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A dense crowd dances at an outdoor Riverside Terrace Bar under a canopy of colorful hexagonal decorations.

Riverside Sessions

Thu 11 Jun – Mon 21 Sep 2026

Join the party at free summer events curated by youth collectives

Whatever your age, this is a place to express and reimagine what being and feeling young means. Embrace youth as a mindset, not as an age, with our series of summer events.

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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 At Least We Can Reimagine
A woman in a polka dot dress mixes music on a DJ controller on a stage decorated with colorful hanging flags.
Gigs

At Least We Can Reimagine

Poets and improvised music launch SORI’s four-day takeover of the Riverside Terrace
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 Tomorrow’s Warriors: Continuum feat. Jazz Jamaica
Young jazz musicians perform under a blue-and-white tent; the lead singer smiles while holding a gold saxophone.
Gigs

Tomorrow’s Warriors: Continuum feat. Jazz Jamaica

Enjoy the first free session of the music nonprofit’s Riverside Terrace summer residency
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Sounds Like Chaos: Bring the Noise
Performers dance on a stage with purple tinsel; a woman in a green outfit stands center with her arms outstretched.
Performance & dance

Sounds Like Chaos: Bring the Noise

Expect the unexpected as the radical youth art collective curates a free evening of raw fun
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Sounds Like Chaos: Concrete & Confetti
A young girl drops a token into a green cup held by a man with a microphone, while a smiling crowd watches in the background.
Performance & dance

Sounds Like Chaos: Concrete & Confetti

The collective famous for its devised performances takes over the Riverside Terrace
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Femi Koleoso Presents Situation Dance
A dense crowd dances at an outdoor Riverside Terrace Bar under a canopy of colorful hexagonal decorations.
Gigs

Femi Koleoso Presents Situation Dance

A musical love letter to London and an open-air party for all
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Tomorrow's Warriors: Extraordinary Summer Showcase
Close-up of a young man playing an alto saxophone in a line of musicians under purple and red stage lights.
Gigs

Tomorrow's Warriors: Extraordinary Summer Showcase

Catch live music from some of the finest young jazz musicians on London’s bubbling scene
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Tickets Free
More info for Tomorrow’s Warriors: Resonance feat. Zeñel
Three young jazz musicians playing the tuba, saxophone and singing perform on stage as part of Tomorrow's Warriors ensemble
Gigs

Tomorrow’s Warriors: Resonance feat. Zeñel

Thursday is the new Friday as this inspiring group of young musicians continues their residency
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Raw Material: Journey to the Soul
A smiling young woman in a brown leather jacket performs on a dimly lit stage while a woman behind her holds a microphone.
Gigs

Raw Material: Journey to the Soul

The young creatives join us from Brixton to curate an evening of free entertainment by the river
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Bass in the Borough
From behind, a keyboardist plays for a cheering crowd while a brass band performs under purple and pink lights.
Gigs

Bass in the Borough

Live music and a DJ set feature in the return of Kinetika Bloco’s summer dance bonanza
The Clore Ballroom
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 full day of music, dancing, dabke and DJs
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Hekayyatna: Yalla, Speak!
A diverse group of people talks and takes notes in a crowded room with posters on a corkboard in the background.
Gigs

Hekayyatna: Yalla, Speak!

An afternoon of movement, laughter and collective noise rooted in the SWANA experience – let’s go!
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

The grassroots music community showcases rising talent in a vibrant evening of music and 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.
Family & 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

Young members of the grassroots movement curate a line-up of free comedy and more
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Arts Emergency: Express
A diverse group of young women stand and talk animatedly in a bright cafe or community lounge space.
Performance & dance

Arts Emergency: Express

Finish your weekend in the best way possible at our afternoon of free, open-air comedy
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for Heart n Soul’s Let It Be Awesome Party!
Two people smile and wave behind a DJ mixer, silhouetted against a purple backdrop with projected heart graphics.
Gigs

Heart n Soul’s Let It Be Awesome Party!

The inclusive creative community turns 40 with dancing, live music and its much-loved crew of DJs
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free

While you're with us

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.