Welcome to the heart of London’s cultural life
An engine of creativity, we’re home to art and culture that brings people together
On now & coming up
More info for Anish Kapoor
Art & exhibitions
Anish Kapoor
Venture into a world of mystery through the artist’s awe-inspiring works at our major exhibition
More info for Billy Corgan: Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness
Gigs
Billy Corgan: Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness
Revisit the decade-defining album with the frontman and creative force behind The Smashing Pumpkins
More info for Southbank Centre Tours
Tours & activities
Southbank Centre Tours
See our spectacular venues from a whole new perspective during our 75th anniversary year
More info for Letters Live
Literature & poetry
Letters Live
A surprise all-star cast brings remarkable correspondence to life through unforgettable readings
More info for Rug Rhymes: Autumn
Literature & poetry
Rug Rhymes: Autumn
Share your favourite nursery rhymes and learn new ones in a playful session for under-5s
More info for The Rest Is History: The Ultimate Victorian Adventure
Literature & poetry
The Rest Is History: The Ultimate Victorian Adventure
Hosts Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook weave an epic live tale of history’s most daring expedition
More info for Gift to the Future
Art & exhibitions
Gift to the Future
See our brutalist buildings transformed with a giant poetry installation
More info for TONIC FLOW: A Communal Chorus in Colour and Sound
Art & exhibitions
TONIC FLOW: A Communal Chorus in Colour and Sound
Imagine a future overflowing with hope through a collaborative sound and visual installation
More info for Floating Together
Art & exhibitions
Floating Together
See a new artwork honouring people who’ve sought sanctuary, inspired by this year’s theme of courage
More info for Quentin Blake: The Southbank Parade
Art & exhibitions
Quentin Blake: The Southbank Parade
The much-loved illustrator and author celebrates the 1951 Festival of Britain for this installation
More info for Luke Jerram: Stepping Out
Art & exhibitions
Luke Jerram: Stepping Out
Your feet make the music in an interactive installation by artist Luke Jerram and composer Dan Jones
More info for Musquiqui Chihying: A Life of Navigation
Art & exhibitions
Musquiqui Chihying: A Life of Navigation
A multimedia exhibition from the Taiwanese artist that serves up both humour and societal critique
More info for Creative Encounters: Portraits of Nature
Courses & workshops
Creative Encounters: Portraits of Nature
Let inspiration bloom as you paint, stamp, layer and stitch materials into plant portraits
More info for Members' Private View: Anish Kapoor
Art & exhibitions
Members' Private View: Anish Kapoor
Step into Anish Kapoor’s artistic world at a Members’ Private View at the Hayward Gallery
Festivals & series
More info for Summer Time
Summer Time
Until Mon 31 Aug
Dive in for art, performance, music, free events and outdoor fun this summer
More info for Goalhanger: The Rest Is Fest
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
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
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 Autumn
Autumn
Mon 1 Sep – Sun 1 Nov
Find inspiring art and activities for all in the heart of London
More info for Classical Music
Classical Music
Autumn/Winter 2026/27
Extraordinary live music experiences
More info for Season Opening Week
Season Opening Week
Tue 22 – Sun 27 Sep 2026
The start of a classical year full of stories that speak to us today
More info for Performance & Dance
Performance & Dance
Autumn/Winter 2026/27
Spotlighting cutting-edge new work from around the world
More info for London Literature Festival
London Literature Festival
Tue 20 Oct – Sun 1 Nov 2026
The global superstar and founder of the Service95 Book Club curates a line-up of her favourite writers
More info for KUNSTY
KUNSTY
Wed 4 – Fri 6 Nov 2026
Our performance series platforming the rad, the queer and the uncategorisable returns
Recently announced
More info for Creative Encounters: Portraits of Nature
Courses & workshops
Creative Encounters: Portraits of Nature
Let inspiration bloom as you paint, stamp, layer and stitch materials into plant portraits
More info for Michael Douglas: One Helluva Ride
Literature & poetry
Michael Douglas: One Helluva Ride
Michael Douglas finally gives the full and uncensored account of a remarkable life
More info for Service95 Book Club: Authors of the Estate
Literature & poetry
Service95 Book Club: Authors of the Estate
Play, explore and be creative at an afternoon of activities from the Authors of the Estate team
More info for About Us! Artists' Scratch Showcase
Gigs
About Us! Artists' Scratch Showcase
Join us for an evening of diverse new work from five artists, hosted by curator Awate
More info for Hanif & Carlo Kureishi: Are You With Me Now?
Literature & poetry
Hanif & Carlo Kureishi: Are You With Me Now?
An unflinching discussion on survival and creativity. In association with Service95 Book Club
More info for Search for a Story
Family
Search for a Story
Celebrating the magic of stories and storytelling with drop-in activities for the whole family
More info for Creative Encounters: Manifesto Library
Courses & workshops
Creative Encounters: Manifesto Library
Craft new book covers for censored texts, inspired by Livraria Lello’s Manifesto Library
More info for Cardboard Citizens: The Meaning of Home
Family
Cardboard Citizens: The Meaning of Home
Use art, play and imagination to explore what home means to you at a creative family workshop
More info for Shovel Dance Collective
Gigs
Shovel Dance Collective
A nine-piece band exploring the beauty, force and political charge of traditional folk music
More info for Koestler Arts: Rock, Paper, Scissors
Art & exhibitions
Koestler Arts: Rock, Paper, Scissors
An exhibition showcasing the artistic talent of people in criminal justice settings, curated by PIC
Free events
More info for Gift to the Future
Art & exhibitions
Gift to the Future
See our brutalist buildings transformed with a giant poetry installation
More info for Floating Together
Art & exhibitions
Floating Together
See a new artwork honouring people who’ve sought sanctuary, inspired by this year’s theme of courage
More info for TONIC FLOW: A Communal Chorus in Colour and Sound
Art & exhibitions
TONIC FLOW: A Communal Chorus in Colour and Sound
Imagine a future overflowing with hope through a collaborative sound and visual installation
More info for Quentin Blake: The Southbank Parade
Art & exhibitions
Quentin Blake: The Southbank Parade
The much-loved illustrator and author celebrates the 1951 Festival of Britain for this installation
More info for Musquiqui Chihying: A Life of Navigation
Art & exhibitions
Musquiqui Chihying: A Life of Navigation
A multimedia exhibition from the Taiwanese artist that serves up both humour and societal critique
More info for Luke Jerram: Stepping Out
Art & exhibitions
Luke Jerram: Stepping Out
Your feet make the music in an interactive installation by artist Luke Jerram and composer Dan Jones
More info for Creative Encounters: Portraits of Nature
Courses & workshops
Creative Encounters: Portraits of Nature
Let inspiration bloom as you paint, stamp, layer and stitch materials into plant portraits
More info for Creative Encounters: (Almost) Ikebana
Courses & workshops
Creative Encounters: (Almost) Ikebana
This event has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances
More info for Members' Private View: Anish Kapoor
Art & exhibitions
Members' Private View: Anish Kapoor
Step into Anish Kapoor’s artistic world at a Members’ Private View at the Hayward Gallery
More info for futuretense: Teshay Makeda + NEONE The Wonderer
Gigs
futuretense: Teshay Makeda + NEONE The Wonderer
Sparks fly as genres fuse in this double bill of reggae, soul and R&B and alt hip-hop vibes
More info for Kate Crawford & Vladan Joler: Anatomy of an AI System
Art & exhibitions
Kate Crawford & Vladan Joler: Anatomy of an AI System
Investigate the vast, intricate web of resources, labour and data behind a single Amazon Echo
More info for Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg: Pollinator Pathmaker
Art & exhibitions
Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg: Pollinator Pathmaker
A kaleidoscopically colourful digital artwork exploring garden design for pollinators
More info for Katie Paterson: Ideas
Art & exhibitions
Katie Paterson: Ideas
A constellation of reflections on deep time and imagined worlds forms a dreamlike sound installation
More info for Andrew Thomas Huang: The Deer of Nine Colors
Art & exhibitions
Andrew Thomas Huang: The Deer of Nine Colors
A hypnotic, dreamlike installation offering a modern sci-fi retelling of a Buddhist folktale
More info for Get Your Hands-Dirty with Creative Tech
Art & exhibitions
Get Your Hands-Dirty with Creative Tech
Performances, workshops and interactive art showcasing London’s creative computing communities
More info for The Prologue
Art & exhibitions
The Prologue
Step through an immersive gateway reimagining the language of technology through poetry and light
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
Jeppe Hein: Appearing Rooms
A summer favourite returns to our site with water fountains to splash around and cool down in.
Klaus Weber: Thinking Fountains
Thinking
Thinking
Fountains
Water cascades and spouts over Klaus Weber’s bronze figures.
Modified Social Benches
Modified Social Benches
Benches that challenge the space and distance we place between one another.
William Pye's Zemran
William Pye's Zemran
Pye’s beautiful stainless steel sculpture sits overlooking the Thames.
My mixtape: Mariam Batsashvili’s 10 perfect piano pieces
Playlist
My mixtape: Mariam Batsashvili’s 10 perfect piano pieces
The classical pianist curates a collection of ten of her favourite piano pieces into a perfect playlist.
Is AI killing creativity?
Article
Is AI killing creativity?
Ahead of Creative Intelligence, our new celebration of art, imagination and technology, we look at what AI means for the future of creativity.
Don’t believe your eyes: Ralph Rugoff on Anish Kapoor
Video
Don’t believe your eyes: Ralph Rugoff on Anish Kapoor
Our outgoing Hayward Gallery director leads you on a video tour of several of Kapoor’s stand out sculptures.
How I create… with screenwriter Jack Thorne
Article
How I create… with screenwriter Jack Thorne
The multi-award-winning screenwriter and playwright on developing ideas and what success feels like.
5 things to know about Heart n Soul
Article
5 things to know about Heart n Soul
Get to know the South London creative community and arts charity who’ve been championing the talent of people with learning disabilities since 1986.
Playlist: futuretense 2026
Playlist
Playlist: futuretense 2026
Find your next favourite musician in our playlist of acts who’ve appeared at this year’s futuretense gigs series.
5 things to know about Tomorrow’s Warriors
Article
5 things to know about Tomorrow’s Warriors
Meet the pioneering talent development charity who’ve quietly reshaped the UK jazz scene.
My mixtape: Hekayyatna's 10 SWANA tracks that go straight to the heart
Playlist
My mixtape: Hekayyatna's 10 SWANA tracks that go straight to the heart
London-based community organisation Hekayyatna offer up a sonic flavour of Southwest Asia and North Africa in this playlist.
More to explore
Create & learn
Create, learn & take part
Fuel your creativity and be inspired by connecting to the arts with us.
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About us
Our story
From our roots in the Festival of Britain to the impact we’re making today.