Rosie Hewitson

May really is one of the best months to be a Londoner. Summer might not technically start until June 21. But this is when the weather warms up, people creep out of hibernation, ready to bare their legs in the park and bare their souls at after-work drinks on the sun-soaked pavements.  Even better, there are not one but two Bank Holidays this month, each gifting us three glorious days to make the most of London has to offer (but we're usually too busy to make the most of). May, you shouldn’t have! So consider these three days off work your chance to be reunited with Summer in the City™. Make the most of them and make a beeline to one of the capital’s best beer gardens, cool off with some outdoor swimming, dine alfresco, explore London’s lush green spaces or browse one of the city’s bustling markets.  Check out our guide to the best events and things to do across London for the Bank Holiday weekend falling betweeen Saturday May 2 to Monday May 4 2026.  RECOMMENDED: Read our full guide to the bank holiday in London London’s best things to do this May Bank Holiday at a glance 📷 Best for happy snappers: Sony World Photography Awards 🕺 Best for smooth movers: Brixton Disco Festival 🎨 Best for art fans: Quentin Blake Centre For Illustration 🐑 Best for sheer cuteness: Feeding the lambs at Surrey Docks Farm 🧚 Best for theatrical magic: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare's Globe

We’ve made it to the last week of March and, finally, spring is officially here. Make the most of the ephemeral season by getting outside and looking at the city’s spring flowers or seeing how long you can sit out in a beer garden before it starts to get chilly. The clocks go forward this weekend, so we also have longer evenings to look forward to.  If you’re in search of ways to make the most of the final days of March, we’ve rounded up our pick of the best things happening as the city’s cultural scene gets a new lease of life for the new season. Grab tickets to the V&A’s new blockbuster fashion show, Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art, to see gorgeous haute couture creations, explore the curious world of fairy tales at the British Library’s new show, or head to Soho Theatre to laugh along to the deceptively cosy-looking small-town drama ‘Welcome to Pemfort’.  Get out there and enjoy those sweet spring days.  Start planning: here’s our roundup of the best things to do in April.  In the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.

  The clocks go forward this weekend, which means it marks the start of lighter evenings and warm, sunny weather (hopefully). Yes, we’ve made it to the last week of March and, finally, spring is officially here. Make the most of the ephemeral season by getting outside and looking at the city’s spring flowers or seeing how long you can sit out in a beer garden before it starts to get chilly.  If you’re in search of ways to make the most of the final days of March, we’ve rounded up our pick of the best things happening as the city’s cultural scene gets a new lease of life for the new season. Grab tickets to the V&A’s new blockbuster fashion show, Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art, to see gorgeous haute couture creations, explore the curious world of fairy tales at the British Library’s new show, or listen to new experimental DJs at Somerset House’s new audio festival.  Get out there and enjoy those sweet spring days.   Start planning: here’s our roundup of the best things to do in April.  In the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.

We’ve made it through the most depressing month of the year, the endless wait for that post-Christmas payday is finally over, and festival season 2026 is on our minds. By the time summer rolls around, Londoners will be absolutley spoilt for choice. With something taking place almost every weekend throughout the warmer months, you can forget trekking across the country to live in a field for five days; simply hop on the tube and before you know it you’re listening to your favourite artists, tinny to hand, knowing that there’s a hot shower and a cosy bed waiting for you once the day is over.  The future of events in Brockwell Park was thrown up in the air in 2025, but you’ll be glad to know that most of the south London park’s usual lineup of events will return in 2026, with Cross The Tracks, Field Day and Mighty Hoopla all in the diary for late May. And the line-up announcements for next year’s events are already coming in thick fast, with huge acts like Tyler, The Creator, Lewis Capaldi, Lorde, Lily Allen, Blood Orange and Deftones all set to take to London stages come the summer. Have a scroll through our comprehensive guide – which we keep meticulously updated with all the latest line-up announcements – and see what takes your fancy. RECOMMENDED: ⛺ The best UK music festivals🌍 The best festivals in Europe

Monday March 16: Congratulations London, we’ve made it through another winter! Spring officially arrives this weekend, and the weather in the capital is looking appropriately balmy (it could reach 17° mid-week!) Make the most of it by getting out there and painting the town green at one of the city’s many St Patrick’s Day celebrations, or a humongous Open Iftar to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Or, you know, ignore the nice weather entirely and sit in the dark watching movies at Kinoteka and BFI Flare. In this city, you’re never too far away from a picturesque park, a lovely pub or a cracking cinema, and on any given day, you’ve got a wealth of world-class art shows, blockbuster theatre and top museum exhibitions to choose from if you’re twiddling your thumbs. Use your spare time wisely with our roundup of the best things happening in London today, which gets updated every single day and includes a specially selected top pick from our Things to Do Editor seven days a week. Bookmark this page, and you’ll have absolutely no excuse to be bored in London ever again! Find even more inspiration with our curated round-ups of the best things to do in London this week and weekend

The Irish really know how to celebrate, so when it comes to St Patrick’s Day in London, the city’s Celtic community has no problem showing us how it’s done. With an estimated 170,000 expats from the Emerald Isle living in the city, and many more Londoners with Irish heritage, the celebration of Ireland’s patron saint is always one big welcoming bash, involving plenty of dancing, hearty traditional dishes, a huge parade and as many pints of Guinness and drams of whiskey as you can handle. The Mayor of London’s annual St Patrick’s Day Festival celebration will take place on Sunday, March 15 – two days before the official holiday – and, as usual, thousands of revellers are expected to watch the parade wend its way from Hyde Park Corner to Trafalgar Square for a giant free party with Irish music, food and performances from 12noon to 6pm. If you don’t fancy braving the crowds of central London for the main event in the capital, there are still plenty of St Patrick’s Day parties and events to check out. We’ll be rounding up the best of them below as they get announced, so you’ve got plenty of time to get planning for a very green week. RECOMMENDED🍻 The best Irish pubs and bars in London☘️ Our ultimate guide to the St Patrick’s Day parade and festival🌱 The best London events in March

Live music, lovely little wine spots and some of the city’s best cocktails – Covent Garden has more brilliant bars than you can shake a stick at. The area’s drinking scene is diverse, so check out our picks of the best places for after-hours drinking in the the middle of town; whether it’s female-founded beaujolais at Lady of the Grapes, horror movies and big games at Bloodsports, glam martinis at Muse at RSA House or synesthesia-inspired sips at new opening, Cato.  RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in Covent Garden. 

The Six Nations rugby tournament is almost wrapped up for another year, but not before one last weekend of action. For the final time in 2026, rugby fans will be taking over boozers, beer gardens and outdoor screens across London on Saturday to watch the three climactic fixtures. And it’s an especially exciting final round this year, with three teams battling it out at the top of the table.  France, Scotland and Ireland all have a shot at taking home the championship trophy, depending on the results of their fixtures, at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin and the Stade de France in Paris.   You could just watch on your telly at home, but if you’d prefer to catch every scrimmage, try and conversion in a lively atmosphere with a nice freshly-poured Guinness in hand, head to one of the rugby pubs, bars, beer halls, markets and social clubs listed here, where you’ll find free-flowing pints, special guest appearances and countless renditions of ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’. RECOMMENDED: More great things to do in London this weekend  Fifth Round Fixtures Here are the final three matches of the Six Nations 2026: Saturday 14 March 2:10pm kickoff – Ireland vs Scotland 4:40pm kickoff – Wales vs Italy 8.10pm kickoff – France vs England Best Spots to Watch Six Nations: At A Glance 🏉 Best for pre-match fun: Bat & Ball, Stratford 🍀 Best for Irish fans: London Irish Centre, Camden 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Best for Welsh fans: London Welsh Centre, Bloomsbury 🍻 Best for big groups: Flat Iron Square, Boroug

March 2026: Congratulations, London! March has arrived, which means we’ve almost made it through another winter. London’s parks and gardens are starting to look more colourful, and its art scene is also bursting into life, with exhibitions on David Hockney, Hurvin Anderson and Schiaparelli among the big openings this month. There’s plenty of major stuff happening in the theatre world too, with Jamie Lloyd’s new ‘Romeo & Juliet’ arriving, alongside the Michael Sheen-starring ‘Our Town’ and a big National Theatre revival of ‘Summerfolk’. Elsewhere there’s Kinoteka Polish Film Festival and BFI Flare, loads of St Patrick’s Day festivities and Open Iftars around the city for Ramadan. No matter what your vibe, tastes or interests, there is always something to do in London. Whether you want to see cutting-edge art exhibitions, iconic attractions, secret spots, world-beating theatre, stunning green spaces, it’s all here and you can probably fit all this in and more still barely feel like you’ve scratched the surface of the city. And that’s before you factor in all those historic London pubs, the latest must-visit restaurants and vibrant LGBTQ+ venues. And if you need somewhere to stay? Check out London’s best hotels or Airbnbs. This London bucket list (curated by our editors and always hotly debated in the Time Out office) is a good place to start because exploring this city can be a little daunting. There truly is something for everyone here. And if you want to know what’s happening

While you shouldn’t wait for just one day a year to shower your mum with love and appreciation, you’ll definitely be in the doghouse if you forget to make her feel special on Mother’s Day (Sunday March 15 2026). Keep yourself in her good books and (as well as a little present and card) treat your ma to a wholesome day out at one of London’s top mum-friendly events. There are loads of lovely afternoon teas across the city this time of year that’ll put a smile of her face. Or you could take her on a stroll around some of London’s prettiest shops, take in some culture at one of the best current art exhibitions or sit back and watch a fab new theatre production. Personally, I like to take my mum to a cosy restaurant for a fancy meal – a tasty Sunday lunch hasn’t failed me yet. Check out our top picks for the best events to take the most important woman in your life this Mother’s Day 2026. RECOMMENDED: the full guide to Mother’s Day in London 

May truly is one of London’s finest months if you ask us. Not only is the city pleasantly warm and bursting with colourful spring blooms, but everyone is giddy with the possibilities of the coming summer. And most excitingly of all, there are not one, but two bank holidays on which to embark on inaugural rooftop bar excursion of the summer, rock out at one of the year’s first music festivals, lounge about in your favourite park, check out all those must-see exhibitions you’ve been meaning to catch or escape the city on a day trip or mini-break. And if that isn’t enough to keep you entertained, here’s our guide to the best events, parties, pop-ups and things to do in May 2026 in London. You’re in for one sweet, sweet month. London’s best things to do in May at a glance: 🪩 Best for party people: GALA 🌷 Best for botanists: RHS Chelsea Flower Show  🎶 Best for pop music stans: Mighty Hoopla  ✏️ Best for something new: Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration 🎭 Best for theatre-goers: 1536 at the Almeida

April is an underrated month if you ask us. Winter is finally over and everyone starts to emerge from hibernation, ready to properly commit to socialising again. The sun has put in a few appearances, London’s parks and gardens are in full bloom and the city feels alive with all the possibilities of summer, but without all the sunburn and sweltering, sleepless nights.  Easter weekend is on the horizon, meaning a double bank holiday jam-packed with fun, from family-friendly days out to club nights galore.  There’s also a handful of spring music festivals, some cracking art exhibitions and theatre (including the first open-air shows of the year) and plenty more amazing things going on around the city, including the London Marathon and the Boat Race.  Check out our roundup of the best stuff happening throughout the month, and start planning an amazing spring now. RECOMMENDED: Find more inspiration with our roundup of the best things to do this week

Munch your way through dishes from the great and the good of the capital’s restaurant scene at this sprawling culinary festival in the picturesque surroundings of central London’s Regent’s Park. New Syrian brunch joint Aram, hyped Dalston gastropub The Prince Arthur and masters of Pan-Pacific cuisine Los Mochis are among the restaurants peddling plates and appearing at the event for the first time this year. If you’re not in a food coma by the end, there’ll also be kitchen masterclasses, chef talks and tastings to get involved with. Our advice? Have some Rennies on hand. 

After a successful first edition last year, we're getting a second helping of a festival that highlights one of the more unsung parts of our favourite movies, tv shows and games – the soundtracks. London Soundtrack Festival puts the scores front and centre, with a series of screenings, talks and performances celebrating the musicians who make fictional worlds sound so exciting, tense and emotional.  The genre-spanning programme takes place over the second weekend in April, spanning a mix of styles and genres. James Bond fans will be thrilled by Homegrown Heroes, a night of David Arnold scores and slick action movie sounds (Apr 9). There's also a masterclass on music for games, a talk on John Williams, and a screening of Brian de Palma’s Obsession (1976) (Apr 9) which will be introduced by Norma Herrmann, widow of the legendary composer Bernard Herrmann.

This literary festival focuses on one of our era’s most exciting genres: crime. Now firmly part of London’s literary calendar, each year it hosts a top-notch line-up of crime and thriller authors in a rich programme of talks, panels and interviews. Over 100 authors and experts will feature over the three-day programme of panels, Q&As, book launches and industry networking events, culminating in the Fingerprint Awards, an annual reader-voted awards ceremony celebrating the very best new writing in the genre. Details of the 2026 line-up are yet to be announced, but we’ll be conducting a thorough investigation in due course.

Organised by the people behind Percolate and Love International festival in Croatia, mid-September’s electronic music one-dayer Waterworks is a final chance to squeeze every last drop of festival fun out of the summer. And for the first time since it began, it’ll span two whole days. Across five stages in west London’s Gunnersbury Park, there’ll be a total of 83 sets from dance music heavyweights covering every genre. The big names on the programme include Alex Kassian, babyschön, djrum, Midland and Sofia Kourtesis. That’s on top of B2Bs from Bradley Zero and Erol Alkan, Christian AB and Craig Richards, Raresh and Sonja Moonea, and OK Williams and Skee Mask, Call Super and Objekt, and Sully and Special Request. You’ll struggle to find a festival line-up more packed with world-class selectors than this. 

Tate Modern kicks off its 2027 season with a huge exhibition examining Claude Monet’s relationship with time. The gallery’s first ever exhibition to focus exclusively on the works of Impressionism’s founding father will feature loans from across the globe, brought together to examine how the French painter evoked the rapid pace of modern life through fleeting, transient, impressionistic moments in time, and will feature key works including ‘Arrival of the Normandy Train, Gare Saint-Lazare’ (1877) and ‘Poplars on the Epte’ (1891–1897). 

Tate Britain starts the year with a retrospective on British and Afro-Caribbean artist Sonia Boyce (Mar 24-Aug 22). Beginning with her emergence as part of the Black British Arts Movement of the 1980s, the is major retrospective will delve into Boyce’s fiercely experimental 40-year career, bringing together large-scale installations, photography, collage, drawing, film and sculpture, including installations never shown before in the UK, and key works such as her Devotional series and early pastel drawings and collages.

What is it? London’s most credible major rock venue. Built in the 1920s as a cinema at a cost of £250,000, this Grade II-listed building is a grand old dame, with a very showy stage design based on Venice’s Rialto bridge (for some reason). It was built as a variety hall and cinema in the 1920s – which explains all the art deco touches that prevail – and took off as a rock venue when entrepreneur Simon Parkes bought it for one English pound in 1983. Why go? To be part of London music history. Brixton has played host to countless icons throughout storied past; The Smiths played their last ever gig here, The Clash played some landmark shows at the venue, international acts from Bob Dylan to Madonna have stopped by, while Blur and Oasis were regulars at the height of Britpop.  More recently, it’s hosted several-night residencies by local band The xx and indie icons LCD Soundsystem, as well as hosting ceremonies for the NME Awards and Mercury Prize.  And despite recent controversies – the venue remained closed for 16 months after its license was suspended in 2022, when a crush resulted in the tragic deaths of two people – it’s still a must on the touring schedules of some of the world’s biggest bands.  Don’t miss: Although it’s echoey when half-full, the 5,000-capacity space is popular because the raked standing area gives great sightlines from the floor. So if you’ve given up on standing at gigs because you usually find yourself staring at the back of some lanky bloke’s head for

East London brewery 40FT has always been big on stout, so it’s no surprise that it’s going all out for St Paddy’s, with special menus, live rugby and some top quality beers available at both the original Dalston microbrewery and its recently-opened Walthamstow taproom.  Fond of an Irish coffee? Head to Dalston to try whisky-loving cocktail bar Swift’s signature rendition of the hot toddy at a pop-up bar from 2pm to 7pm, while enjoying food from neighbouring live fire restaurant Acme Fire Cult. Meanwhile, the Blackhorse Road taproom is partnering with London seafood supplier Rocks Oysters for three all-you-can-slurp oyster sessions (90 minutes of non-stop shucking for £37.50 per head) plus ice cold pints, Irish stew and live entertainment from trad bands.  Both sites will be pouring three different varieties of the black stuff throughout the day, as well as screening Ireland’s Six Nations head-to-head with Scotland, kicking off at 2.10pm, for the rugger fans. Sláinte!  

Unabashedly cheesy night out For The Love Of Pop is going green and gold for its St Patrick’s Day night, promising an Australia vs Ireland showdown to rival that Women’s World Cup game when Ruesha Littlejohn and Caitlin Foord started scrapping.  From Kylie to B*Witched, Natalie Imbruglia to The Pogues, Tame Impala to Westlife and AC/DC to The Script, expect a night full of indie faves and undeniable pop bangers from ‘two nations that know their way around a hook’, with £3 Baby Guinnesses all night long.

As is now an annual tradition, Brixton boozer and gig venue The Windmill will once again transform into Paddy’s Pub, the iconic drinking hole from long-running sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, for its St Patrick’s Day shenanigans, laying on a brilliant roster of Irish (or Irish-fronted) indie acts for the occasion. This year’s line-up features ‘bog-trawl folk’ band Sodden Pelt, ‘post-pub kebab shop glam rock’ outfit Sleaze and synthpop reworkings of all your favourite Irish country bangers (think Big Tom, B*Witched, Daniel O’Donnel and Philomena Begley) from Angus and the Mainliners.

St Paddy’s isn’t just a one-day affair at the two central London branches of Waxy O’Connor’s; it’s a five-day bender featuring loads of entertainment and lashings of Guinness. Head to either of location – the sprawling superpub at the bottom of Wardour Street or the smaller outpost on Rupert Street – for top craic, live music every night of the festival (and all day on March 17th), and non-stop live sport, including the Six Nations’ Super Saturday, Premier League footie and Cheltenham Festival racing. It’s basically the piss-up of all piss-ups, and needs to be seen to be believed. Wearing a shamrock-green bucket hat is, of course, encouraged.   

Electronic music will be returning to the Old Royal Naval College (a UNESCO World Heritage Site!) again this summer. Labyrinth On The Thames – masterminded by promoter Labryinth – will see different artists from around the world take over the historic digs for six days of unmissable performances. Headliners for 2026 have been confirmed: The Kooks top the bill on July 31, Dom Dolla will headline on August 1; Peggy Gou leads the lineup on August 2 joined by Prospa, Kelly Lee Owens and MPH; Overmono are heading up August 7 alongside Erika de Casier and Nick Leon b2b Verraco; on August 8, electronic duo Adriatique will perform an extended set; Anjunadeep will headline on August 9;  Moby plays live on August 15 and finally, the whole thing will conclude with an extended set from Michael Bibi on August 16.   

It’s crunch time in the 2025/26 football season, with the first domestic competition of the year concluding this weekend when Arsenal and Manchester City meet at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final.  Mikel Arteta’s league-leading Gunners will be attempting to secure their first piece of silverware in almost six years, having reached their first final since they won the FA Cup in 2020. Meanwhile Pep Guardiola’s City side will be attempting to turn their season around after being held to a draw against West Ham in the league over the weekend to give their title rivals a nine-point lead at the top, and exiting the Champions League during the week. Not got a ticket to Wembley but keen to catch the nail-biting action somewhere with a bit more atmosphere than your living room? Many local fans will be heading to the boozers and beer gardens of north London to watch Rice, Saka and Eze battling it out against Haaland and co. So if you fancy joining them, look no further than our roundup of London’s best Gooner pubs. RECOMMENDED: London’s best football pubs. The Drayton Park A bar stool at the Drayton is basically as close as you can get to pitchside without a ticket. You can see the stadium from the window, which means you can hear the roar from inside the stadium when Arsenal score at home. This place has a pretty strict home crowd only policy, and you’ll want to get down early to secure a good spot in front of its one screen.  66 Drayton Park, N5 1ND The Tollington Arms Another lively

You’ve really gotta hand it to Tate. The UK’s largest gallery conglomerate is in a league of its own when it comes to programming season after season of blockbuster exhibitions. Hot on the heels of the institution’s widely lauded Tracey Emin retrospective, in the brief lull before its next major opening – Tate Britain’s Hurvin Anderson exhibition arrives at the end of the month – the institution has announced its full programme for 2027, and there are plenty of bangers to get excited about. From 18th century landscapes and 20th century ink painting to giants of impressionism and post-impressionism, here’s everything to look forward to next year at two of London’s biggest and best art galleries.  Tate Modern  Tate kicks off 2027 with a huge exhibition examining Claude Monet’s relationship with time at Tate Modern. The gallery’s first ever exhibition to focus exclusively on the works of Impressionism’s founding father, Monet: Painting Time (Feb 25-Jun 27) promises to bring together loans from across the globe to examine how he evoked the rapid pace of modern life through fleeting, transient moments in time.  Image: Yuan Jai, ‘Jadeite Cabbage’, (1999). Courtesy of the Artist and Vitamin Creative Space. Spring will see the arrival of the gallery’s inaugural exhibition focusing on the practice of ink painting. Focusing on 20th century artists in Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China, Ink (Apr 22-Aug 20) will examine this ‘enduring and profoundly philosophical’ discipline through

Do you occasionally have a flutter on the National Lottery? Your chances of winning millions might be pretty slim, but whether you win big or not this weekend, your ticket means guaranteed prizes in the form of free or discounted entry to dozens of top attractions across the UK. Returning from Saturday March 7 to Sunday March 15, the National Lottery’s Open Week is a way for National Lottery-funded venues across the country to say thank you to participants for their part in raising £32 million each week to support charitable causes. The annual celebration offers free or heavily discounted access to visitors who present a lottery ticket upon entry at hundreds of celebrated venues, from historical sites, art galleries and museums to wildlife hotspots, sporting venues and even some lovely independent cinemas. In the mood for a bargain day out in the city? Here are loads of great London venues participating in National Lottery Open Week 2026. London venues with free or discounted entry for National Lottery Open Week 2026 The Tower of London What? 50 percent off for two adults and four children When? March 7-14  Kensington Palace What? 50 percent off for two adults and four children When? March 7-8 and March 11-14 Hampton Court Palace What? 50 percent off for two adults and four children When?  March 7-8 and March 13-14 Photograph: Shutterstock Tate Modern What? Two for one entry to the Theatre Picasso exhibition When? March 7-15  Eltham Palace and Gardens What? Free entry fo

Somerset House is a truly year-round venue. Through the winter months, the palatial arts complex on the Strand is home to one of the city’s most atmospheric winter skating pop-ups. In spring and autumn it hosts all manner of interesting art installations in its magnificent neo-classical courtyard. And at the height of summer, the same space plays host to some of the season’s most memorable outdoor concerts, as part of the Somerset House Summer Series. With festival line-up announcements coming thick and fast, and another glorious London summer beginning to take shape, the riverside arts venue has revealed the headliners for this year’s Summer Series, with eleven eclectic gigs scheduled from 16-26 July.  As usual, it’s an eclectic line-up, encompassing everything from indie and rock to neo-psychedelica, contemporary jazz and soul. RECOMMENDED: The best music festivals in London to book for 2026. The biggest names in this year’s series include breakthrough pop sensation Naïka (Thursday 16 July), veteran indie band The Cribs (Monday 20 July), ascendent art-rock outfit Black Country, New Road (Wednesday 22 July) and psychedelic rockers The Flaming Lips (Saturday 25 July). Also headlining are Palace (Friday 17 July), Thee Sacred Souls (Saturday 18 July), Lightning Seeds (Sunday 18 July), Agnes Obel (Tuesday 21 July), Venna (Thursday 23 July), Raf-Saperra (Friday 24 July) and Benjamin Clementine (Sunday 26 July).  Tickets for all gigs will be priced between £30 and £60, with the g

One of the longest-standing and largest queer film festivals, BFI Flare celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2026. The springtime film bonanza at the BFI’s South Bank home is a major calendar fixture for London’s queer communities and cinephiles alike, and with exactly one month to go until the 2026 edition of the festival kicks off, the line-up has just been revealed. Film buffs attending this year’s edition of Flare will be able to catch 31 world premieres among the 65 feature films and 62 shorts on the programme, alongside a stellar curation of classic queer cinema, and the usual programme of talks, workshops, exhibitions and DJ nights that make the BFI Southbank such a buzzy place to be during the festival.  The BFI Flare 2026 Line-Up Opening Night Film  As previously announced, the 40th edition of Flare will open with the world premiere of American documentary maker Jennifer Kroot’s riotous new film Hunky Jesus, which follows social justice movement the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence as they prepare to host their legendary annual Easter Sunday drag contest in San Francisco. Alongside the premiere, long-serving member Sister Roma will be present for a talk exploring the ‘sistory’ and impact of the movement alongside UK chapter members. Image: Hunky Jesus Special Presentation Taking place halfway through the festival, the Special Presentation for Flare 2026 is Kiwi director Paloma Schneideman’s ‘tender, unflinching’ coming of age drama Big Girls Don’t Cry, following 14-ye

The Southbank Centre’s early summer festival Meltdown has long since established itself as a key date in London’s cultural calendar.  Each year, the arts centre invites one celebrated artist to curate the festival, getting them to hand-pick a roster of their favourite musical talents and nightlife promoters to star across a two-week programme of gigs, participatory events and after-hours parties at the prestigious venue. Such luminaries as David Bowie, Yoko Ono, David Byrne, Grace Jones, Nick Cave, and Little Simz have previously stepped into the role, with news of who will curate each year’s edition of the festival always hotly anticipated. Anticipation for this year’s event is surely set to reach fever pitch now that it’s been revealed that it’s being masterminded by none other than former One Direction member, multiple BRIT and Grammy Award-winner and all-round pop superstar Harry Styles. Cue the ear-splitting screams. Taking place from Thursday June 11 to Sunday June 21, during the iconic London venue’s 75th anniversary celebrations, the 31st edition of Meltdown will see the ‘Watermelon Sugar’ singer draw on his eclectic musical influences to curate a line-up traversing pop, soul, rock and electronica, and featuring plenty of young British talent.  ‘My goal as the curator is to share the music and art that I love, and to celebrate the rich history of the venue,’ Styles said of his part in the latest edition of the festival. ‘We both share a passionate belief that music is

A Valentine’s date doesn’t have to be anything extravagant. Sure, a fancy meal is nice and all, but St Valentine’s Day is really about giving quality time to your favourite people, whether that be a partner, pals or a situationship that you’re trying to turn into something a bit deeper.  This year V Day falls on a Saturday, which means there’s an awful lot of time to fill. But, like we said, that doesn’t have to involve big spending. There are all sorts of romantic experiences going on in London that won’t burn a gaping hole in your wallet and have you resenting your other half for the next six months.  For artsy couples, there are free events to get your creative juices flowing or for food-obsessed lovers, there are loads of affordable meals to bond over. However you want to impress your hot date, we’ve got you covered. Here are all of London’s best cheap and free things to do with your Valentine. RECOMMENDED: The best alternative things to do in London for Valentine’s Day. The best free things to do in London this weekend.The 10 cheapest Michelin-starred restaurants in London. The best free and cheap things to do for Valentines Day in London 2026 1. Celebrate love at a mid-week Museum of the Home Late A few days before the main event, the Museum of the Home is keeping its doors open after hours for a lovely wholesome night of music and making. A zine workshop with Tummy Ache Magazine will invite you to create a zine that pays homage to your personal love story, a pop-up ma

When it comes to blockbuster sporting events, few things come close to the Super Bowl. The NFL’s showpiece fixture is less a match and more a full-blown cultural phenomenon – and while the game takes place thousands of miles away, London will be very much awake for it.  In 2026 the Super Bowl heads to Santa Clara. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, around 45 miles southeast of San Francisco, the California city won a fiercely competitive bidding process to host the game (a privilege that reportedly costs close to $100m once security and production are factored in). It’s not Santa Clara’s first rodeo either, having previously hosted the Super Bowl 50 back in 2016. As ever, the action on the field will be joined by all the familiar Super Bowl trimmings: high-stakes drama and, most importantly, a globe-stopping half-time show. I mean, who could forget Beyoncé? And Rihanna? Prince? Pop-culture milestones one and all. So sure, you could watch it from your sofa with a multipack of crisps. But for anyone after a proper Super Bowl experience – big screens, booming sound systems, flowing pints and American food – London has plenty of late-night parties worth staying up for. These are the best places in the city to catch it. When is the Super Bowl?  Super Bowl LX takes place on Sunday February 8, kicking off at around 11.30pm GMT. Who is performing at the Super Bowl? Bad Bunny was announced as the headline performer for the Super Bowl Halftime Show back in September. Green Day are

Happy New Year, art lovers! January tends to be a pretty quiet month for London’s art scene – what with all the collectors and gallerists off sunning themselves – but it’s the perfect time to get organised for the year ahead. And what a year it’s gonna be for the city’s gallery-botherers, with blockbuster exhibition after blockbuster exhibition on the way over the next twelve months. There’s monumental sculpture, pointillist landscapes and flashy photography, massive names from Renoir to Hockney, and so many big shows by women that the Guerrilla Girls might have to get a new schtick. RECOMMENDED: The best photography exhibitions in London for 2026. Stay tuned for loads more details on this year’s exhibitions, as many of the smaller commercial galleries are yet to announce their schedules for the coming year. And in the meantime, get this lot in your diary. The 12 best art exhibitions coming to London in 2026 1. Frida: ‘The Making of An Icon’ at Tate Modern Featuring more than 130 artworks, including some of Frida Kahlo’s most iconic paintings, the Tate Modern’s mammoth summer exhibition will explore how the Mexican painter became the kind of cultural phenomenon whose monobrowed likeness adorns everything from novelty socks to limited-edition eye shadow pallets. The first major London exhibition on the feminist icon since the V&A’s one in 2018, it promises to be a fascinating exploration of the transformative role of women artists in the 20th century, as well as notions of fan

Dun, dun-dun-dun dun, dun-dun-dun dun! If there’s one thing that’s gotten us through the dark, cold nights of January 2026, it’s been tuning into BBC 1 three nights a week to hear that melodramatic theme music. With traitor-on-traitor violence, multiple secret relationships, some truly iconic knitwear and more gasp-worthy plot twists than Claudia Winkleman has had spray tans, this might just have been the best series of the camp-as-Christmas gameshow yet. Can Rachel and Stephen’s Celtic alliance take them all the way? Does Faraaz know more than he’s letting on? Will James finally vote out an actual traitor? We’ll get all the answers from 9pm tomorrow during the climactic finale. And if you fancy watching it somewhere with a wee bit more atmosphere than your living room, there are a bunch of live screening parties happening across London, many of which are free to attend. So don your cloak, grab yourself a chalice of wine and settle in to catch all the drama at one of these London venues screening the final episode. The best Traitors finale screening parties in London Oslo, Hackney Hackney Central bar and nightclub Oslo will be showing the finale on two huge screens, with tables of 4, 6 and 8 available and £5 pints until 10pm.  1A Amhurst Road, E8 1JB. From £11.33 for a table of 4. Picturehouse, Finsbury Park Witness all the drama unfold from the cabaret-style seats in this plush cinema’s event screening room. Tickets include bottomless popcorn and a free Traitor’s Tipple co

We might only be a couple of weeks into the new year, but 2026 is already looking like a stellar vintage for London’s arts and culture scene, with major new venues on the horizon – including the new London Museum, the opening of V&A East and a permanent home for the Museum of Youth Culture – and some fabulous art shows and museum exhibitions to look forward to.  And if you haven’t already filled up your diary for the next few months, we’ve got even more unmissable culture for you in the form of some eye-catching photography exhibitions. Make the most of ‘planuary’ by organising your upcoming excursions to these shows encompassing everything from snapshots of queer communities and American urban life to cutting-edge wildlife and fashion photography.  RECOMMENDED: The 26 best things to do in London in 2026. The 8 best photography exhibitions coming to London in 2026 1. ‘Light and Magic: The Birth of Art Photography’ at Tate Modern When the camera was first invented, it was a wonder of science, able to capture images with an accuracy that had never been seen before. But soon, instead of being seen as a rival to painters and sculptors, photographers began to join them as artists, interested in all the creative possibilities of this new method of image making. Tate Modern’s autumn opening explores how art photography emerged as a discipline between the 1880s and 1960s, taking an international approach that spans places from Shanghai to Sydney, New York to Cape Town, and Brazil t

Great news, culture vultures; it’s the start of a brand new year, and that means a host of new exhibitions to look forward to. January is pretty quiet for new openings – we’re all too busy watching The Traitors and trying not to spend any money – but there’s plenty of unmissable culture on the horizon in the capital, from flashy fashion and design retrospectives to deep-dives into ageing, fandom and the studio behind everyone’s favourite claymation canine and inventor duo. Joyless health kicks got you feeling glum? Stop meal prepping and start planning an enriching cultural diet instead, with our guide to the biggest and best museum openings coming up over the next year.  RECOMMENDED: 🎨 The 12 best art exhibitions coming to London in 2026.🏗️ Developments that will transform London in 2026. The 8 best museum exhibitions coming to London in 2026 1. The Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum Huge news for British history buffs; for the first time in 900 long years, the Bayeux Tapestry is going on display in Britain this autumn. The intricately embroidered 70-metre-long artwork depicts the 1066 Battle of Hastings, when William the Conquerer took the English throne. Although it’s believed to have been embroidered in Canterbury, the tapestry has resided in Bayeux, Normandy for the past nine centuries, so this is a super rare chance to see it on home soil. The British Museum. Sep 2026-Jun 2027. More details here.    Photograph: Shutterstock 2. Schiaparelli: ‘Fashion Becomes Art’