community programme. 2-6 October 2026
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
VINTAGE BUS RIDES: For one day, the London Bus Museum runs buses dating from the 1930s-70s on a short stretch of the 106 route, between Finsbury Park and Ash Grove Bus Station on Mare Street, via Stoke Newington, Clapton and Hackney Central. You can hop on board for free. FREE, 3 October 2026
HARVEST FESTIVAL: Celebrate the harvest at Morden Hall Park with apple-pressing demonstrations, folk music and Morris dancing from Black Swan Border Morris, and interactive sessions with nature educator Professor Queen Bee. Punch and Judy shows are staged for younger visitors and the Wimbledon Beekeepers Association presents a pollinators exhibition and announce their honey competition winners. 3 October 2026
FESTIVAL OF THE GIRL: Islington's Business Design Centre hosts the Festival of the Girl, ahead of the International Day of the Girl (11 October). Aimed at girls and their families, the event aims to inspire, engage and to break down harmful gender stereotypes. 3-4 October 2026
NFL IN LONDON: Across three Sundays in October, 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. 4-18 October 2026
KRISTIN SCOTT-THOMAS: Actor Kristin Scott Thomas stars in a new West End adaptation of Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, at the Harold Pinter Theatre. After years away, Lyubov Ranevskaya returns to find her family home and beloved cherry orchard under threat. 3 October 2026-9 January 2027
LONDON MEMORY WALK: Sign up for the London Memory Walk, and walk either 2km or 5km through London, raising money for Alzheimer's Society. Starts and finishes at Potters Fields Park, next to Tower Bridge. 4 October 2026
APPLE DAY: Fulham Palace celebrates the orchard harvest with its annual Apple Day, a family-friendly event featuring market stalls, a tombola, a baking contest, garden games, storytelling, children's crafts and other activities. 4 October 2026
LONDON RESTAURANT FESTIVAL: Foodie favourite London Restaurant Festival runs throughout October, with eateries across the capital putting on special menus. There are also restaurant-hopping tours, tastings and masterclasses, though these tend to book out in advance, so get planning. 4-29 October 2026
AFTER THE FIRE: The Insurance Museum opens a new display at the Bank of England Museum, recreating London around 1700, including a large-scale street scene and an interior reconstruction of Edward Lloyd’s Coffee House. The immersive display explores the rise of early fire insurance, merchants, underwriters and investors. FREE, 5 October-27 November 2026
SIR MICHAEL PALIN: Legendary actor and travel writer Sir Michael Palin appears at the Royal Geographical Society to interview Sue Flood OBE and Ian Dawson about their polar photography book, Midnight Sun. 6 October 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
AN OAK TREE: Tim Crouch's experimental play An Oak Tree returns to The Other Palace, with Crouch joined by a different guest co‑star at each performance (guests include Rosalie Craig, Clare Perkins, Tom Mothersdale, Gemma Whelan, Bessie Carter, Sacha Dhawan, Hammed Animashaun and George Fouracres). The piece examines loss, suggestion and blame following a fatal accident involving a stage hypnotist. 7 October-15 November 2026
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
KNITTING AND STITCHING SHOW: The Knitting & Stitching Show is at Ally Pally, with hundreds of exhibitors selling supplies including yarn, fabric, buttons, fat quarters, sewing machines and more. Get inspired in the galleries, which display works by textile artists and groups. 8-11 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. 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. 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.
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. 9 October 2026-31 January 2027
WELSH AUTUMN MARKET: The London Welsh Centre hosts its Autumn Market with more than 50 Welsh traders selling handmade gifts, food, drink, jewellery and artwork. The market supports the Centre’s fundraising campaign to improve accessibility. 10 October 2026
CLASSICALLY BLACK: Classically Black is a cultural movement redefining classical music with powerful performances and new commissions showcasing talents often overlooked in the industry. Head to Kings Place for a day of live performances and panel discussions. 10 October 2026
NEW SCIENTIST LIVE: Wildlife storytelling, dark matter and the evolution of the human species are among the topics at New Scientist Live at Excel London. Experts from all manner of fields give talks on their topics including anthropologist Alice Roberts, astronaut Helen Sharman, and astrophysicist Chrus Lintott. 10-12 October 2026
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. Either way, be aware of road closures in central London on the day 11 October 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
TAP DANCE: After a sold-out run in 2024, tap dance show Stories returns to the Peacock Theatre, telling the story of a young, successful actor who is under the oppressive influence of his director behind the scenes. 14-31 October 2026
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
WALLACE & GROMIT: Lightroom in King's Cross launches Larger Than Life, an immersive 50‑minute experience from Aardman that projects Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, Morph and archival material across Lightroom’s four 11‑metre walls and the floor. From 14 October 2026
FLOWERS IN THE FIELDS: Trafalgar Square's Georgian church St Martin-in-the-Fields gets a floral makeover for flower festival Flowers in the Fields. Blooming lovely installations go on display all over the building, and floral demonstrations take place all weekend. 15-17 October 2026
WIMBLEDON BOOKFEST: Elif Shafak, Celia Imrie, Robert Harris, Mary Beard and Sebastian Barry are among the speakers at this year's Wimbledon BookFest, which takes place at venues around central Wimbledon. 15-25 October 2026
THE PIANIST: A new stage adaptation of Wladyslaw Szpilman's memoir The Pianist — which was made into a film in 2002 — opens at Park Theatre. The production features a cast of actor‑musicians bringing the music and atmosphere of pre‑war Warsaw to the stage. 15 October-28 November 2026
SHONIBARE AND GAINSBOROUGH: Yinka Shonibare’s 1998 work 'Mr. and Mrs Andrews without their Heads' is displayed alongside Thomas Gainsborough’s original 'Mr and Mrs Andrews' at the National Gallery, allowing visitors to compare one of Britain’s most celebrated works and its reimagining, side by side. FREE, 15 October 2026-7 February 2027
LOVE NEVER DIES: Phantom of the Opera sequel Love Never Dies is performed in concert at the London Palladium, starring cast members including Jamie Muscato, Celinde Schoenmaker and George Blagden in a show which reunites the masked Phantom with his only true love and musical protégée. 16-18 October 2026
HALLOWEEN AT KEW: We've put together a guide to London's Halloween events, but worth a specific mention is Halloween at Kew. Back for a third year, and by the same team as the magnificent annual Christmas at Kew, it's a spooky light trail through the gardens after dark, through fire gardens, glowing pumpkins and an illuminated haunted wood. Pick between daylight, twilight and moonlight sessions. 16 October-1 November 2026
THE SHAMROCKS: Emmy Award-winning five-piece The Shamrocks bring Irish harmony and multi-instrumental performances to the Cambridge Theatre for one night only, revisiting classics such as Danny Boy, Wild Rover and Whiskey In The Jar alongside original songs. 19 October 2026
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
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
CIRQUE BERSERK: Large-scale theatre circus Cirque Berserk! barrels into the Garrick Theatre. An international troupe of more than 30 acrobats, aerialists and stunt performers mix contemporary cirque-style artistry with adrenaline-fuelled stunt action, including the motorcycle Globe of Death. It's suitable for all ages, so ideal for a half term treat! 21-31 October 2026
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
LONDON CITY BALLET: The award-winning London City Ballet brings a double bill to Sadler's Wells, featuring John Neumeier’s Ghost Light, the first time its been performed outside of Hamburg, and a revival of Glen Tetley’s Firebird. It's the UK premiere for both pieces. 22-24 October 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
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
HALF TERM: The school break falls over the last week of October, meaning there will be plenty of family-friendly events taking place around London. Browse our half term events guide for theatre shows, exhibitions and other events and activities for all ages. 24 October-1 November 2026
ROCK ORCHESTRA: Things get lively at Wembley Arena, as the Rock Orchestra headlines Arena Of Fire. The 90-minute live concert features 14 classical musicians performing rock and metal covers alongside pyrotechnics, fire performers, and circus acts. 25 October 2026
CLOCKS CHANGE: A reminder that the clocks go back an hour at 2am on Sunday 25 October 2026. Sadly that means winter is truly coming, but fear not, we've put together some ideas for brightening up the dark nights here in London.
BIG STORY FESTIVAL: The Imperial War Museum in Lambeth holds its inaugural Big Story Festival, a free-to-attend, family-focused weekend of storytelling, featuring talks with bestselling children's authors Dame Jacqueline Wilson and Tom Palmer, illustration workshops with Will Hughes, free Play and Sing sessions for younger visitors, and guided tours of the museum's galleries. Some workshops and author events require paid tickets. 25-26 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
STAMPEX INTERNATIONAL: The Philatelic Traders Society brings together stamp collectors and traders from all over the world for Stampex International at the Business Design Centre in Islington. Join businesses, societies, exhibitors, influencers and hobbyists to trade collectibles. FREE, 28-31 October 2026
CARMEN: A treat for opera fans: Georges Bizet's seductive Carmen is at the Royal Opera House. Sung in French with English surtitles, the opera follows Carmen and Don José and includes well-known numbers such as the Habanera and the Toreador Song. 29 October-21 November 2026
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
HALLOWEEN: Things get spooky in London towards the end of October as Halloween looms. Check out 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
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
London exhibitions and shows closing in October 2026
A few things are closing this month too. October 2026 is your last chance to see:
FROM JAPAN WITH LOVE: A major retrospective of Japanese creative director NIGO charts his career from Harajuku streetwear to international fashion and design at the Design Museum. View more than 700 objects from his personal collection, including a recreation of his teenage bedroom. Until 4 October 2026
PORTRAIT AWARD: The Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery showcases contemporary portrait painting, including this year's prizewinners Marc Dalessio, Chloe Cox, Michael Slusakowicz and Joel Nichols. FREE, until 7 October 2026
MUSIC, MIGRATION AND MOBILITY: Touring exhibition Music, Migration and Mobility traces the journeys of a group of musicians spanning several genres as they fled Nazi Europe and arrived in Britain during the Second World War. See it at St John's Waterloo. FREE, until 9 Octover 2026
BLOODSPORT: Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery stars in Bloodsport, a play about Helen of Troy's return after a war fought in her name, at Stratford East Theatre. Until 10 October 2026
ELECTRA/PERSONA: Cate Blanchett stars in the National Theatre's production Electra/Persona. During a performance of Electra, an actress suddenly falls silent, in a powerful exploration of identity, and the fragile line between who we are and who we play. Until 10 October 2026
STING: Legendary musician Sting performs in 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
KYOTOGRAPHIE: The work of two established photographers, Kawada Kikuji and Iwane Ai, are shown together at Japan House London in an exhibition of prints and large immersive projections. FREE, until 18 October 2026
ANISH KAPOOR: Mirror sculptures, Vantablack-coated objects, seemingly depthless voids and recent visceral paintings and sculptures are all part of Anish Kapoor's Hayward Gallery exhibition. Until 18 October 2026
JANE EYRE: This UK premiere run of the Tony‑nominated musical adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s novel Jane Eyre plays at Southwark Playhouse Elephant, offering a story of ambition and independence, gothic mystery and great passionate love. Until 24 October 2026
THE STORY: Newsroom thriller play The Story at the National Theatre tells the tale of four journalists who race to get the headline when a white teacher is killed in a black neighbourhood, forcing them to weigh up how far they'll go to tell their version of the truth. Until 24 October 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
NAZI SLAVE LABOUR: A tough exhibition at the Wiener Holocaust Library explores the Nazi system of slave and forced labour, with archival documents, company files and eyewitness testimony showing how perpetrators such as the SS and firms including I.G. Farben and Krupp profited from and exploited forced labourers. FREE, until 30 October 2026
THE OPERATING THEATRE: The Hunterian Museum explores how hospital operating theatres have changed over two and a half centuries, from an 18th-century amputation painting to early 20th-century photographs and contemporary images of NHS surgical teams. The exhibition looks at developments in anaesthesia, antisepsis, theatre design and the ethics of showing surgery. Until 31 October 2026
