Diwali at the National Maritime Museum 2026: Everything You Need to Know
Diwali in London is not just about lights, fireworks and big celebrations in central London. Some of the city's most interesting Diwali events happen in places you might not immediately expect including inside a major maritime museum in Greenwich.
On Saturday 7 November 2026, the National Maritime Museum will host All Together Now, a free day-long celebration of Diwali, the Festival of Lights. The event will bring together South Asian artists, performers, musicians, makers, storytellers and community organisations for a day of performances, workshops, talks, creative activities and food.
And there is something new for 2026: a Diwali Bazaar, bringing South Asian designers, artists, makers and independent businesses into the museum for the first time.
So, if you are looking for something different to do for Diwali in London this year, this is one event worth putting on your calendar.
Is the Diwali event actually in London?
Yes.
The event is taking place at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London, at Romney Road, SE10 9NF.
Greenwich can sometimes feel like its own little world compared with central London, but it is very much part of London and it is one of the city's most interesting areas for a day out.
The National Maritime Museum is part of Royal Museums Greenwich, alongside attractions including the Queen's House, Cutty Sark and Royal Observatory.
For this particular event, you don't need to travel into central London or buy an expensive festival ticket. The Diwali celebration is being held right inside the museum and is free to attend.
Where: National Maritime Museum, Romney Road, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF
Date: Saturday 7 November 2026
Time: 10:30am–5pm
Admission: Free
Suitable for: All ages
Official Royal Museums Greenwich event information
What is All Together Now?
The 2026 Diwali celebration is called All Together Now.
It has been curated by Mehala Ford, founder and curator of COMMONGROUND&, and this year's theme centres on the idea that communities are stronger when they come together.
That makes the event feel broader than a simple Diwali performance day.
Royal Museums Greenwich describes the celebration as a day of creativity, culture and community, with artists and performers taking over different parts of the museum.
Visitors can expect a mixture of live music, dance, storytelling, talks, workshops, gallery activities and creative experiences rather than simply standing around watching a stage.
It is also designed to welcome people whether they celebrate Diwali themselves or are simply curious about the festival and South Asian culture.
What can you do at the Diwali celebration?
There is quite a lot happening throughout the day.
One of the biggest attractions will be the programme of live music and dance performances.
The 2026 programme includes performances and workshops featuring artists and groups working across different South Asian traditions.
Among those announced are:
Kiran SKG, opening the festival with a solo flute performance
Nandita Shankardass and Welcome Movement®
Pooja Rajguru and her Folk Mandali, bringing Rajasthani folk dance and Gujarati Garba
Sweta Pandey, performing Bharatanatyam
Eternal Taal, an all-female group of dancers and dhol drummers
Bhangra4Us, with a performance and Bhangra workshop
The performances will take place in different parts of the museum, including the Ocean Map, giving the day a slightly different atmosphere from a conventional outdoor festival.
The new Diwali Bazaar
This is probably the biggest reason to pay attention to the 2026 edition.
For the first time, the National Maritime Museum is introducing a Diwali Bazaar.
The bazaar will bring together South Asian designers, independent brands, artists, makers and craftspeople, alongside local Greenwich-based businesses.
You can expect stalls selling things such as:
Jewellery
Clothing
Accessories
Prints
Gifts
Handmade products
Creative work from independent designers and makers
The bazaar is scheduled to run from 11am to 4pm in the Ocean Court.
So this is not just somewhere to watch performances. If you want to pick up something unusual for Diwali — or simply discover independent South Asian creatives — this could be one of the most interesting parts of the day.
Try a Diwali workshop
If you prefer doing something rather than simply watching, there are several creative workshops planned throughout the day.
One of the highlights is Rangoli art, where visitors can learn about the meaning and traditions behind rangoli before creating their own design.
There will also be lotus lantern making, with visitors able to make illuminated lotus flower wands that can then be carried during the lantern parade.
Other activities include:
Block printing
Sustainable textile making with Button Masala
Exploring creative reuse of pre-loved saris
Learning about the cultural significance of the sari
Trying on traditional South Asian clothing
The museum is therefore turning the day into something quite hands-on.
You could arrive knowing very little about Diwali and still leave having tried a craft, watched a dance performance, listened to music and learned something about South Asian traditions.
There are talks and storytelling too
The programme isn't entirely focused on performances.
There are also talks and conversations exploring themes including heritage, identity, belonging and food traditions.
One of the sessions, Home + Land, explores heritage and identity through personal responses to history, memory and place.
There is also a discussion around Diwali through food, looking at the memories, traditions and family stories connected with what people eat during the festival.
For families, there is also storytelling and a Ramayana puppet theatre among the programmed activities.
This is one of the things that makes the event particularly interesting. It isn't presenting Diwali as one single tradition. Instead, the programme looks at the different ways South Asian communities experience, interpret and celebrate culture.
A lantern parade will finish the day
And then comes one of the most visually appealing parts of the event.
The day is due to conclude with a lantern parade through Greenwich Park, accompanied by the sounds of Eternal Taal's dhol drummers.
Visitors are invited to bring along lanterns made during the day's workshops.
The current programme lists the parade for approximately 5:15pm–5:30pm, with the meeting point at the Ship in a Bottle.
This also means you don't necessarily have to leave the museum as soon as the main daytime programme finishes. If you've made a lantern during the workshops, you can take part in the finale and continue the celebration outside in Greenwich Park.
Is the National Maritime Museum Diwali celebration free?
Yes.
This is one of the strongest reasons to include it in your London Diwali plans.
Royal Museums Greenwich lists the 7 November 2026 event as free, while Visit Greenwich also lists free admission.
The National Maritime Museum itself is also normally free to enter, although some special exhibitions and experiences may have separate charges.
Royal Museums Greenwich says visitors can book a free ticket in advance if they want to guarantee entry, although general museum admission is free.
So if you are planning to go specifically for the Diwali celebration, checking the official event page before travelling is still a good idea.
When is Diwali in 2026?
There is an interesting reason the National Maritime Museum's celebration falls on 7 November.
Diwali itself falls on Sunday 8 November 2026.
That means the Greenwich celebration takes place the day before the main Diwali date.
For anyone visiting London for the festival, this creates a useful Diwali weekend rather than a single evening event.
You could spend Saturday at the National Maritime Museum's celebration and then explore other Diwali-related activities around London on Sunday.
Why does a maritime museum celebrate Diwali?
At first glance, a maritime museum might seem like an unusual place to celebrate the Festival of Lights.
But there is actually a connection.
The National Maritime Museum's collections explore Britain's relationship with the wider world, including trade, migration, travel and connections with Asia.
The museum has a long-running Diwali programme, and its annual celebration has been used to connect visitors with South Asian history, creativity and contemporary communities. Royal Museums Greenwich has said its public Diwali celebrations have been running for many years, with the 2026 programme marking 16 years of public Diwali celebrations.
That history is part of what makes this event more interesting than simply putting a Diwali decoration inside a museum.
It is about using the museum as a meeting point between collections, history, contemporary creativity and London's South Asian communities.
What else can you do in Greenwich?
The biggest advantage of this event is its location.
You don't have to make the Diwali celebration your entire day.
Greenwich is one of those parts of London where you can easily turn a single event into a full day out.
Before or after the festival, you could explore:
Greenwich Park - Walk through one of London's most famous royal parks and head towards the viewpoint near the Royal Observatory.
Queen's House -Visit the historic former royal residence and see its impressive architecture and art collection.
Cutty Sark - Step aboard one of the world's most famous surviving tea clippers.
Royal Observatory Greenwich - Visit the home of Greenwich Mean Time and stand on the Prime Meridian.
Greenwich Market - Browse independent stalls and grab something to eat.
Because the Diwali programme itself runs through the daytime, you could arrive in Greenwich in the morning, spend several hours at the festival and then continue exploring the neighbourhood afterwards.
How to get to the National Maritime Museum
Greenwich is well connected to the rest of London.
The easiest options include Greenwich DLR station, which is a short walk from the museum, and Cutty Sark DLR station, which is even closer.
Greenwich railway station is also within walking distance.
You can also reach Greenwich by river boat, which is a much more scenic option if you have time. It turns the journey into part of the day rather than simply being a way of getting there.
On a busy event day, public transport is the sensible choice.
Is this a good Diwali event for families?
Yes.
The official event information specifically describes the celebration as suitable for all ages, and the programme includes workshops, storytelling, creative activities, music and dance.
Children can get involved rather than simply watching from the sidelines.
They can make lanterns, explore rangoli, take part in creative activities and then potentially carry their lantern during the parade.
For adults, meanwhile, there are performances, talks, food, the new bazaar and plenty of opportunities to explore the museum itself.
It is therefore one of those London events that works particularly well for a mixed-age group.
What should you know before going?
Because the event is free and has a broad programme, it is worth planning your day rather than simply arriving for one activity.
Check the official Royal Museums Greenwich programme before you leave, particularly if there is a specific performance or workshop you want to see.
Some activities are drop-in, while individual sessions may have their own arrangements.
Also remember that the Diwali Bazaar has a specific 11am–4pm window, so don't leave your shopping until the end of the day if that is one of the reasons you're visiting.
And if you want to take part in the lantern parade, leave enough time to make your lantern earlier in the day.
Should you visit the National Maritime Museum for Diwali?
Absolutely especially if you want something different from London's larger Diwali celebrations.
What makes All Together Now interesting is the combination.
You have a major London museum, South Asian performances, creative workshops, a brand-new Diwali Bazaar, talks about culture and identity, food, art installations and a lantern parade through Greenwich Park all within one free event.
And because it takes place on Saturday 7 November 2026, the day before Diwali itself, it could be an excellent way to begin a Diwali weekend in London.
If you're looking for a family-friendly celebration, it is an easy recommendation. If you are interested in South Asian culture and contemporary creativity, there is plenty to discover. And if you're simply looking for a free London event that feels different from the usual tourist itinerary, Greenwich is a very good place to start.
The Instagram post you shared is therefore genuine. The location, date and free admission are correct, and the event really is happening in London. The one thing I'd be careful about when posting about it is calling it simply a “Japanese-style” or generic Diwali market it is specifically the National Maritime Museum's All Together Now Diwali celebration, with the Diwali Bazaar being a new addition for 2026.
Quick details
Event: All Together Now – Diwali at the National Maritime Museum
Date: Saturday 7 November 2026
Time: 10:30am–5pm
Location: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Admission: Free
New for 2026: Diwali Bazaar
Highlights: Dance, music, workshops, rangoli, lantern making, talks, storytelling, food and drink, art installations and a lantern parade
Best for: Families, culture lovers and anyone looking for a different Diwali experience in London
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