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An engine of creativity, we’re home to art and culture that brings people together

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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 Southbank Centre Tours
A concrete brutalist building with the London Eye and Big Ben in the background
Tours & activities

Southbank Centre Tours

See our spectacular venues from a whole new perspective during our 75th anniversary year
Across the site
More info for Dog Man: The Musical
A cartoon drawing of Dog Man from the popular book series, wearing a police uniform and crown, walking on a line above a purple city skyline, set against a blue polka dot sky.
Family

Dog Man: The Musical

Dive into this epic adventure featuring the hilarity and heart of Dav Pilkey’s beloved characters
Queen Elizabeth Hall
More info for Brian Elias & Ben Goldscheider: TOUCHING THE QUICK
Left: Profile of an older man looking left against a dark backdrop. Right: A smiling young man holding a french horn.
Art & exhibitions

Brian Elias & Ben Goldscheider: TOUCHING THE QUICK

Hear the spirit of Anish Kapoor’s sculptures via a live musical performance inside the gallery
Hayward Gallery
More info for Hayward Gallery Lates: Anish Kapoor
A brutalist building at night, featuring a large pink neon sign that reads
Art & exhibitions

Hayward Gallery Lates: Anish Kapoor

Stop by and join us for a special late-night viewing of the artist's awe-inspiring exhibition
Hayward Gallery
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 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 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 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 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 Hekayyatna: 1001 Movements
A smiling woman with a colorful headscarf and gold jewelry dances in an indoor space with a
Gigs

Hekayyatna: 1001 Movements

Get ready to shake with a day full of music, dancing, Dabke, Gnawa and DJs
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Hekayyatna: 1001 Tongues
A diverse group of people talks and takes notes in a crowded room with posters on a corkboard in the background.
Gigs

Hekayyatna: 1001 Tongues

A day of spoken word, music, archives and workshops rooted in the SWANA experience
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Tracks on Tap: A Journey Through UK Music
A birdseye view of a crowd dancing on the Riverside Terrace
Gigs

Tracks on Tap: A Journey Through UK Music

Immaculate vibes and old-school anthems with a new-school twist from the grassroots music community
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for shelf/break x Boundless Theatre: Witching Hour
A crowded nightclub featuring dancers in red plaid outfits on elevated platforms while a diverse group dances below.
Gigs

shelf/break x Boundless Theatre: Witching Hour

Embrace folk culture, queer resistance and all things witchy with music, art, performance and crafts
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 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 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
More info for Performance & Dance
A blurry image of a group of dancers all wearing black

Performance & Dance

Autumn/Winter 2026/27
Spotlighting cutting-edge new work from around the world
More info for London Literature Festival
Dua Lipa with long straight brown hair, wearing a satin yellow shirt.

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
Two people in suits hold toast and mugs, wearing floor-length neon green ties that trail on the ground.

KUNSTY

Wed 4 – Fri 6 Nov 2026
Our performance series platforming the rad, the queer and the uncategorisable returns

Recently announced

More info for Relaxed Sessions: Acrobalance with Mimbre
A crowd of people outside watching acrobats perform on a street
Family

Relaxed Sessions: Acrobalance with Mimbre

Unlock your acroskills at an inclusive workshop with Mimbre’s professional acrobats
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Relaxed Sessions: A Festive Cracker
A young girl in a floral dress dances with other children under vibrant pink and purple lighting.
Family

Relaxed Sessions: A Festive Cracker

Join us for a Relaxed festive special with games, dances and crafty activities for families
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Saturday Sessions: Acrobalance with Mimbre
Two people outside, lifting another acrobat up above their heads by their ankle
Family

Saturday Sessions: Acrobalance with Mimbre

Drop in to unleash your own acrobatic skills with help from Mimbre’s professional acrobats
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Virtual Orchestra: Play Along
A man in a Hawaiian shirt wears a VR headset and headphones, holding two controllers in the clore ballroom
Family

Virtual Orchestra: Play Along

Pick up a virtual instrument and play your heart out alongside the Philharmonia Orchestra
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets Free
More info for Relaxed Sessions: Drawing Futures with MATT+FIONA
People participate in an interactive art workshop with papers under vibrant, colorful lighting.
Family

Relaxed Sessions: Drawing Futures with MATT+FIONA

An adapted family workshop with games and activities for designing architecture-inspired 3D drawings
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for WordPlay: Ages 3 – 5
A group of children raise their hands while following along with a performer on a brightly lit stage.
Family

WordPlay: Ages 3 – 5

Wriggle on down for live music and songs for ages 3 – 5 and their grown-ups, set in a playful space
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Creative Encounters: 2B or not 2B's Life Drawing
A group of seven people recreate Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper in front of a large reproduction of the painting.
Courses & workshops

Creative Encounters: 2B or not 2B's Life Drawing

Capture the form, movement and language of the body at a welcoming drawing session
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Sunday Talks Programme
An audience sits in rows of chairs watching a presentation at the far end of a modern event space.
Talks & debates

Sunday Talks Programme

Dive into timely questions and compelling ideas at talks and performance lectures led by experts
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets Free
More info for Wavelengths: November
A group of young people sit together under vibrant red lighting, focusing their attention on someone out of frame.
Courses & workshops

Wavelengths: November

Step in and find your wavelength at a new night of live performances and workshops for under-25s
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets Free
More info for Ballroom Boogie x Toasty Tots XL
Children enjoying an Imagine Festival dance event.
Family

Ballroom Boogie x Toasty Tots XL

DJ sets, singalongs, dance breaks and feel-good tunes for all ages
The Clore Ballroom
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 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 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 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 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 Hekayyatna: 1001 Movements
A smiling woman with a colorful headscarf and gold jewelry dances in an indoor space with a
Gigs

Hekayyatna: 1001 Movements

Get ready to shake with a day full of music, dancing, Dabke, Gnawa and DJs
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Hekayyatna: 1001 Tongues
A diverse group of people talks and takes notes in a crowded room with posters on a corkboard in the background.
Gigs

Hekayyatna: 1001 Tongues

A day of spoken word, music, archives and workshops rooted in the SWANA experience
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Tracks on Tap: A Journey Through UK Music
A birdseye view of a crowd dancing on the Riverside Terrace
Gigs

Tracks on Tap: A Journey Through UK Music

Immaculate vibes and old-school anthems with a new-school twist from the grassroots music community
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for shelf/break x Boundless Theatre: Witching Hour
A crowded nightclub featuring dancers in red plaid outfits on elevated platforms while a diverse group dances below.
Gigs

shelf/break x Boundless Theatre: Witching Hour

Embrace folk culture, queer resistance and all things witchy with music, art, performance and crafts
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Kinetika Bloco Summer Showcase
Dancers in teal tops and patterned skirts perform with colorful pleated hats on a stage lit by warm red spotlights.
Young people

Kinetika Bloco Summer Showcase

See 150 young performers from the south London music charity in a joyful evening of music and dance
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for ZooNation: Future Artists of Hip-Hop
A group of young dancers performs on stage against a purple backdrop, wearing urban cargo pants and utility vests.
Performance & dance

ZooNation: Future Artists of Hip-Hop

Day-to-night riverside heat from some of the UK’s finest young hip-hop dancers
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for ZooNation: Hip-Hop Showcase for All Ages
People of all ages dancing together in a large room with a blue background
Performance & dance

ZooNation: Hip-Hop Showcase for All Ages

A spectacular showcase of hip-hop performers hand-selected by ZooNation Youth Company alumni
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Kinetika Bloco: Beats by the Bank
Musicians in matching red outfits and patterned hats smile while playing saxophones and flutes on a crowded dance floor.
Gigs

Kinetika Bloco: Beats by the Bank

Members of the south London creative collective curate another Riverside Session
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Raze Collective: Friday
A crowd of people on the Riverside Terrace with the London Eye in the background
Performance & dance

Raze Collective: Friday

Enjoy a Riverside Session curated by producers from the LGBTQIA+ performing arts charity
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Arts Emergency: Explore
A crowd silhouettes against a stage with bright purple and white lights at an outdoor nighttime music event.
Performance & dance

Arts Emergency: Explore

Let loose, revel in nostalgia and set all your big feelings free through dance, music and workshops
Riverside Terrace
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

5 things to know about Tomorrow’s Warriors
Close-up of a young man playing an alto saxophone in a line of musicians under purple and red stage lights.
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
Musician Tul8te performs live at Fabrique in Milan, Italy. They are wearing a purple jacket with gold embroidery and a white balaclava as they sing into a hand-held microphone. The words ‘My Mixtape’ are placed over the top of the image.
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.

Who is composer Julia Wolfe?
A close-up portrait of a woman with curly strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes, looking directly at the camera against a dark background.
Article

Who is composer Julia Wolfe?

A look at the multi-award winning composer and hugely influential contemporary music figure who never intended to study music.

Ivan Michael Blackstock: ‘Dance became my outlet before I even knew I needed one’
Artist Ivan Michael Blackstock wearing a black jacket, black baseball cap and sunglasses.
Article

Ivan Michael Blackstock: ‘Dance became my outlet before I even knew I needed one’

In an in-depth interview the dancer, curator, choreographer discusses transitions, Traplord and learning to listen to his body.

Islands and oil drums: the history of steel pan
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 as an interested crowd watches on.
Video

Islands and oil drums: the history of steel pan

Did you know that 2026 marks 75 years since the first ever steel pan performance in the UK?

5 things to know about Kinetika Bloco
A large number of members of youth group Kinetika Bloco in bright clothing, some are playing instruments
Article

5 things to know about Kinetika Bloco

Get to know a little bit more about our vibrant and inspiring Resident Organisation.

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.

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.

Become a Member
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.