While "Winter" tends to encompass December-February, there's more than enough going on over the Christmas period to keep even the most ambitious Londoner (or visitor) busy. So here are some of the best events happening in London in the quieter part of winter: January-February 2026.
Cultural events in London in winter 2026
SNOWDROPS IN LONDON: The first signs of spring in London are the snowdrops, which poke their heads up through the chilly ground throughout January and February. We've shared some of the best places to see snowdrops in London, including a very popular annual snowdrop sale where you can snap up your own to take home with you. January-February
NO TROUSERS TUBE RIDE: The annual No Trousers Tube Ride returns to London's public transport network, with members of the public navigating the Tube minus their trousers. Anyone can take part; just make your way to the meeting point in Chinatown. Note that trousers should be kept on until you enter the Underground... and underwear is very much required at all times. 11 January
MIME LONDON: Previously, London International Mime Festival took place at this time of year, but that's been replaced with a new event, Mime London. The same directorial team is behind it, though, with shows and workshops at venues including Barbican and Sadler's Wells. 17 January-1 February
LONDON ART FAIR: The capital's art scene swings into action for the year at the London Art Fair at the Business Design Centre in Islington. Focus is on modern and contemporary pieces, with galleries from all over London and beyond exhibiting. 20-25 January
LONDON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL: January is ideal for cosying up in the cinema and watching films, which is where London Short Film Festival comes in. Taking place at several independent cinemas around the capital, the programme boasts a wealth of new drama, documentary, comedy and animation short films, competition-winning films and industry events such as Q&As and speed-pitching sessions. 23 January-1 February
WHITEHALL MARCH: In late January 1649, King Charles I was led from St James's Palace to Banqueting House on Whitehall, in front of which he was beheaded, thus drawing a gory line under the English Civil War. For the past half century, The King's Army, a royalist branch of the English Civil War Society, has commemorated what they call "His Majestie's horrid murder", and on Sunday 25 January, they return for their 54th parade. 25 January
BURNS NIGHT 2026: Better dig out your best tartan and brush up on your Selkirk Grace... 25 January is Burns Night, the annual (and enthusiastic) celebration of Scotland's national poet. Our pick of London's best Burns Night events this year covers everything from lively ceilidhs to slap-up Scottish meals (accompanied by a dram or two, naturally), and even a pub crawl led by a bagpiper. 25 January
THE CONVERSATION: After a successful launch series last year St Martin-in-the-Fields brings back The Conversation, a literary event featuring weekly conversations with some of the UK's brightest minds tackling some of the biggest political, social and environmental challenges of our time. Author Ian McEwan, historian Hallie Rubenfold, ornithologist Mya-Rose Craig and journalist Gary Younge are among those on the 2026 line up. 27 January-28 April
KEW ORCHID FESTIVAL: The Kew Gardens team are very clever: Every year, they provide us with a much-needed tidal wave of spring colour, just as the winter reaches its bleakest point, in the form of the Orchid Festival. This year, it's all about species of orchids from China, with dragons, koi carp and pandas made from flowers, and Orchid lates celebrating Chinese culture. Even better, it takes place in the toasty warm Princess of Wales Conservatory — just the ticket for escaping the winter chill. 7 February-8 March 2026
UCL ILLUMINATED: One of our picks of things to look forward to in 2026 is UCL Illuminated, a light and sound show at the university's Wilkins Building, kickstarting the institution's 200th anniversary celebrations. Tickets are available to everyone, whether you have links to UCL or not — with lights and animations projected onto the building, accompanied by music in a 12-minute show. 11-13 February 2026
LONDON BOOKSHOP CRAWL: The London Bookshop Crawl encourages you to visit as many independent bookshops as possible over the course of one weekend — with events at various shops around the capital (as well as online) to foster a community of book lovers. The aim, of course, is to support London's independent bookshops, while treating yourself to a few new reads. 13-15 February
VALENTINE'S DAY: We'll bring you our guide to London's Valentine's Day events closer to the big day. In the meantime, make like cupid and get booking for one of London's most romantic restaurants or hotels, or plan a romantic day out in the capital.
CLIMB ALLY PALLY: The highest roof walk in the UK, Summit: Ally Pally Rooftop Adventure launches in mid-February 2026, taking brave climbers up to 130 metres above sea level to enjoy 360-degree views of London and beyond, stretching as far as 25 miles. From 14 February
CHINESE/LUNAR NEW YEAR: Chinese/Lunar New Year falls on 17 February 2026, heralding the start of the Year of the Horse. Keep an eye out closer to the time for special events, including London's Chinese New Year Parade. 17 February
SPACE BY LUXMURALIS: Light show wizards Luxmuralis strike again, with Space at St Martin-in-the-Fields. Across five evenings, the exterior and interior of the Trafalgar Square church are illuminated with projections telling the story of human exploration in space. See footage of the first rocket launch, explore the creation story and the Big Bang, and view the final image of Earth as if looking back from space under a galaxy of stars. 17-21 February 2026
COLLECT 2026: Head to Somerset House for Collect 2026, an art fair specialising in contemporary craft and design. Over 400 artists are represented by 40 specialist galleries and dealers, with prices ranging from £500 to £50,000. You've got 50 grand kicking about, right? 27 February-1 March 2026
Family events in London in winter 2026
BATTERSEA PLANETARIUM: Got a space fan in the family? A dome pops up at Battersea Power Station, housing the new Planetarium Go immersive experience. Explore galaxies, planets and cosmic phenomena through a series of short films, each lasting 20-30 minutes, shown in a 360-degree projection setting. 30 January-1 March 2026
KIDS' LIT FEST: Head to Herne Hill for the Stepping Into Stories Kids' Lit Fest 2026. Full programme TBC at time of writing, but expect to hear from well-known faces in the world of children's literature and publishing. 3-8 February 2026
IMAGINE CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL: CBBC stars Andy and the Odd Socks, and Horrible Histories are on the programme for this year's Imagine Children's Festival, taking place at Southbank Centre during February half term. New for this year is Sleepover Club, where 7-12 year olds and their adults can sleep overnight in the Royal Festival Hall, joined by special guests including author Jacqueline Wilson. Performances, workshops and trails are all part of the Imagine fun, including several free events. 11-21 February 2026
FEBRUARY HALF TERM: For most London schools, February 2026 half term falls Saturday 14-Sunday 22 February 2026. We'll bring you our helpful guide to half term events closer to the time, but bookmark our handy map of central London playgrounds (tried and tested by our own Little Londonists) in the meantime — then cross your fingers for playground-going weather. 14-22 February 2026
THE JOLLY POSTMAN: Clerkenwell's Postal Museum celebrates 40 years of Janet and Allen Ahlberg's children's book The Jolly Postman with a special interactive exhibition. Younger visitors can follow the Jolly Postman’s delivery route, through the woods to the Three Bears’ cottage, via Cinderella at the palace and the Wicked Witch's gingerbread bungalow. 14 February 2026-January 2027
CANARY WHARF ICE RINK: The last of London's seasonal ice rinks stays open until the end of February, to make the most of the half term visitors. It's undercover, so great for rainy days. Until 22 February 2026
Free things to do in London in winter 2026
TWELFTH NIGHT: London's annual Twelfth Night celebrations mix ancient customs with modern festivities, making for a bizarre and eclectic event. Head to the riverside near Shakespeare's Globe to witness wassailing, the Holly Man (or Green Man) being paraded across the river, dramatic performances and a chance to be crowned King or Queen for the day by finding a bean or a pea in a cake. Like we said, an odd (but fascinating) one. FREE (donations encouraged), 4 January
SNOOPY ART TRAIL: You've got until mid-January to see the free Snoopy in the City sculpture trail around the Fleet Street area. A dozen sculptures of the cartoon beagle snoozing atop his kennel have been individually designed by different artists, so wander around and see how many you can track down. Until 16 January 2026
CANARY WHARF WINTER LIGHTS: Once again the streets, docks, malls and squares of Canary Wharf will be aglow, for the 10th anniversary of free light trail Winter Lights. We're awaiting full details of this year's event, but expect the usual mix of luminescent artworks dotted throughout the vicinity. While you're in the area, why not take a twirl on the Canary Wharf ice rink. It's the only one of London's winter ice rinks which stays open right through until February. FREE, 20-31 January
FROST FAIR: The Thames might not freeze over anymore, but that won't stop a pop-up 'Frost Fair' taking place at Borough Yards (11am-3pm and then 7pm-late), featuring outdoor performances, roaming actors, puppeteers, music, workshops (in which you can make an elephant mask) and various interactive sessions. Stay posted here. FREE, 31 January
SERPENTINE CURRENTS: Artist Dana-Fiona Armour is the latest to take over the Courtyard at Somerset House, with her large-scale installation Serpentine Currents – Fragments of a Changing Future. The three-part illuminated sculpture is modelled from a 3D scan of an endangered sea snake species, with an LED surface animated using ocean data from the British coastline, to bring attention to the changing conditions of our oceans. FREE, 19 February-26 April 2026
Sporting events in London in winter 2026
FIFA WOMEN'S CHAMPIONS CUP: London hosts the semi-finals, a third-place play-off, and the final of the first-ever FIFA Women's Champions Cup, with matches at both Arsenal's and Brentford's stadiums. The tournament showcases the highest level of women's club football, with the semi-final matches already confirmed as Arsenal vs AS FAR and Gotham FC vs Corinthians. Tickets available here. 28 January-1 February
WWF WINTER WANDER: Conservation charity the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is encouraging people to organise their own sponsored walk this month, to raise money for its work. To get involved in the Big Winter Wander, complete a 5k or 10k walk in your local area, either on your own or with family and friends. 9-22 February
SUPER BOWL 2026: Sunday 8 February is the date for NFL fans to mark in their diaries, as that's when Super Bowl LX takes place at Levi's Stadium in California. At time of writing, we don't know which teams will be playing, but Puerto Rican performer Bad Bunny is headlining the half-time show (the bit that lots of people seem to care about most). Plenty of London venues will screen the action, and we'll bring you details closer to the time. Be warned, it goes on until the very early hours of Monday morning UK time, so consider booking the day off work.
LONDON WINTER RUN: At time of writing, there's still time to bag a place for the London Winter Run in aid of Cancer Research UK. The 10K run takes place on closed roads in central London, beginning in Trafalgar Square and taking you out to the City before curving back and finishing on Whitehall. Entertainment in the form of steel and brass bands and pop and rock choirs keeps you motivated along the route. 15 February 2026
Music events and festivals in London in winter 2026
JANUARY BLUES FESTIVAL: The best way to banish the January blues? With the January Blues Festival of course! This year's line-up of the event held annually at 229 on Great Portland Street features Robben Ford, Nine Below Zero and Vanessa Collier, among many others. 3-24 January 2026
ANOTHER MUSIC FESTIVAL: Curated by violinist Roman Mints, Another Music Festival: Displaced brings three concerts to St John's Waterloo exploring music shaped by exile — from Chopin, Stravinsky and Hindemith to contemporary works and UK/world premieres. Performers include Roman Mints, Katya Apekisheva, Vadym Kholodenko and Sasha Grynyuk. 18-21 January 2026
INDEPENDENT MUSIC WEEK: Flex your support for London's indie music venues at this tough time of the year, by going to a gig or two as part of Independent Music Week. Shows include Annie & the Caldwells at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club and Soaked at the Camden Assembly. 26 January-1 February 2026
LONDON HANDEL FESTIVAL: From Heavenly Harmony is the theme of the 2026 London Handel Festival, a five-week celebration of Handel's music. The English Concert, Opera Settecento, and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment are among those taking part at venues including the Foundling Museum, Shoreditch Town Hall and Smith Square Hall. 18 February-28 March 2026
SOHO CALLING 2026: Music festival Soho Calling takes place across several venues, with performers from across the UK and Europe. Choose between an All Access wristband to hop between the venues, or tickets for one specific place. 25 February 2026
New exhibitions in London this winter
HAWAI'I: The first big exhibition opening of 2026 is the British Museum's Hawai'i: a kingdom crossing oceans, celebrating the history and art of Hawai'i. Feathered cloaks worn by chiefs, shark-toothed weapons and works by Native Hawaiian artists are among the objects on display, marking more than 200 years since King Liholiho and Queen Kamāmalu travelled across vast oceans, sadly contracting a fatal illness during a visit to the Royal Military Asylum in Chelsea. 15 January-25 May
KINDRED: The Bethlem Museum of the Mind's new exhibition, Kindred, considers how community, memory and relationships shape experiences of mental distress. Works from the museum's collection, including Benji Reid's Holding Onto Daddy, are shown alongside other paintings, photographs and mixed-media pieces to explore loneliness, care and social support. 16 January-27 June
SAMURAI: Another big opening at the British Museum is Samurai, which delves into the reality behind a millennium of myth about the legendary Japanese warriors. Hear the true stories of the real men and women whom we know as samurai, from the battlefields of medieval Japan to the global pop culture of today. 3 February-4 May 2026
LUCIAN FREUD: The National Portrait Gallery's Lucian Freud exhibition focuses on the early drawings which he later turned into paintings, placing his sketchbooks and sketches alongside the paintings to show how his works evolved as he transitioned from paper to canvas. 12 February-4 May 2026
WALLACE AND GROMIT: The Young V&A celebrates 50 years of stop-motion studio Aardman with an exhibition dedicated to its most famous creations, Wallace & Gromit, as well as other familiar faces. Over 150 objects from Aardman's archives go on display, spanning models, sets and storyboards, including early character ideas for Wallace & Gromit, and the duo's motorbike and sidecar from Vengeance Most Fowl. 12 February-15 November 2026
WATER PANTANAL FIRE: The fragile beauty of the Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland, is on display in free photography exhibition Water Pantanal Fire at the Science Museum. View 60 images by documentary photographers Lalo de Almeida and Luciano Candisani, capturing both the breathtaking beauty of the Pantanal through Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, and the devastation it now faces. FREE, 16 February-31 May 2026
TRACEY EMIN: The biggest ever exhibition of Tracey Emin artworks, Tracey Emin: A Second Life spans the artist's striking, and highly versatile, 40-year career, featuring 90 works encompassing painting, video, textile, neon, sculpture and installation. And yes, it's got that bed. 26 February-30 August 2026
UNDERGROUND (AND SURFACE): Featuring Jock McFadyen's oppressive oil paintings of fragments of the Tube network, Underground (and Surface) sets up shop in Guildhall Art Gallery from the end of February. It's soundtracked by creaks, groans and grinding, as recorded by Pogues musician Jem Finer. 27 February-20 September
Theatre shows in London this winter
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: Regular as clockwork every January, Cirque du Soleil swings back into the Royal Albert Hall to wow audiences with its latest production. OVO brings the bug world to life, with acrobatics inspired by the abilities of creatures both real and imagined: crickets leap skyward, butterflies soar midair, ants juggle with precision and spiders contort, bend and twist in the family-friendly show. From 9 January
SUNNY AFTERNOON: The 2014 jukebox musical Sunny Afternoon is back — this time staged at the stunning Alexandra Palace Theatre, not far from the band's old stomping ground of Muswell Hill. All the hits are in this autobiographical story of the band. From 15 January
BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOL: The tempestuous relationship between F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald — as witnessed through the eyes of their daughter, Scottie — is the subject of this rock musical, on at Southwark Playhouse Borough. From 15 January
CABLE STREET: Following two sold out runs in 2024, this powerful musical set around the day of the Blackshirt-trouncing Battle of Cable Street in 1936 is back on stage, at Marylebone Theatre. It's been called a "dazzling musical portrait of a community against fascism". From 16 January
THE TEMPEST: A candlelit production of Shakespeare's The Tempest opens at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, retelling the tale of Prospero, Miranda, Caliban and Ariel, four lost souls stranded on an island with no hope of escape. 17 January-12 April
JIMMY: After being served up rave reviews last time round, Adam Riches brings his one-man show Jimmy back to the Park Theatre, depicting tennis player Jimmy Connors' epic comeback at the 1991 US Open, in an incredible feat of mental and physical theatre. Trust us, it's ace. 19-24 January
HAROLD FRY: 2023 film The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry — about a pensioner who sets out on a pilgrimage from Devon to Berwick — has now tramped all the way to London's West End, starring Mark Addy of Full Monty fame in the title role. From 29 January
