Black History Month 2026 in London

Weekly Black history textile project sessions in Thamesmead, part of Royal Greenwich's Black History Month programme.

Free steel pan workshops in Battersea exploring the history, sound and cultural significance of the instrument, run by Urban Studio Sessions and New Generation Steel Orchestra as part of Wandsworth's Black History 365 programme.

Major exhibition on the cultural significance of Black music in Britain, opening at V&A East Museum.

Black creative community YAAD takes over a Hammersmith space for October: co-working desks, sewing machines, Cricut, heat press, DJ and photo setups, YAADay workshops every Friday and open decks on Saturdays.

Permanent gallery at Bruce Castle Museum celebrating the Windrush generation and their descendants in Haringey.

Rooftop Cinema Club's Black Cinema collection for Black History Month: outdoor rooftop screenings of Love Jones, Love & Basketball, Poetic Justice and Sinners on the Bussey Building roof in Peckham.

A pop-up display exploring Black women's fashion history in Lewisham, staged inside Lewisham Shopping Centre through October.

A poetry and spoken word programme led by award winning poet Jenny Mitchell, exploring Black voices, identity, culture and freedom, at Crofton Park and Sydenham libraries.

An outdoor exhibition at Lewisham War Memorial marking the British West Indies Regiment's role in the First World War, part of Lewisham's Black History Month programme.

Mali guitarist trained under Ali Farka Toure plays a live show blending traditional and blues rock sounds.

Funk fuelled dance theatre production set in 1970s New York nightlife, danced to James Brown, Etta James and Sam Cooke, from Fundamentally Dance.

Council launch event with speakers from Riana Development Network and a performance by Springwest Academy students.

Stand-up comedy night with a line-up of Black British comedians celebrating Nigerian Independence Day and Black History Month.

Participatory poetry night where the audience performs poems by past poets who inspired them, hosted by award-winning poet Dean Atta.

Theatre production using a barbershop setting to explore prostate cancer, family and community health among Black men, with a post-show discussion.

Wellness and nutrition evening for Black women with a practitioner Q&A panel, raffle and networking.

Lecture with live musical excerpts on Black classical composers from Ignatius Sancho to Florence Price, delivered by historian Robin Walker.

Walking tour exploring Black performers and productions in London's West End theatres.

Free day of short lectures, interactive classes, poetry and film exploring ancient West African history, science and innovation.

Afro-Caribbean street food festival at Hackney Bridge with a family friendly day session and an 18+ evening session, plus drinks, live DJs, a retail market and a bookshop.

Three course dinner with live entertainment, DJs and dancing celebrating Black culture and heritage.

Formal Black History Month fundraising gala with a Caribbean buffet, live performances, quiz, auction and raffle.

Europe's largest celebration of Black literature returns to the Barbican, with 80+ authors including Candice Carty-Williams, Corinne Bailey Rae and Wretch 32.

Three hour bus tour of London's top tourist attractions from an African and Caribbean perspective, with hidden Black history connections explained.

Hour-long spoken word event with leading Black British poets, part of the Black British Book Festival at the Barbican.

Talk with human rights advocate Nani Jansen Reventlow and Black Cultural Archives CEO Dr Wanda Wyporska on strategies for racial and social justice.

An Olympic and Paralympic themed Black History Month celebration with film, debates, exhibitions, fashion and music at Brady Arts Centre.

Barbican screening of two William Greaves films marking his centenary, with a discussion afterwards.

World premiere of the final chapter in Renell Shaw's Windrush Suite, blending orchestration, vocals and spoken word.

Award winning author Laura Henry-Allain MBE hosts a Black History Month family celebration for Lewisham families and early years children.

Full day of performances, discussions and showcases on Black and Global Majority talent in classical music.

Indoor pop-up market with more than 40 Black-owned businesses selling fashion, beauty, food and gifts for Black History Month.

Free guided tour of artworks connected to African and Caribbean heritage and history at Tate Modern.

Accessible ballet workshop led by a dancer from the Black British Ballet Project, with warm up and Q&A.

Festival celebrating African heritage and Ankara fashion, combining Nigerian Independence Day and Black History Month.

An evening of lovers rock music and culture at Elements Bar on Lee High Road, part of Lewisham's Black History Month programme.

Stand-up comedy night for Black History Month with a line-up including Richard Blackwood, Eddie Kadi and Travis Jay.

Guided walking tour of African history artefacts at the British Museum, including the Benin Bronzes and Egyptian Gallery, led by Black History Studies.

A harvest table event exploring the plants and food that travelled with Black communities, at Coco Collective's Ital Community Garden in Bellingham.

A free business forum for Black entrepreneurs at Deptford Lounge library, part of the Business & IP Centre Lewisham programme.

Kingston Black Network and Kingston Council host a family day of traditional dress, music and food to mark Black History Month.

Social night of trivia, quizzes, games and debates themed around Black History Month, designed to connect strangers.

Careers fair connecting young Black talent with industry professionals, with keynotes and speed mentoring.

The 14th London edition of the leading contemporary African art fair, with galleries from across Africa and its diaspora plus a modernist spotlight exhibition.

Talks on building brands and careers in Black fashion and beauty, part of UK Black Business Week.

Guided walking tour with a curator covering 400 years of Black history in Tottenham.

A Black History Month celebration of Black British culture, heritage and home at St Luke's Church, Downham.

A Black History Month celebration for young people at the Young Lewisham Project.

Six piece ensemble performing rarely heard anti-slavery songs from 1787 to the 1830s, with readings and a discussion.

Guided bus tour through Black history sites in Brixton, Stockwell and Vauxhall with live commentary, canapes and music.

Free drop-in family craft sessions with carnival-inspired masks, accessories and beaded bracelets.

All day festival celebrating African diaspora contributions to British folk traditions, with performances, storytelling and workshops.

Black History Month and community anniversary party with Caribbean food, games, quizzes and dancing.

Writers workshops, book stalls, book swaps, craft activities, poetry and Windrush stories for Black History Month.

Walk covering 75 years since the Windrush, Black music history (the legendary 4 Aces), housing activism, Black bookshops and Black churches in Hackney.

Wikimedia UK led workshop at Lambeth Archives teaching people how to create and edit Wikipedia articles about Black people, history and culture.

Journalist Symeon Brown discusses how Black Britain became middle class, with a panel of academics and journalists.

Community movie night for Black women and allies in tech, with food, drinks and conversation for Black History Month.

A free singing taster session across gospel, hip hop and R'n'B styles at Idea Store Chrisp Street for Black History Month.

Screening of the Inherited Light short film followed by a panel of Caribbean British trailblazers, in aid of the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust.

A health and heritage themed Black History Month event at the Mulberry Centre in New Cross.

African and African Caribbean community session sharing diaspora naming traditions and stories.

Celebration of Black literature, publishing and education with author talks, panels and book launches.

Walking tour by Black Rooted tracing the financial foundations of the transatlantic slave trade through the City.

Black History Month comedy show honouring pioneers of Black British comedy with Richard Blackwood, Slim, Robbie Gee and more.

Interactive walking tour of hidden African and Caribbean history in Mayfair from the 1920s to the 2020s.

Creative children's workshops exploring Aboriginal art and storytelling at Idea Store Bow for Black History Month.

Opening event of BFI Southbank's Fear of the Dark season: Baroness Lola Young discusses her influential 1995 book on race, gender and sexuality in cinema with a BFI season programmer, marking Black History Month with a season of classic and contemporary films including Sapphire, Flame in the Streets, The Crying Game and Passing.

Craft activities and traditional Caribbean food at Idea Store Chrisp Street to mark Black History Month.

A free African drumming workshop at Idea Store Whitechapel for Black History Month.

Panel discussion on Black introverts navigating modern workplaces and protecting their wellbeing.

Part of BFI Southbank's Fear of the Dark season for Black History Month: a screening of Loving (Jeff Nichols, 2016) followed by a pre-recorded Q&A with Baroness Lola Young and actor Ruth Negga.

Legendary UK roots reggae band Misty in Roots play Rich Mix as part of Tower Hamlets' Black History Month programme.

Online workshop exploring representations of Black and minority figures in the National Gallery collection, combining talk and drawing.

Platform for Black artists to show and sell work and network, followed by an after party.

Curator talk closing an exhibition of reggae album covers shot across Brent, at Harlesden Library.

Black British comedy night hosted by Mr Cee, proceeds to the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust.