London 2026: The year ahead in six unmissable months

Words: Harriet Cooper

January

Set hearts aflutter
Critters take centre stage as the Cirque de Soleil swoops into the Royal Albert Hall with Ovo. The Canadian performing troupe combines acrobatics with extraordinary set design, costumes and music to immerse its audience in a vibrant ecosystem brimming with bright (and very bendy) insects. 9 January–1 March 

Pay homage to a musical hero
It’s hard to believe a decade has passed since the death of David Bowie in January 2016. A visit to the not-long-opened David Bowie Centre at V&A East Storehouse – home to the singer’s vast archive, on show via rotating mini displays and curated exhibitions – is the perfect way to remember the man and the music. 

Engage with exceptional art
Still going strong after 37 years, London Art Fair is a honeypot for admirers of modern British art, with 120 global galleries bringing their finest works to the Business Design Centre in Islington. The 2026 edition partners with the National Trust, which will be spotlighting the 20th-century artworks and architecture in its care. 21-25 January

February

Get the ball rolling
The atmosphere, the spectacle, the skill… The Guinness Six Nations is a rugby tournament like no other. Games at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, kick off this month with England taking on Wales, then Ireland. With the Red Roses defending their title in the women’s championship a few weeks later (11 April), it’s all to play for. Heading to the game? Keep your eyes peeled for the British Airways Fan Village. 7 & 21 February

Escape the winter blues
A festival devoted to exotic blooms can only bring cheer at this time of year. The annual Orchid Festival at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, sees the Princess of Wales Conservatory overtaken by beautiful displays of the delicate species. Step inside the glasshouse and be uplifted. 7 February–8 March

Go along for the ride
It’s the Year of the Horse and, although Chinese New Year falls on 17 February in 2026, festivities gallop into central London a few days later. Expect a weekend of parades and performances in Chinatown and the West End in what is said to be one of the biggest Lunar New Year celebrations outside of Asia. 21-22 February

March

Play it dangerously
Remember when the Stephen Frears-directed Dangerous Liaisons hit screens in the 1980s? Now, Christopher Hampton’s seductive adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos’s novel about love and lies in the glittering salons of haute society comes to the National Theatre, starring Aidan Turner and Lesley Manville. 21 March–6 June

Celebrate a grande Dame
There are blockbuster exhibitions and then there is Tate Modern’s Tracey Emin retrospective, tracing the arc of the artist’s sensational 40-year practice. Yes, the infamous bed will be in situ, alongside boundary-pushing painting, video, textiles, neons, sculpture and writing, some never before seen. Until 31 August

Ring the changes
The third chapter of Richard Wagner’s magnum opus, the four-opera Ring Cycle, is brought to life by creative director Barrie Kosky. This being the Royal Opera House, Siegfried will undoubtedly deliver on staging and singing, with Andreas Schager making his anticipated debut as the titular hero. 17 March–6 April

April

Enjoy the royal treatment
The centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth calls for fanfare, hence why the King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace is staging the biggest exhibition to date about the late monarch’s fashion, charting what she wore during all ten decades of her life. For added majesty, visit the new memorial garden in Regent’s Park. 21 April–18 October

Listen to tomorrow’s sounds
Brick Lane Jazz Festival, which returns to The Truman Brewery for a fifth year, illuminates the capital’s thriving underground music scene. Gig hop and toe-tap to emerging artists across nu jazz and neo soul, hip-hop and electronica. Walkable, affordable and joyful, this weekend hits all the right notes. 24-26 April

Keep on track
No 2026 tick-list would be complete without the London Marathon. Maybe you’re in the running to compete? Otherwise, join the 750,000 supporters who line the 26.2-mile route to cheer on the record-breakers, fundraisers and ‘rhinos’ pounding the streets at this heart-warming, life-affirming event. 26 April

May

Head down South
Party with the arty set at the Southbank Centre to mark the 75th birthday of the Royal Festival Hall, which was built as part of the 1951 Festival of Britain. Programme highlights? Anish Kapoor, Yuja Wang and You Are Here, a participatory weekend created, directed and designed by Danny Boyle, Gareth Pugh, Carson McColl and Paulette Randall. 3-4 May

Make a crafty plan
Crafting is enjoying a renaissance with #craft garnering more than 15 billion views on TikTok alone. Before you reach for your knitting needles or head for the potter’s wheel, take creative inspo from the 11th London Craft Week, a city-wide festival celebrating hidden workshops, indie makers and heritage craftsmanship. 11-17 May

Follow the scent
From its show gardens to the stunning floristry, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show always delights - plus, you’re never too far from a Pimm’s. If you miss out on a ticket, get your floral fix at the free Belgravia and Chelsea In Bloom festivals, which see neighbourhood shops and restaurants bedecked with flowers. 19-23 May

June

Salute a star
Marilyn Monroe’s sultry rendition of ‘Happy Birthday, Mr President’ for John F Kennedy cemented itself in pop culture history. Now it’s our turn to commemorate the silver screen legend, who would have been 100 this month, at a new exhibition at National Portrait Gallery that explores her life, loves and legacy. 4 June–6 September

Purchase a painting
As cultural calendar fixtures go, the 258th RA Summer Exhibition is a masterpiece. The open-submission contemporary art show, which spreads across the main galleries, features work by household names and emerging talent, chosen by a committee from thousands of entries, with the majority of pieces for sale. 16 June–23 August

Join the circus
In 2009, The Circus Live broke UK records as the fastest-selling tour in history. Now, Take That are back for good (well, at least for the summer) with a fresh spin on the now famous string of concerts. Catch the band at the London Stadium, where they’ll be playing the original set list but with a few surprises. 25-27 June

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