15 Events and Festivals Happening in London This September 2026
September is when London really starts getting busy again.
The summer holidays are coming to an end, but the city isn't ready to slow down. Instead, September brings a huge mix of festivals, cultural celebrations, food events, design, fashion, theatre, music and some rather unusual London traditions.
And this year there is plenty to look forward to.
From a month-long celebration of the Thames to London Fashion Week, Open House, London Design Festival, food festivals and outdoor performances, September 2026 is packed with events across the capital.
So if you're looking for London events in September 2026, here are 15 worth knowing about.
1. Totally Thames
1–30 September | Across London
If there is one event that truly takes over London for the entire month, it's Totally Thames.
Running from 1–30 September, the annual festival celebrates London's relationship with its river through art, music, performances, walks, talks, boat trips, installations and other events along the Thames.
And it isn't limited to one stretch of the river.
The 2026 programme covers different parts of London, with events ranging from river races and cultural performances to art installations and guided walks.
There are also some particularly unusual events this year.
On 13 September, a traditional Ganga Aarti ceremony will take place beside the Thames at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, bringing a ritual associated with India's sacred rivers to London.
If you want to explore London from a completely different perspective this September, follow the river.
2. Greenwich+Docklands International Festival
Until 6 September | East and southeast London
September begins with the final days of one of London's biggest outdoor arts festivals.
The Greenwich+Docklands International Festival, better known as GDIF, runs until 6 September 2026, bringing free outdoor theatre, dance, circus and performance to public spaces around east and southeast London.
One of the highlights is Dancing City, where dance performances appear in unusual outdoor locations around Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
There's also Nature Speaks in Thamesmead and other performances during the final weekend.
You don't need to sit inside a theatre for this festival.
The city itself becomes the stage.
3. Meatopia
3–6 September | Tobacco Dock
September starts with one of London's biggest food festivals.
Meatopia returns to Tobacco Dock from 3–6 September, bringing up to 75 chefs together to cook dishes over wood and charcoal.
It's built around live-fire cooking, but there is much more happening around the food, including bars, music and DJs.
It's a good choice if you want your September festival experience to involve eating rather than simply watching performances.
Best for: food lovers, live-fire cooking and a lively atmosphere.
4. Black On The Square
5 September | Trafalgar Square | Free
Trafalgar Square hosts one of London's biggest free cultural festivals on Saturday 5 September.
Black On The Square celebrates Black culture and creativity through music, performance, food, workshops, activities and community organisations.
The 2026 edition is particularly significant because it celebrates several anniversaries, including 60 years of Notting Hill Carnival, 35 years of Tomorrow's Warriors and 30 years of the MOBO Awards.
It runs from 12pm–6pm and is free to attend.
If you want a festival in central London that doesn't require an expensive ticket, put this one in your diary.
5. London Podcast Festival
3–13 September | Kings Place
Your favourite podcast can become a live show during the London Podcast Festival.
Taking place at Kings Place from 3–13 September, the festival brings podcasts from comedy, history, film, culture and other subjects onto the stage in front of a live audience.
The programme includes established shows alongside more specialist podcasts.
So if you're the person who constantly has a podcast playing in the background, September gives you an opportunity to experience one properly live.
Best for: podcast fans and live entertainment.
6. Open House Festival
12–20 September | Across London | Free
One of London's most interesting festivals doesn't actually take place in a traditional festival venue.
Open House Festival runs from 12–20 September and gives the public access to hundreds of buildings and architectural spaces across London.
Some are historic buildings.
Some are modern architectural landmarks.
Others are normally closed to the public.
There are also tours, talks, exhibitions and workshops.
The festival is free, although some activities require advance booking.
If you have ever walked past a building in London and wondered “What's inside there?”, this is your chance to find out.
7. CelebrASIA
11–13 September | Battersea Power Station
Battersea Power Station hosts CelebrASIA from 11–13 September, bringing Southeast Asian food, music, culture and creativity together for a three-day festival.
Expect street food, market stalls, workshops, live performances and cultural activities.
It's also free to attend for the main festival programme.
And because it's happening at Battersea Power Station, you can easily combine it with a walk along the Thames and a wider exploration of the area.
Best for: food, culture and families.
8. Great River Race
12 September | River Thames
This is one of London's strangest sporting spectacles.
The Great River Race takes place on 12 September, with hundreds of boats racing approximately 21.6 miles along the Thames from Millwall towards Richmond.
The race passes beneath London's bridges and brings all sorts of boats onto the river.
You don't need a ticket to watch it from public riverside locations.
Find a good spot along the Thames, bring something to eat and watch the boats race past.
It's essentially a marathon on water.
9. London Design Festival
12–20 September | Across London
For nine days, London becomes one enormous design exhibition.
The London Design Festival returns from 12–20 September 2026 for its 24th edition.
The festival spreads across the city through installations, exhibitions, talks, workshops and special projects.
There are 11 official design districts, including Bankside, Chelsea, Mayfair, Shoreditch, Soho and others.
And you don't have to be a professional designer to enjoy it.
Some of the best installations are simply things you can stumble across while walking around London.
10. London Fashion Week
17–21 September | Various London locations
September also brings one of London's biggest international fashion events.
London Fashion Week runs from 17–21 September 2026, bringing designers, models, brands, buyers and fashion fans to the capital.
Not every catwalk event is open to the public, but the wider programme includes public-facing showcases, pop-ups and events.
So if you're interested in fashion, don't simply look for “London Fashion Week tickets”.
Check the programme for events specifically marked as open to the public.
11. Taste of Iceland
10–12 September | Various London locations
You don't need to fly to Iceland to get a taste of the country this September.
Taste of Iceland brings three days of Icelandic food, music, literature and culture to London from 10–12 September.
The programme includes Icelandic food experiences, literature events and entertainment, including comedian Ari Eldjárn and an Iceland Noir event featuring authors Ragnar Jónasson and Yrsa Sigurðardóttir.
There is also an Icelandic tasting menu at Darby's.
It's a great example of the international festivals that make London's cultural calendar so varied.
12. Flower Festival at Strawberry Hill House
10–13 September | Strawberry Hill House
For something a little more peaceful, head west.
Strawberry Hill House hosts its annual Flower Festival from 10–13 September, with floral designers transforming the historic Gothic interiors and gardens with special displays.
The event focuses on floral design and sustainability, with installations created by designers from around the UK.
It's particularly good for anyone who enjoys:
Flowers
Historic houses
Photography
Gardens
Interior design
13. Waterworks
12–13 September | Docklands
If you prefer your festivals loud, late and electronic, Waterworks returns to London's Docklands on 12–13 September.
The electronic music festival takes over multiple spaces around the area, with DJs playing across indoor and outdoor rooms.
The 2026 line-up includes names such as Alex Kassian, DJRUM, Midland and Sofia Kourtesis.
It's described as a 36-hour dance marathon, so this definitely isn't the quiet option.
Best for: electronic music and late-night festival culture.
14. The Big Brine
12–13 September | Hackney Bridge
Yes, London has a festival dedicated to pickling and fermentation.
The Big Brine takes place at Hackney Bridge on 12–13 September, celebrating everything fermented, pickled and brined.
Expect food, drinks, chef demonstrations, live music and plenty of things you probably wouldn't normally think of as festival food.
If you like trying unusual food, this could be one of the most interesting events on the September calendar.
And it is exactly the sort of thing that makes London feel like London.
15. Classic Boat Festival
12–13 September | St Katharine Docks | Free
London's relationship with the Thames isn't just about modern boats.
The Classic Boat Festival returns to St Katharine Docks on 12–13 September, bringing around 50 historic vessels into the heart of the city.
Among the boats expected are historic sailing vessels and Dunkirk Little Ships.
You can explore the waterfront, see the boats and learn more about London's maritime history.
And because the event is free, it makes a very easy addition to a weekend around Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.
Other September events worth knowing about
The 15 above are only part of what's happening.
September also brings:
Doggett's Coat and Badge on 2 September one of the world's oldest rowing races, dating back to 1715.
Fringe Fix from 1–26 September bringing Edinburgh Fringe-style performances to Soho.
Wiesenthal at Wilton's Music Hall from 1 - 5 September.
Bloodsport at Theatre Royal Stratford East from 3 September - 10 October.
Soho Jazz Festival from 16-19 September.
And on 10 September, the Bayeux Tapestry finally goes on display at the British Museum, in what is arguably London's biggest cultural event of the year.
Which September festivals should you actually choose?
If you want free events, start with:
Black On The Square
Open House Festival
Many Totally Thames events
Classic Boat Festival
Parts of GDIF
If you want food, look at:
Meatopia, The Big Brine, Taste of Iceland
If you're interested in culture, try:
Totally Thames, CelebrASIA, Black On The Square, Taste of Iceland
If you want music, you've got:
London Fashion Week events
Waterworks
London Podcast Festival
Soho Jazz Festival
And if you simply want something that feels very London, I'd go for:
Totally Thames, Open House, Great River Race, Doggett's Coat and Badge
because these are the kinds of events that make you look at the city slightly differently.
September is when London comes back to life
August can feel like London has temporarily slowed down.
September is different.
The theatres are busy again.
The festivals return.
The streets fill with designers, musicians, artists and food vendors.
Buildings open their doors.
The Thames becomes a stage.
And almost every part of London seems to have something happening.
So if you're wondering what events are happening in London this September, don't just pick one.
Pick a weekend.
Choose an area.
And see how much of London you can experience.
Planning your next London day out? Discover more neighbourhood guides, hidden gems, food spots and things to do on LondonYaar.com.
Follow @rohan.londonyaar for more London places, stories and things worth knowing before you visit.