The top events and things to do in London in June-September 2026.
With a glut of events going on in London each Summer, it's hard to pick what to do and where to go. To help you out, we've selected some of our favourite things to do in the capital in June, July, August and September 2026 — whether you want to watch films under the stars, rock out at music festivals or just eat and drink your way around London.
Outdoor culture in London: Summer 2026
When the sun comes out, London takes the roof off. If it rains, you get wet — it's all part of the British summertime fun. Here are a few of our favourite al fresco activities, but do check out our guide to outdoor culture in London for the full experience spanning theatre, music and art taking place outdoors in the coming months.
OUTDOOR CINEMA: It wouldn't be summer in London without an onslaught of pop-up outdoor cinemas and rooftop film screenings. Some start in April or May; others begin in June; and others still make an appearance later in the summer. Here's the full guide to outdoor cinema in London for summer 2026. From 30 April 2026
TROOPING THE COLOUR: The annual ceremony of Trooping the Colour marks the Sovereign's birthday, with the five regiments of Foot Guards totalling 1,200-2,350 soldiers plus hundreds of horses and musicians parading in front of the monarch, in a highly-orchestrated inspection on Horse Guards Parade. There are actually three different ceremonies across three consecutive Saturdays, with tickets for the first two available for anyone to buy (the third, and most famous, is by ballot only, now closed). Full details here. 30 May-13 June 2026
OPEN GARDENS WEEKEND: London Open Gardens Weekend is a chance to explore London's green spaces via open days, tours and talks. They range from allotments to small private gardens, to the larger gardens in the likes of Eaton Square, usually only accessible to local residents with a key. 6-7 June 2026
WEST END LIVE: For one weekend each June, stars from London's current West End musicals perform FOR FREE on a pop-up stage in Trafalgar Square. West End Live is an incredibly popular event, so you'll need to arrive very early to be in with a chance of getting in. FREE, 20-21 June 2026
GREENWICH AND DOCKLANDS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL: We're hoping that free outdoor performing arts festival Greenwich and Docklands International Festival will return. It usually offers two weeks of theatre, art, dance and circus in outdoor locations, including parkour in Woolwich, dancing in Newham, and the annual Greenwich Fair in Greenwich Park. FREE, 2026 dates TBC
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Watch robot football and scoff futuristic food at this free South Kensington festival
Origami spacecraft! Giant roaming puppets! An underground mushroom disco!
It might sound like some super wacky dream, but all this — and a whole lot more — is really happening on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June 2026 at the Great Exhibition Road Festival in South Kensington.
Fun for all ages (and emphatically free), this scientific summer street party hosts hands-on workshops, eye-opening experiments, mind-blowing performances and drool-inducing cookery demos from the likes of Imperial College London, the Natural History Museum, the Royal Parks, Science Museum, V&A and Royal Albert Hall.
Kids will be so enraptured by making invisible things visible, and discovering the surprising similarities between a brownie and the surface of Mars, they won't even realise they're swotting up! Older visitors will love the Adults Only Zone, featuring Science Cabaret, and the chance to make your own black hole! No wonder over 50,000 people attend this fantastic festival each year.
And 2026 is a very special anniversary too — 175 years since the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, which kickstarted many of South Kensington's famous institutions and museums. Top tip: look out for a sculpture of the iconic Crystal Palace... built from seven tonnes of sand!
The Great Exhibition Road Festival, 6-7 June 2026, 12pm-6pm each day.
All events are free. Register for early info.
Cultural events in London in Summer 2026
LONDON FESTIVAL OF ARCHITECTURE: A celebration of architecture and 'city-making', the London Festival of Architecture programme is packed full of more than 400 events throughout the month, from public installations to talks, tours, debates and performances — including some family-friendly events. 1-30 June 2026
CENTRE FOR ILLUSTRATION: After a couple of delays, the Quentin Blake Centre For Illustration finally opens its doors in a former waterworks building in Clerkenwell. The world's largest space dedicated to illustration opens with a debut trio of exhibitions, including one showing off Blake's own work. From 5 June 2026
ZOO NIGHTS: London Zoo's late-night openings are back, for adults only on Fridays in June and July. Zoo Nights is a rare chance to see the animals at dusk, and enjoy tours, live acoustic music, street food and live performances. London Zoo also unveils a special blue plaque trail this summer, marking ZSL's 200th anniversary. 5 June-24 July 2026
LUMINISCENCE: Westminster Cathedral (note: not Westminster Abbey) gets a glow-up throughout the summer in the form of Luminiscence, a 360° projected light show, bathing the sacred space's windows, walls, pillars and ceiling in remarkable moving colourscapes. The building's never-completed mosaic-adorned domes will be digitally created, giving us a glance at what might have been. 1 July-27 September 2026
PRIDE IN LONDON 2026: The absolutely huge Pride in London festival takes place on a Saturday in July, with a parade winding through the centre of London from Hyde Park Corner to Whitehall, and festival stages set up around Soho. Expect to see many Pride after-parties and other LGBTQ+ events taking place around this time too. 4 July 2026
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY: Fourth of July is always a big deal for our American cousins, and even more so this year, as 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. We've put together a guide to special events, as well as some of our favourite all-American restaurants and hot spots around London, so you can celebrate in style. Around 4 July 2026
IDLER FESTIVAL: Popular authors Irvine Welsh, Jojo Moyes and Charlie Higson; Bake Off legend Prue Leith; and former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams are among the speakers at this year's Idler Festival, at Fenton House in Hampstead. Festival goers are invited to do "as much or as little as they please" in a laid-back environment. 10-12 July 2026
GREENWICH COMEDY GARDEN: Jack Dee, Josh Widdicombe, Sara Pascoe, Lou Sanders, Alan Davies and Thanyia Moore are on the bill at Greenwich Comedy Garden, a laughter-inducing festival taking over the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College for eight shows across five days. There are street food stalls and pop-up bars aplenty too. 15-19 July 2026
HYPER JAPAN FESTIVAL: Love all things Japanese? Get yourself to Hyper Japan, a celebration of Japanese culture. Live performances, a market, food and drink stalls and a sake experience are all part of the fun. 24-26 July 2026
LAUGHTERAMA: Somerset House hosts brand new comedy festival Laughterama, with seven open-air shows taking place in the courtyard, with stars including Fern Brady, Jen Brister, Sarah Keyworth, Josh Widdicombe and Ivo Graham, among many others. 29 July-2 August 2026
ROUNDHOUSE COMEDY FESTIVAL: Yet another comedy festival in London this summer unfolds at Camden Roundhouse, launching with a flagship edition of Live at the Roundhouse, headlined by Frank Skinner, and featuring Phil Wang, Rosie Jones and Celya AB, hosted by Saturday Night Live UK star Paddy Young. The programme for the following days spans giggle-inducing performances in the form of stand-up, live podcasts, theatrical comedy and interactive shows. 1-18 August 2026
NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL 2026: West London will be a riot of noise and colour as Notting Hill Carnival takes to the streets once again. Sound systems enliven the area as mas, soca and calypso acts parade through the area, in a kaleidoscopic celebration of Caribbean culture. FREE, 29-31 August 2026
TOTALLY THAMES 2026: Look out for this year's Totally Thames programme, a celebration of all things related to London's arterial river. There are usually multiple events every day throughout the month including exhibitions, talks, guided tours, boat rides and more. Usually throughout September
OPEN HOUSE LONDON 2026: This annual event is like Christmas for members of Team Londonist. A chance to go inside London buildings which are usually closed to the public? Yes please! The full programme hasn't yet been announced, but in the past we've managed to get inside the St Pancras Clock Tower, Battersea Power Station (before the recent redevelopment), Bush House and many more iconic buildings. 2026 dates TBC (usually mid-September)
LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL: Citywide event London Design Festival celebrates the top-notch design work going on around the capital, across architecture, project design, graphic design and more. Events usually include talks, tours, special installations and exhibitions. 12-20 September 2026
Family events in London in Summer 2026
SUMMER HOLIDAYS: With London schools closing for the summer in July and throughout August, we've penned a guide to things to do in London in the summer holidays, with ideas to keep everyone happy from toddlers to teenagers, from exhibitions and festivals, to one-off events and day trip ideas. On a tight budget? Bookmark our pick of free things to do in London in the summer holidays. We'll update both for Summer 2026 closer to the time.
Sport events in London in Summer 2026
Got energy to burn? Good for you. Prefer to watch others do the hard work? That's perfectly fine too.
2026 WORLD CUP: The USA, Canada and Mexico are the hosts for the 2026 World Cup. If you're watching from this side of the Atlantic, book yourself a spot at these London pubs and bars which are showing World Cup games. 11 June-19 July 2026
WORLD NAKED BIKE RIDE 2026: If you're prudish, you may wish to avert your eyes as the World Naked Bike Ride pedals into town. Cyclists let it all hang out as they ride in a group on one of several pre-agreed routes, all converging near Wellington Arch. Don't forget your suncream. Note: in 2026 it takes place on a Sunday instead of a Saturday for the first time. 14 June 2026
WIMBLEDON 2026: The biggest fortnight in tennis is back. If you can't make it to SW19 yourself, fear not — plenty of places around the capital show the action of big screens, often for free. Here's our guide to where to watch Wimbledon, which we'll update for 2026 when details are announced. Want to get closer to the action? Learn all you need to know about joining 'The Queue' for on-the-day tickets. 29 June-12 July 2026
Music events and festivals in London this Summer
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. Alternatively, check out what's on at London's stadiums and arenas: Harry Styles, My Chemical Romance, Bruno Mars, Lily Allen, Bad Bunny and BTS are among the superstar acts passing through the capital this summer.
LIVE AT CHELSEA: The legends keep coming at the newcomer Live At Chelsea festival, which pitches up in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea: over the course of five nights, acts include Holly Johnson, The Proclaimers, The Beach Boys (Mike Love's iteration at least), and Sparks. To paraphrase the latter, this festival is big enough for all of them. 10-14 June
HAMPTON COURT PALACE FESTIVAL: Want a taste of pop royalty? Hampton Court Palace Festival's two-week shindig is back this June (it's individual shows rather than a festival), ready to welcome you with a flute of champagne and space for a picnic, before performances from Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Nile Rodgers & Chic, and David Gray, among others. 10-19 June 2026
HARRY STYLES' MELTDOWN: Harry Styles is the curator of this year's Meltdown at Southbank Centre, ahead of his run of shows at Wembley Stadium. Among the acts he's chosen to perform are Warpaint, Kamasi Washington and Erika de Casier. 11-21 June 2026
BST HYDE PARK: Maroon 5, Mumford and Sons, Pitbull and Lewis Capaldi are among the headliners at this year's BST Hyde Park, commandeering a corner of Hyde Park for a fortnight. On non-gig days, the Open House programme takes place (unrelated to Open House London), with free entertainment spanning live music, film and sports screenings, and loads more. 27 June-12 July 2026
BBC PROMS: If you count the BBC Proms as a music festival, then it's surely the swishest of the lot. It sees nigh-on two full months of live performances at the Royal Albert Hall and a few other participating venues. Though the focus is on classical music, there's an increasing number of shows celebrating modern and contemporary sounds. Read our dedicated guide. 17 July-12 September 2026
Summer 2026: top new theatre shows in London
OPEN AIR THEATRE: The Summer 2o26 season at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre runs May-September, offering five shows: Sherlock Holmes; A Life In Four Seasons; A Midsummer Night's Dream; Cats; and Anansi the Spider. May-September 2026
SHAKESPEARE IN THE SQUARES: Every summer, a single Shakespeare play is performed in open-air gardens and squares all over the capital. For 2026. Shakespeare in the Squares tackles Love's Labour's Lost, popping up in venues including Kensington Gardens Square and Camden Square. 3 June-12 July 2026
GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS: 1992 dark comedy film Glengarry Glen Ross comes to the stage at the Old Vic, in a new adaptation, and with an all-female cast. 4 June-18 September 2026
PRIDE: The National Theatre's headline Summer 2026 production is Pride, set during the miners's strike of 1984, when Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) quickly finds itself entwined with a small pit village in South Wales. 11 June-12 September 2026
IVANOV: Chris Pine makes his London stage debut in a new production of Chekhov's comic drama Ivanov, at the Bridge Theatre. Pine takes on the role of Nikolai Ivanov, a man facing a midlife crisis due to financial and marital woes. 4 July-19 September 2026
TRAINSPOTTING THE MUSICAL: Choose life. Choose Trainspotting the Musical when it opens at Theatre Royal Haymarket, offering an adaptation of the 1996 film set to live music. Irvine Welsh, who wrote the original novel, has penned this adaptation. From 15 July 2026
Best new exhibitions in London: Summer 2026
MARILYN MONROE: Portraits and photographs of Marilyn Monroe by renowned artists and photographers go on display at the National Portrait Gallery to mark what would be the star's 100th birthday, along with personal belongings such as books, scripts and clothes. 4 June-6 September 2026
SERPENTINE PAVILION 2026: 'a serpentine' (their lower case, not ours) is the apt name and design of this year's free Serpentine Pavilion, erected in the grounds of the Serpentine South gallery in June. Mock-ups show the interior will provide an irregular-shaped courtyard with spaces for sitting, and a brise soleil roof propped with thin brick columns. FREE, 6 June-25 October 2026
ROYAL ACADEMY SUMMER EXHIBITION: A highlight of the London art calendar every year, the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition brings together established and rising artists to display their work. Prints, painting, film, photography, architectural works and sculpture all jostle for attention. Full 2026 details TBC. 16 June-23 August 2026
FRIDA KAHLO: Mexican artist Frida Kahlo is the subject of a new exhibition at Tate Modern, featuring over 30 of her works to delve into how she became one of the most influential artists of all time, and a cultural phenomenon. Some of Kahlo's garments, jewellery, photographs and memorabilia feature, along with 200 works by her contemporaries. 25 June 2026-3 January 2027
SUMMER SCIENCE EXHIBITION: The Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition is suitable for all ages, and showcases the latest research from across the UK, through hands-on activities, talks and interactive exhibits. Topics this year include the mysteries of lightning, super computers, and the secrets of the universe. FREE, 30 June-5 July 2026
AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHY: Step into a century of American city life at Dulwich Picture Gallery, which displays photographs of the people who built, inhabited, and transformed urban spaces into living communities. It features works by 34 influential photographers from 1907 to 2012. 28 July-4 October 2026
Top food and drink events in London in Summer 2026
Peckish? Got a thirst on? If London's rooftop bars, beer gardens and ice cream parlours aren't quite cutting it, check out these special foodie festivals and events for something a little bit different.
BURGER FEST: It's all about the patties down at Richmond Athletics Ground, where Burger Fest brings together 20 top traders from all over the UK to battle it out to be crowned the winner. Expect full-size burgers, mini sliders, as well as eating competitions and other entertainment. 12-14 June 2026
TASTE OF LONDON: Foodies will want to head to Regent's Park for Taste of London, the huge, food-based festival which brings dozens of London's best-known restaurants together to feed hungry visitors. It's also a chance to discover up-and-coming London chefs and food businesses take part in tastings and watch masterclasses. This year it's expanding with a new Taste of the City events programme across the capital. 17-21 June 2026
CITY BEERFEST: Over 55 beers from 13 brewers from the UK, Europe and Canada are up for slurps at City Beerfest, taking place in Guildhall Yard and raising money for charities supported by the Lady Mayor. 2 July 2026
COCKTAILS IN THE CITY: On selected dates in July and August, Bedford Square Gardens in Bloomsbury hosts Cocktails in the City. Renowned London bars have pop-ups with special menus, tastings and masterclasses, plus there's live music, a silent disco and street food stalls. 2-4 July and 6-8 August 2026
LONDON CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL: Over 100 breweries are expected to pour into London Craft Beer Festival, which moves to Southwark Park for 2026. Sample from 800+ different beers made by established and newer breweries. All brews are included in your ticket. 17-18 July 2026
LONDON WING FEST: Wing Fest, apparently the world's largest festival of chicken wings, stops by the London Stadium on its UK tour. Exact details have yet to be confirmed, but expect to see several chicken wing vendors pitting their dishes against each other. 24-26 July 2026
MEATOPIA: Fire (and meat) is the name of the game at Meatopia, a foodie festival at Tobacco Dock which focuses on flame-cooked food. Tuck into all manner of dishes alongside chilled drinks while tuning into live music and DJs. 3-6 September 2026
Things to do in London in warm weather
INDOOR SWIMMING: Looking for a London swimming pool which goes to great lengths to impress? From barrel-vaulted Victorian water palaces to undulating Olympic venues, these indoor pools are the best this city has to offer.
OUTDOOR SWIMMING: Looking for a lido or in need of an outdoor pool in London? As the weather heats up, these swimming pools and ponds across the capital become popular for cooling off, so we recommend booking in advance where possible.
BOATING: Hire yourself a pedalo or row boat and see London from the water on one of its many lakes or ponds. Alternatively, let someone else do the hard work by taking a boat trip on clippers, ferries, narrowboats and other vessels on London's rivers and canals.
ROOFTOP BARS: When the sun's out, it's time to get high. Head for London's best rooftop bars and lofty terraces, to enjoy views over the capital with a chilled cocktail or beer in hand.
PLAY FOUNTAINS: Indulge your inner kid by splashing around in one of these refreshing play fountains — ideal for cooling off in a London heatwave. Just remember to pack a towel and spare clothes.
LONDON'S URBAN BEACHES: London isn't the first place that springs to mind when you think of beach holidays —and rightly so — but if you're keen to feel the sand between your toes while you kick back on a deckchair, acquaint yourself with one of London's pop-up urban beaches. We'll add 2026 details as they're announced.
ICE SKATING: No wait, hear us out. While London does a fine line in pop-up winter ice rinks, it also has a few year-round (indoor) ice rinks, which are an excellent place to cool down on a sweltering Summer day. Find your nearest ice rink in London, and get your skates on.
