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
BBC PROMS: Classical music festival the BBC Proms continues until mid-September, culminating in the famous Last Night of the Proms. Until 12 September 2026
WIESENTHAL: One‑person play Wiesenthal follows the Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter on his final day in his Vienna office in 2003, exploring memory and the pursuit of justice at close quarters. See it at Wilton's Music Hall. 1-5 September 2026
FRINGE FIX: Missed Edinburgh Fringe Festival? Underbelly Boulevard Soho brings some of the best shows to London for Fringe Fix, a post-Fringe festival/party running for almost a month. Michael Kinnan's unauthorised retelling of Titanic and Australian singing comedian Conk are among the schedule. 1-26 September 2026
TWELFTH NIGHT: This production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night at the Drayton Arms Theatre (Brompton) is a disco-flavoured retelling with music, fashion and dancing woven into the story of mistaken identity, love, and deception. 1-26 September 2026
TOTALLY THAMES 2026: An annual celebration of London's rivers, Totally Thames Festival returns for a month of tours and river cruises, music performances, talks, art installations, theatre shows and guided walks — including a super-choir performance, and an art installation on the former Blackfriars Bridge pillars. 1-30 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
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
LONDON PODCAST FESTIVAL: Headphones at the ready for London Podcast Festival at Kings Place, which sees both mainstream and more niche podcasts recorded in front of a live audience, with some streamed online too. No Such Thing As A Fish and the Empire Film Podcast are some of the big name shows, along with offerings on comedy, history and wrestling. 3-13 September 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
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
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
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
ART CAR BOOT FAIR: Play Free is the theme of this autumn's Art Car Boot Sale, which sees almost 120 artists selling their artworks out of car boots at Granary Square in King's Cross, with plenty of comedy entertainment to enjoy while you browse. 5 September 2026
BROMPTON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Cycling event Brompton World Championships takes place at Lee Valley VeloPark featuring The Main Event — a Le Mans‑style start and five laps of a 900m urban circuit with 650 participants— and the new 4‑Fold Relay for teams of up to four. Spectator tickets are available. 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 (more on which below). 5-6 September 2026
WANSTEAD FRINGE: Plays, kids' shows, outdoor cinema screenings and a street festival are just a few of things happening for the Wanstead Fringe 2026, which opens with an eve-of-fringe charivari, and closes with a huge finale party. 4-26 September 2026
BROMPTON CEMETERY DAY: Though you can visit Brompton Cemetery at any day of the year, the renowned burial site holds a special open day in early September, offering tours of the cemetery and its catacombs, local stalls, children's activities, and birds of prey displays. 6 September 2026
PALMERS GREEN FESTIVAL: Broomfield Park is the venue for the 2026 Palmers Green Festival, a fete-style celebration with funfair rides, an art show, a model boat display on the boating lake, a dog show, and other entertainment for all ages. FREE ENTRY, 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
WILDLIFE ART EXHIBITION: Annual art exhibition David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation - Wildlife Artist of the Year pops up at Mall Galleries, showcasing wildlife-themed artworks from around the world, from recycled plastic sculptures and intricate pencil drawings to vast colourful oil paintings. All artworks are for sale, with 50% of proceeds going to the charity's conservation work in Asia and Africa. FREE, 8-12 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
YUJA WANG: Experience a virtual recital in which an avatar of world-renowned pianist Yuja Wang performs on a Steinway Spirio piano inside a roaming, animated dreamscape at the Royal Festival Hall. Choose whether to move around the space or sit to watch the 45-minute presentation. 9 September 2026-January 2027
FOURTH PLINTH UNVEILING: Trafalgar Square gets a glow-up this month as the latest Fourth Plinth installation is unveiled. Lady in Blue by Tschabalala Self is made of bronze and patinated with lapis lazuli blue and represents "a young, metropolitan woman of colour". It replaces replacing the current installation, Mil Veces un Instante (A Thousand Times in an Instant) by Teresa Margolles which has been in situ since 2024. From 10 September 2026
TASTE OF ICELAND: Get stuck into three days of Icelandic food, music, literature and culture across multiple venues at Taste Of Iceland festival. Headliners and highlights include comedian Ari Eldjárn, an Iceland Noir crime fiction session with authors Ragnar Jónasson and Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, and an Icelandic tasting menu at Darby's. 10-12 September 2026
FLOWER FESTIVAL: A flower festival at Strawberry Hill House turns the beautiful gothic building into a floral masterpiece. Wander through the house and gardens viewing special displays created by floral designers from all over the UK, with a focus on sustainability. 10-13 September 2026
BAYEAUX TAPESTRY: The good news: Arguably the biggest exhibition in London this year — possibly for several years — opens this month. The bad news: it's currently sold out. The Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum puts the 70-metre long textile piece on display, the first time it's been in the UK since it was created nearly 1000 years ago. 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 2-26-11 July 2027
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
MARKFIELD ROAD FESTIVAL: Taking place in South Tottenham, Markfield Road Festival is a free arts festival for all ages. Check the website closer to the time for the 2026 programme. 11-13 September 2026
CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE: Explore how artists, digital innovation and AI are reshaping the world we live in at Southbank Centre's Creative Intelligence festival. Find out about the intricate web of resources, labour and data that go into a single Amazon Echo speaker, or play an interactive game set in a post-apocalyptic world, among several other events and activities. 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 40+ 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
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
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
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
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 50 preserved vessels on display, including Dunkirk Little Ships. FREE, 12-13 September 2026
WATERWORKS EXTENDED: Independent music event Waterworks Festival returns to Gunnersbury Park, extending into two days for the first time in its history. It spotlights progressive club culture across house, techno, bass, breaks and soundsystem music, with a focus on community-driven curation and UK nightlife. 12-13 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. Highlights announced at time of writing include livery halls and City churches, along with a solid programme of guided walks. Our previous Open House London highlights include going inside the St Pancras clock tower, and up on the roof of 55 Broadway. 12-20 September 2026
MOON CELEBRATION WEEK: Go lunar loopy as the Royal Observatory holds Moon Celebration Week, a chance to learn more about our closest celestial neighbour through observation sessions, talks and workshop. 12-20 September 2026
LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL: The 24th edition of London Design Festival continues showcasing London as the design capital of the world. We're expecting the usual blend of displays and exhibitions, talks and more. Highlights announced so far include The Pangolin Shield, a large-scale artwork inspired by the endangered species to be installed on the pedestrianised part of Strand, and L-Acoustics, an immersive sound experience at Wapping Hydraulic Power Station. 12-20 September 2026
CHELSEA ARTS FESTIVAL: We're rather impressed by the line-up at Chelsea Arts Festival, a four-day programme of talks, performances and other entertainment. Author Bernardine Evaristo, actors Sir Derek Jacob, Celia Imrie and Tamsin Greig, and comedian Sarah Keyworth are among those appearing. 16-20 September 2026
TABLE 17: Two exes. One dinner. What could go wrong? Comedy play Table 17 makes its UK premiere at Kilburn's Kiln Theatre, bringing a former couple back together for dinner after seven years apart. 17 September-24 October 2026
LETTERS TO THE FUTURE: Amelia Dimoldenberg, Ash Sarkar and Olly Alexander lead Letters to the Future, a Southbank Centre programme 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
BIG GAY BEAVER DAY: "A fundraiser celebrating beavers and the queer community, featuring drag performances, DJs and lesbian arm wrestling" is how the organisers of Big Gay Beaver Day describe the event. Head to Paradise Fields in Ealing for guided tours of the beaver enclosure, followed by an evening of entertainment at nearby Horsenden Hill Farm, all raising money to support Citizen Zoo's ongoing work to restore beavers to London's waterways. 19 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
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
LAUGHTER TO THE RAFTERS: Comedians Dara Ó Briain, Ed Byrne, Sara Pascoe, Sarah Keyworth, Kerry Godliman and Janine Harouni join forces for Laughter To The Rafters, a charity comedy night at Hackney Empire, raising money for homelessness charity The Passage. 21 September 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
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
VIRGINIA WOOLF: From one member of the Bloomsbury group (above) to another, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? opens at Soho Place, about a couple whose 20-year marriage has its flaws exposed by a younger couple they befriend. 21 September-19 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
HAY FEVER: Noël Coward’s comedy play Hay Fever returns to the West End, with the story of an eccentric wealthy family and their various weekend guests playing out at Wyndham's Theatre. 22 September-12 December 2026
AMAR KANWAR: Serpentine North boasts a solo exhibition by New Delhi-based artist and filmmaker Amar Kanwar, in the form of a site-specific installation. Immerse yourself in lyrical films and multi-video installations that move between documentary, travelogue and visual essay which tell the enduring legacies of decolonisation and the 1947 Partition, which led to the creation of India, Pakistan and eventually Bangladesh. FREE, 23 September-31 January 2027
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
FRONT ROW FASHION: Spinal cord injury charity Back Up hosts a fashion show fundraising event at Battersea Arts Centre. Front Row specifically showcases adaptive fashion brands including Unhidden, Intotum, May Marigold, and Recondition, alongside fundraising games and other entertainment. 24 September 2026
BRITISH ART FAIR: The British Art Fair takes place at Chelsea's Saatchi Gallery, showcasing Modern and Contemporary British Art, with 70+ exhibitors selling. In previous years, works by artists including David Hockney, Bridget Riley, Frank Auerbach, Alan Davie, Paul Nash, L.S. Lowry, Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, Grayson Perry, Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and Banksy have been available to buy. 24-27 September 2026
FRENCH FESTIVAL: Ooh la la! Cancan your way over to Hounslow for Bell Square Calling: France, a performing arts festival showcasing French performers. The programme includes circus, dance and music with artists from Montpellier, Marseilles, La Rochelle, and other regions, and some shows are followed by a Q&A with the audience. 24-27 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
LONDON NIGHT HIKE: Do a good deed and raise money for Maggie's Cancer Charity this month, in the form of the London Night Hike. Sign up to walk an eight- or 15-mile route alongside the Thames overnight, passing London landmarks as you go. Both routes start at Maggie's Hammersmith Centre and end at the Barts Centre near St Paul's. 25-26 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
CLASSIC CAR BOOT SALE: Vintage vehicles park up at King's Cross for the autumn edition of the Classic Car Boot Sale. Ogle the wheels, while buying vintage fashion from the back of them. Other entertainment includes clothing repair workshops, live DJs and motorcycle and scooter ride-ins. 26-27 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 whip up their own dishes and, if you like what you see, stock up on ingredients before you leave. 26-27 September 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
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 celeb announcement. FREE, 27 September 2026
LONDON'S MYTHICAL MONSTERS: Steel your nerves, and spend an evening delving into the history of London's mythical monsters and human villains. Guide Pete Smith gives a talk at the London Archives, telling some dark stories from around the capital, both supernatural and human. 30 September 2026
AUTUMN WALKS: Depending how the weather goes throughout the month, the leaves may start turning brown towards the end of September. If that's the case, try one of our favourite autumnal walks in London, where you can see the hues of red and orange in all their glory.
London exhibitions and shows closing in September 2026
A few things are closing this month too. September 2026 is your last chance to see:
CYRANO DE BERGERAC: Adrian Lester stars as the title character in a West End transfer of Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac at the Noël Coward Theatre. A soldier who believes himself too ugly to be loved, but helps a handsome soldier win the heart of Roxane, who he himself also loves. Until 5 September 2026
DISNEY'S HERCULES: It's something of a Greek tragedy that Disney musical Hercules is leaving the West End, ending its run of just over a year at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Until 5 September 2026
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR: Eurovision star Sam Ryder assumes the role of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Palladium. Tyrone Huntley, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Simon Russell Beale, Richard Armitage, and Layton Williams are also among the cast. Until 5 September 2026
MARILYN MONROE: Portraits and photographs of Marilyn Monroe by renowned artists and photographers are on display at the National Portrait Gallery, along with personal belongings such as books, scripts and clothes. Until 6 September 2026
THE GRUFFALO: Tall Stories’ stage adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s picture book returns The Gruffalo to the West End for its 25th anniversary at the Lyric Theatre. Catch a family-friendly production with music and playful staging at the Lyric Theatre. Until 6 September 2026
CECILY BROWN: Serpentine South Gallery hosts a free exhibition of work by artist Cecily Brown, inspired by the gallery's location within Kensington Gardens, a space which holds personal significance for Brown. These new works are shown alongside other key paintings from her career. Until 6 September 2026
JEEVES TAKE CHARGE: One-man show Jeeves Takes Charge sees actor Sam Harrison impressively playing 22 different PG Wodehouse characters including Jeeves, Wooster, Florence Craye, Bingo Little, Uncle Willoughby and Aunt Dahlia. Until 6 September 2026
HEPWORTH IN COLOUR: Barbara Hepworth's experiments with colour across sculpture and drawing are brought together in a research-led exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery. Around 20 sculptures and 30 drawings — including early painted wood and stone carvings from the 1940s and later works from the 1950s and 1960s — are on show. Until 6 September 2026
EXTRA/ORDINARY WOMEN: The real lives of a whole range of women who supported and inspired author Charles Dickens are revealed in Extra/Ordinary Women at the Charles Dickens Museum. Find out about the clues left in Dickens' work which helps us to connect his fictional characters to their real-life counterparts, and view a portrait of the Dickens daughters, Katey and Mamie, on display for the very first time. Until 6 September 2026
DEATH NOTE THE MUSICAL: Based on the manga by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, Death Note The Musical is on at the Barbican. The plot follows student Light Yagami after he discovers a notebook that can decide who lives and who dies, and the detective L who becomes determined to stop him. Until 12 September 2026
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD: Aaron Sorkin’s stage adaptation of Harper Lee's novel To Kill A Mockingbird at Wyndham's Theatre stars Richard Coyle as Atticus Finch. Until 12 September 2026
THE TRUTH: Florian Zeller's marital comedy The Truth is at the Apollo Theatre, starring Stephen Mangan with Ardal O'Hanlon, Sarah Hadland and Janie Dee as two couples tangled in secrets. Until 12 September 2026
PAINT! PATTERN! PRINT!: The Fashion & Textile Museum explores the painterly patterns of design pioneers Susan Collier and Sarah Campbell, from first sketches and studio photographs to printed cloth, fashion and homeware. The sisters worked together for 50 years, creating vibrant patterns and collaborating with brands such as Liberty’s, Heals and Jaeger. Until 13 September 2026
IMMERSIVE GREASE: Don your best 1950s attire for an immersive staging of the 1978 musical Grease. Battersea Park transforms into Rydell High, as a 30-strong cast perform across multiple screens and sets. Until 13 September 2026
THE PRODUCERS: This West End revival of Mel Brooks' The Producers is at the Garrick Theatre, starring Andy Nyman, Marc Antolin, Trevor Ashley, Raj Ghatak, Harry Morrison and Joanna Woodward. The musical is based on the film that inspired the record‑breaking Broadway production. Until 19 September 2026
CATS: A production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's CATS plays at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. The show features familiar numbers such as Memory, Old Deuteronomy and Macavity, as the strays and rebels of London gather under the Jellicle moon in the hope they’ll be the chosen one. Until 19 September 2026
ABIGAIL'S PARTY: Tamzin Outhwaite leads Mike Leigh’s black comedy Abigail’s Party, set in suburban 1977 Essex, at the Harold Pinter Theatre. Until 19 September 2026
WALDMULLER LANDSCAPES: The National Gallery presents the first UK exhibition devoted to Austrian painter Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller's landscape paintings. The show gathers views of Vienna's Prater Park, the lakes and mountains of the Salzkammergut and scenes from Sicily, and highlights Waldmüller’s use of colour, light and detailed brushwork. FREE, until 20 September 2026
JOCK MCFADYEN: Large-scale paintings of sections of the Tube by Jock McFadyen are on display at Guildhall Art Gallery, accompanied by sound effects recorded by Pogues musician Jem Finer. Underground (And Surface) combines familiar, yet uneasy, tableaux of London with the mechanical-but-melodic sounds we hear every day. Until 20 September 2026
EARLY NETHERLANDISH DRAWINGS: Early Netherlandish drawings at the British Museum is a focused display of works on paper by artists active in the Low Countries in the 15th and early 16th centuries. The exhibition examines drawing techniques, material practices and workshop processes, and brings together sheets from the museum’s own collection with short-term loans. FREE, until 20 September 2026
JAPANESE WOMEN PHOTOGRAPHERS: The Photographers' Gallery's summer exhibition displays the work of 27 Japanese women photographers, from the 1950s to the present. More than 200 photographs, videos, installations and rare photobooks are on show, in a bid to rebalance a history too often told through a single, male-dominated lens. Until 27 September 2026
I'M EVERY WOMAN: A stage telling of Chaka Khan’s life and songs, I'm Every Woman is at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre starring Alexandra Burke as the woman behind the music. Songs include I Feel for You, Ain't Nobody and Through The Fire. Until 27 September 2026
