Bloomsbury Festival 2026

Marking its 20^th year, Bloomsbury Festival is returning with a month-long celebration of local artists and organisations with over 150 events spanning theatre, music, exhibitions, literature and science across more than 40 venues. In Bloomsbury and Camden’s streets, parks, museums and galleries, events span from hyperlocal to the international, theatre that road trips from the UK to Lebanon, dance from Vietnam and poetry reflecting cultural roots from Africa to the Caribbean. 

The theme for this year is ‘Create and Celebrate’, reflecting on 20 years of new arts that continues to be inspired by the Festival. Opening on 1^st  Oct with exhibitions around Bloomsbury and an evening science comedy event at UCL. The Festival closes on 31 Oct with dance event AKDC Diwali Takeover, an outdoor Diwali Festival, and a late-night screening of the silent horror masterpiece Nosferatu (1922) with Live Organ Improvisation (30 Oct) just in time for Halloween. 

Performance highlights include PATIENT: SOLDIER (11 Oct), a one-woman dark comedy, narrated by the Grim Reaper in an overwhelmed hospital in 2020. In Bloomsbury’s Back Yard: The History of a Forgotten Community (10 Oct), festival regulars The Good Companions unearth the history of Ormond Yard; Laughter is the Best Medicine (1 Oct,) a medical comedy night and Nuns With Tattoos (17 Oct) a cabaret by British-Jamaican queer Christian artist Esther Foga, an intimate voyage of self-discovery. 

Walks and talks include include UCL Walking Tour (14 Oct), 200 Years of Garden History in Brunswick Square (24 Oct). BODY WISDOM – An Introduction to Dance / Movement Therapy (15 Oct) followed by film screening What Makes You Proud Film. Newcomers The Avieli Arthouse present Between the City and Me (2 Oct) and UpLIft (3 Oct) on the first weekend of the festival.

In exhibitions, local photographer Stuart Keegan showcases 20 Years of Bloomsbury Festival Photography (3 Oct). Moments of Grace (2 – 31 Oct), an immersive oral history installation; The Science of Growing Minds: What Research Can Tell Us About Childhood Development (29 – 30 Oct) for 2- 10 year olds and the Discovery Hub (22 – 24 Oct), a mix of science and creative activities for schools, families and the general public.

New Wave, Bloomsbury Festival’s dedicated platform for nurturing new talent will be presenting nine local artists and organisations with further music programming from Mad Song play Steve Reich (8 Oct) and City Lit Big Band – Close Up (24 Oct).

When: 1 Oct – 31 Oct 2026

Where: Various Venues across Bloomsbury, London 

Tickets: Prices range from free and Pay What You Can to £30

FULL PROGRAMME HERE

Venue details