What's on

Festivals & series

Dive into great art and culture

Our festivals and series happen year-round and showcase a diverse range of art forms and topics, with a mix of free and paid activities and events.

  1. A design featuring blue and purple circular shapes

    Classical music

    Our events celebrate classical music in the 21st century
    More info
  2. A man fights a dragon on stage
    Robert Day

    Spring Family Fun

    Join us for an adventure to meet mythical beasts, make marvellous music and much more this spring
    More info
  3. Black and white side profile of the singer Chaka Khan, laughing. She is wearing an over the shoulder black dress.
    Jo Metson Scott

    Chaka Khan’s Meltdown

    The icon curates the 29th edition of Meltdown as she celebrates 50 years of a pioneering career
    More info
  4. Pink, orange and blue graphic image with different shapes

    You Belong Here

    A summer celebration welcomes you for performance, art, conversations, music and family fun
    More info
  5. Colourful soundwaves distort as they swirl together

    Sound Within Sound

    Join us for a four-day journey through unconventional musical experiences
    More info
  6. Jamie Cullum sits on a chair against a white background

    EFG London Jazz Festival

    World-class artists and emerging stars bring us music from across the jazz world and beyond
    More info
  7. a woman looks off screen wearing a shiny white top
    Courtesy of the Artist

    futuretense

    Discover the next big thing in British and international music at our twice-monthly free gigs
    More info
  8. Out-Spoken poet on stage
    Out-Spoken

    Out-Spoken

    One of London’s premier live poetry and music nights
    More info
  9. Zubin Kanga standing in the middle of multiple keyboards
    Raphael Neal

    Contemporary Edit

    Performances that showcase surprising connections and boundary-pushing, eye-opening new music
    More info
  10. Author Sally Rooney with short brown hair in a t shirt
    Kalpesh Lathigra

    Online events

    Taking our programme further; experience great music, literature, talks and more from your home
    More info

Returning soon

  1. Yang Lian talking at a podium
    Pete Woodhead

    Poetry International

    Our longest running festival; a bold and inspiring showcase of poetry, film and spoken word
    More info
  2. Saturn Returns performance, two people dancing while holding each others' necks
    Matt Carnazza

    Unlimited

    A biennial celebration of the artistic vision and creativity of disabled artists
    More info
  3. Tom Hanks doing peace signs on stage
    Alice Boagey

    London Literature Festival

    The longest-running celebration of the written and spoken word of its kind in the capital
    More info
  4. Winter Market at Southbank Centre

    Winter Festival

    Cheer is here as we bring you a season of spine-tingling shows, twinkling markets and yuletide fun
    More info
  5. Children watching an event in the audience.
    Southbank Centre / Belinda Lawlwy

    Imagine Children's Festival

    Inspire your little ones with a fun-filled February half-term that includes lots of free events
    More info
  6. Sitar Player performing

    South Asian Sounds

    Celebrating contemporary and classical music from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan
    More info

Past festivals and series

  1. SoundState visual identity

    SoundState

    Five days of creativity and premieres that redefine what it means to make music in the 21st century
    More info
  2. On the left is the BSL interpreter, Jude Kelly in the centre standing behind a podium and on the right Liz Carr in her wheelchair and panellist sitting on armchairs at WOW - Women of the World festival.
    Ellie Kurttz

    WOW – Women of the World

    The world’s biggest, most comprehensive festival celebrating women, girls and non-binary people is back
    More info
  3. NYX: electronic drone choir
    El Hardwick

    New Music Biennial

    Showcasing composers and music creators who are pushing the boundaries of music in the UK
    More info
  4. Audience at a gig for Purcell Sessions

    Purcell Sessions

    One of our most intimate spaces becomes a creative playground for artistic encounters
    More info
  5. Two women sit back to back in the dark. They hold candles which light their faces.
    Ryan O'Donoghue Photographer

    Refugee Week

    Compassion, this year’s theme, prompts a day of performances, conversations, film screenings and workshops
    More info
  6. The audience of the Black British Book Festival wait in anticipation for an event to start.
    Toyin Dawudu

    Black British Book Festival

    Dive into Europe’s largest celebration of Black literature
    More info

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