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More info for Anish Kapoor
Large red texture sculpture hanging down from the ceiling to the floor in a space with stone floors and pillars
Art & exhibitions

Anish Kapoor

Venture into a world of mystery through the artist’s awe-inspiring works at our major exhibition
Hayward Gallery
More info for Debut Sounds: Hidden Realities
Five LPO Young Composers standing in front of a beige wall.
Classical music

Debut Sounds: Hidden Realities

The London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Young Composers present new music inspired by sculptor Brâncuși
Queen Elizabeth Hall
More info for Red Sky at Sunrise: Laurie Lee in Words and Music
Image of actor wearing white reading from a lectern.
Literature & poetry

Red Sky at Sunrise: Laurie Lee in Words and Music

Spell-binding music plus the words of the inimitable Laurie Lee equals one extraordinary story
Queen Elizabeth Hall
More info for Warhaus feat. Julien Libeer
Two men pose in a living room with a dog; one sits on a sideboard and the other in a chair, with a large mirror behind.
Gigs

Warhaus feat. Julien Libeer

The one-off duo journey through a refined, captivating reinterpretation of Warhaus’ songs
Purcell Room
More info for Gift to the Future
A large concrete building with colourful text decals affixed to its facade stands near a riverfront square, with the London Eye visible in the background.
Art & exhibitions

Gift to the Future

See our brutalist buildings transformed with a giant poetry installation
Site wide
Tickets Free
More info for London Parks: An Exhibition
A diverse group of twelve people pose playfully on and underneath a bright yellow external concrete staircase outdoors.
Art & exhibitions

London Parks: An Exhibition

See London’s green spaces anew in a photo exhibition created by young refugees and asylum seekers
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for TONIC FLOW: A Communal Chorus in Colour and Sound
Two women jump in the air in front of a brightly colored, geometric mural on an outdoor basketball court.
Art & exhibitions

TONIC FLOW: A Communal Chorus in Colour and Sound

Imagine a future overflowing with hope through a collaborative sound and visual installation
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets Free
More info for Floating Together
A woman with long wavy dark hair wears a double-breasted red blazer, standing in front of an art studio wall with sketches.
Art & exhibitions

Floating Together

See a new artwork honouring people who’ve sought sanctuary, inspired by this year’s theme of courage
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Quentin Blake: The Southbank Parade
A trio of illustrations by Quentin Blake depicting members of an orchestra; a woman in a long dress playing a violin, a person in a wheelchair plating the cymbals and a man in tails playing the flute
Art & exhibitions

Quentin Blake: The Southbank Parade

The much-loved illustrator and author celebrates the 1951 Festival of Britain for this installation
Site wide
Tickets Free
More info for Primary Schools Morning: Anish Kapoor
Students in yellow safety vests look through the window of a wooden shack art installation inside a modern museum gallery.
Art & exhibitions

Primary Schools Morning: Anish Kapoor

Primary school groups are invited to explore our current Hayward Gallery exhibition for free
Hayward Gallery
Tickets Free
More info for Kulpreet Singh: Indelible Black Marks
From above, people in white run through a dry field trailing long white banners that are being consumed by fire.
Art & exhibitions

Kulpreet Singh: Indelible Black Marks

A meditation on the urgent link between climate change and agricultural crises
Hayward Gallery
Tickets Free
More info for Luke Jerram: Stepping Out
A young boy jumps across large colorful dots painted on the ground at London\'s Southbank Centre on a sunny day.
Art & exhibitions

Luke Jerram: Stepping Out

Your feet make the music in an interactive installation by artist Luke Jerram and composer Dan Jones
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Secondary Schools Morning: Anish Kapoor
Three young people view a wall display filled with a colorful grid of vintage vinyl record album covers, including David Bowie and The Rolling Stones, in a gallery.
Art & exhibitions

Secondary Schools Morning: Anish Kapoor

Secondary school groups are invited to explore our current Hayward Gallery exhibition for free
Hayward Gallery
Tickets Free
More info for At Least We Can Reimagine
A woman with long dreadlocks and a colorful hat sings into a microphone on stage with a band.
Gigs

At Least We Can Reimagine

SORI Collective reimagine the arts centre with a line-up of improv-musicians, vocalists and poets
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for At Least We Have the Playground
A collage of game pieces including chess, dominoes, and pick-up sticks, with a hand using a craft knife to cut a board.
Courses & workshops

At Least We Have the Playground

The Riverside Terrace becomes a playground where digital and analogue games meet
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free

Festivals & series

View all festivals & series
More info for Summer Time
A yellow sun with pink and orange zig zag rays

Summer Time

Until Mon 31 Aug
Dive in for art, performance, music, free events and outdoor fun this summer
More info for Performance & Dance
A dancer in a dark, dusty outfit is captured mid-air during a dynamic leap or fall on a stage, with a massive, textured black mound or cave-like structure dominating the background.

Performance & Dance

Spring/Summer 2026
Spotlighting cutting-edge new work from around the world
More info for Riverside Sessions
A dense crowd dances at an outdoor Riverside Terrace Bar under a canopy of colorful hexagonal decorations.

Riverside Sessions

Thu 16 Jul – Sun 30 Aug 2026
Join our celebration of music, youth and summer joy, curated by young people for everyone.
More info for Rough Trade 50
Black 50 in a white box with black border

Rough Trade 50

Fri 17 – Sun 19 Jul 2026
A takeover celebrating 50 years since the first Rough Trade record shop opened its doors
More info for Steel Scenes
Vintage black and white photo of two men playing steel pans outside

Steel Scenes

Fri 24 – Sun 26 Jul 2026
Our site thrums with the sound of pan at a weekend takeover marking 75 years of steel pan in the UK
More info for Goalhanger: The Rest Is Fest
Composite image featuring the hosts of multiple Goalhanger podcasts against a black background.

Goalhanger: The Rest Is Fest

Fri 4 – Sun 6 Sep 2026
Indulge in your favourite podcasts live as we welcome Goalhanger’s impressive starting line-up
More info for Creative Intelligence
A graphic of an eye made up of tiny black numbers, with orange and purple shadows

Creative Intelligence

Fri 11 – Sun 13 Sep 2026
Explore how AI and digital innovation are reshaping the world we live in
More info for Letters to the Future
A lady in a beige jumper with her hair up resting her head on one hand.

Letters to the Future

Fri 18 – Sun 20 Sep 2026
Address today’s pivotal issues in a series of talks and debates led by the thinkers of tomorrow
More info for Classical Music
Blue, purple and pink spirographs

Classical Music

Autumn/Winter 2026/27
Extraordinary live music experiences
More info for Season Opening Week
A group of young women hold open scissors above their heads in both hands

Season Opening Week

Tue 22 – Sun 27 Sep 2026
The start of a classical year full of stories that speak to us today

Recently announced

More info for LIVE + BREATHE: Climate Futures Marketplace
Three people in casual clothing are standing in front of a tall building and trees. They are looking directly into the camera which is placed on the ground.
Art & exhibitions

LIVE + BREATHE: Climate Futures Marketplace

Hear from local voices and explore how positive climate action can be collectively joyful
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for LIVE + BREATHE: Sounds of Solidarity
A person with long red hair in a ponytail and gold hoop earrings is dancing in front of a tall green tree
Gigs

LIVE + BREATHE: Sounds of Solidarity

Hear from those championing local climate action and celebrate solidarity through a day full of music
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Felsmann + Tiley
A black-and-white studio portrait of two men in black turtlenecks standing staggered against a grey gradient background.
Gigs

Felsmann + Tiley

The German synth duo serves up cinematic dance music that taps into deep emotions
Purcell Room
More info for Jeanette Winterson: Creativity, Artists, Us
A close-up portrait of a woman with short, curly brown hair wearing a green v-neck sweater, leaning against a white column.
Literature & poetry

Jeanette Winterson: Creativity, Artists, Us

Join the renowned author for a fearless discussion about art, AI and our future
Queen Elizabeth Hall
More info for Jack Thorne: Authorship in the Age of AI
A close-up portrait of Jack Thorne smiling, wearing a blue suit, white shirt, and dark textured tie.
Literature & poetry

Jack Thorne: Authorship in the Age of AI

The award-winning screenwriter takes an urgent look at what AI means for the future of storytelling
Queen Elizabeth Hall
More info for Kevin Peter He: Vestige
A dancer arches backward on stage beneath a large digital projection of a leaping figure and a robotic arm sculpture.
Performance & dance

Kevin Peter He: Vestige

Two performers search for contact across stage and screen in a magnetic live dance-theatre work
Purcell Room
More info for Amit Tandon: Aise Kaise
Amit Tandon sitting cross-legged wearing a red shirt
Comedy

Amit Tandon: Aise Kaise

Sharp wit and relatable humour in a new show from one of India's most renowned comedians
Queen Elizabeth Hall
More info for THE DELUSION: I Can’t Move With You
Six people sitting around a circular table, which is a game board, and looking at a screen
Art & exhibitions

THE DELUSION: I Can’t Move With You

Brave a post-apocalyptic world and play artist Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley’s interactive game
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Kim Noble: How to Write
a man in a black blazer looking directly at the camera while a chaotic cluster of books and a roll of masking tape are bound tightly to his head and stuffed into his mouth using beige tape.
Literature & poetry

Kim Noble: How to Write

A witty lecture about the comedic artist’s new book with writing advice from the greats and his mum
Purcell Room
More info for Algorave
Two women dance on a dark stage in front of a giant projection screen displaying color-coded lines of live computer code.
Gigs

Algorave

See a spectacle be created in real time at a live-coded electronic music event hosted by AlgoRhythms
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Tickets Free

Free events

View all free events
More info for Gift to the Future
A large concrete building with colourful text decals affixed to its facade stands near a riverfront square, with the London Eye visible in the background.
Art & exhibitions

Gift to the Future

See our brutalist buildings transformed with a giant poetry installation
Site wide
Tickets Free
More info for London Parks: An Exhibition
A diverse group of twelve people pose playfully on and underneath a bright yellow external concrete staircase outdoors.
Art & exhibitions

London Parks: An Exhibition

See London’s green spaces anew in a photo exhibition created by young refugees and asylum seekers
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Floating Together
A woman with long wavy dark hair wears a double-breasted red blazer, standing in front of an art studio wall with sketches.
Art & exhibitions

Floating Together

See a new artwork honouring people who’ve sought sanctuary, inspired by this year’s theme of courage
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for TONIC FLOW: A Communal Chorus in Colour and Sound
Two women jump in the air in front of a brightly colored, geometric mural on an outdoor basketball court.
Art & exhibitions

TONIC FLOW: A Communal Chorus in Colour and Sound

Imagine a future overflowing with hope through a collaborative sound and visual installation
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets Free
More info for Quentin Blake: The Southbank Parade
A trio of illustrations by Quentin Blake depicting members of an orchestra; a woman in a long dress playing a violin, a person in a wheelchair plating the cymbals and a man in tails playing the flute
Art & exhibitions

Quentin Blake: The Southbank Parade

The much-loved illustrator and author celebrates the 1951 Festival of Britain for this installation
Site wide
Tickets Free
More info for Luke Jerram: Stepping Out
A young boy jumps across large colorful dots painted on the ground at London\'s Southbank Centre on a sunny day.
Art & exhibitions

Luke Jerram: Stepping Out

Your feet make the music in an interactive installation by artist Luke Jerram and composer Dan Jones
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Kulpreet Singh: Indelible Black Marks
From above, people in white run through a dry field trailing long white banners that are being consumed by fire.
Art & exhibitions

Kulpreet Singh: Indelible Black Marks

A meditation on the urgent link between climate change and agricultural crises
Hayward Gallery
Tickets Free
More info for Primary Schools Morning: Anish Kapoor
Students in yellow safety vests look through the window of a wooden shack art installation inside a modern museum gallery.
Art & exhibitions

Primary Schools Morning: Anish Kapoor

Primary school groups are invited to explore our current Hayward Gallery exhibition for free
Hayward Gallery
Tickets Free
More info for Secondary Schools Morning: Anish Kapoor
Three young people view a wall display filled with a colorful grid of vintage vinyl record album covers, including David Bowie and The Rolling Stones, in a gallery.
Art & exhibitions

Secondary Schools Morning: Anish Kapoor

Secondary school groups are invited to explore our current Hayward Gallery exhibition for free
Hayward Gallery
Tickets Free
More info for At Least We Can Reimagine
A woman with long dreadlocks and a colorful hat sings into a microphone on stage with a band.
Gigs

At Least We Can Reimagine

SORI Collective reimagine the arts centre with a line-up of improv-musicians, vocalists and poets
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for At Least We Have the Playground
A collage of game pieces including chess, dominoes, and pick-up sticks, with a hand using a craft knife to cut a board.
Courses & workshops

At Least We Have the Playground

The Riverside Terrace becomes a playground where digital and analogue games meet
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for At Least We Can Decide
Three performers on an outdoor stage sing into microphones for a large, diverse crowd of people dancing and cheering.
Courses & workshops

At Least We Can Decide

The SORI Collective invites you to help dismantle the arts centre in the third day of their takeover
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for At Least We Have the Pieces
An aerial view of people sitting at several round orange and green tables during an outdoor communal workshop.
Courses & workshops

At Least We Have the Pieces

The SORI Collective takeover ends with an afternoon of bite-sized art and a chance to make connections
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Kinetika Bloco x Tomorrow’s Warriors
Left: A crowd in vibrant green, yellow, and red costumes cheers. Right: A woman plays a large silver tuba in an orchestra.
Gigs

Kinetika Bloco x Tomorrow’s Warriors

Two of London’s best youth arts initiatives join forces for an evening of live music under the stars
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Steel Rising
Members of Kinetika Bloco smiling while wearing harnesses holding steel pans
Gigs

Steel Rising

Youth ensembles capture the power of the steel pan as a community force at a day of free performances
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Rhythm of History Exhibition
An archival display shelf featuring historical black and white photographs, concrete cylinders, and architectural signs.
Art & exhibitions

Rhythm of History Exhibition

Cast your eyes (and ears) back at an interactive exhibition about the steel pan’s incredible journey
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets Free

While you’re with us

Make the most of your visit and explore all our venues and spaces have to offer.

Jeppe Hein: Appearing Rooms
People enjoying the Jeppe Hein Fountain at the Southbank Centre

Jeppe Hein: Appearing Rooms

A summer favourite returns to our site with water fountains to splash around and cool down in.

Shopping
Wooden displays in the Southbank centre shop, featuring books, plushies, and colourful merchandise

Shopping

A vibrant range of inspiring books, homeware, prints, accessories and more.

Klaus Weber: Thinking Fountains
Two statues; a green human body with water spouting from its neck and another of human legs with water pouring down from above displayed outdoors

Thinking
Fountains

Water cascades and spouts over Klaus Weber’s bronze figures.

Modified Social Benches
Two children eating ice cream on a red cirrcular bench

Modified Social Benches

Benches that challenge the space and distance we place between one another.

William Pye's Zemran
A photograph showing Riverside Terrace at Southbank Centre, with the metal sculpture Zemran in the foreground, next to Queen Elizabeth Hall

William Pye's Zemran

Pye’s beautiful stainless steel sculpture sits overlooking the Thames.

Natura Nostra Forest
Bright sunlight bursts through green leaves with a lens flare, set against a blue sky and a textured concrete building.

Natura Nostra Forest

Our growing pocket forest creating a natural oasis.

Magazine

Get closer to the arts and artists shaping our culture.

Discover more stories

Do poems have to rhyme?
Full bookshelves within the National Poetry Library
Article

Do poems have to rhyme?

In this edition of our Arts Unravelled series we speak with poets Lily Blacksell and Lorraine Mariner about whether poems need to rhyme.

How I create… with artist Luke Jerram
Artist Luke Jerram – a white man with short dark hair – stands in front of his work Museum of the Moon
Article

How I create… with artist Luke Jerram

The artist known for his large-scale installations talks about his creative approach, from a milkman’s work ethic to choosing which rules to follow.

Max Porter: ‘Loss of control is the most beautiful thing’
The author Max Porter, a white man in his early 40s, stands leaning against a garden fence
Article

Max Porter: ‘Loss of control is the most beautiful thing’

In an in-depth interview the writer discusses political convictions, power in collaboration and what lies ahead.

Steel impact: the story of the first ever steelpan performance in Britain
Lieutenant Joseph Nathaniel Griffith conducts the Trinidad All-Steel Percussion Orchestra during their first public performance at the Festival of Britain on 26th July 1951
Article

Steel impact: the story of the first ever steelpan performance in Britain

Read the fascinating story behind the first ever steelpan performance on these shores, 75 years ago this summer.

Sci-fi, celebrations and chairs: The History Gossip on the Festival of Britain
Katie Kennedy, a young woman with reddish brown hair sits among the auditorium seats of an otherwise empty Royal Festival Hall
Video

Sci-fi, celebrations and chairs: The History Gossip on the Festival of Britain

Join The History Gossip for a look back at the nationwide celebration that gave us the Royal Festival Hall.

5 things to know about Rough Trade
A Rough Trade tote bag hangs on the end of a rack records in a Rough Trade music store
Article

5 things to know about Rough Trade

A look at the much-loved independent label as it celebrates its 50th year.

Who is choreographer Hofesh Shechter?
The choreographer Hofesh Shechter, pictured in 2013, sits among the empty red seats of a theatre auditorium
Article

Who is choreographer Hofesh Shechter?

Get an introduction to the celebrated choreographer ahead of the London premiere of his work for Shechter II, IN THE BRAIN.

Artist on artist: Neil Hannon on the ‘aesthetically brilliant’ William Morris
A man in a dark blue blazer and green sweater vest sits at a café table with a cup of coffee, looking contemplative.
Article

Artist on artist: Neil Hannon on the ‘aesthetically brilliant’ William Morris

The singer-songwriter and frontman of the Divine Comedy discusses his ever-growing admiration for the 19th century designer and polymath.

More to explore

Create & learn
Artistic shot of a blue painted face person leaning over a yellow staircase over the blue sky

Create, learn & take part

Fuel your creativity and be inspired by connecting to the arts with us.

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A performer on stage wearing a dramatic black dress smiling and holding a microphone with band behind lit by red lights

Our Members get more

Get a host of great benefits and help us to keep doing what we do.

About us
His Majesty King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at Royal Festival Hall’s opening concert

Our story

From our roots in the Festival of Britain to the impact we’re making today.