Kilburn High Road Festival

Kiln Theatre today announces the full line-up of events as part of the Kilburn High Road Festival taking place from 31 July – 15 August 2026. A three-year place-based programme part-funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Kilburn High Road Project will celebrate stories and share the heritage of the local communities living and working in Kilburn.

Across the first two years, Kiln Theatre engaged with local residents of all ages to co-create multidisciplinary art, including performances, events, and workshops. Participants have worked alongside professional artists and a community advisory board to explore the history of Kilburn High Road while building creative skills, confidence and celebrating pride in place.

Now in its final year in 2026, the project culminates with the Kilburn High Road Festival, including theatre, music, site-specific performances and visual art exhibitions - inviting audiences to experience Kilburn’s stories and cultural heritage.

Full line-up

INTERGENERATIONAL THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCTION AND PERFORMANCES
31 July – 1 August 2026

Location: Kiln Theatre, Main Auditorium

The Intergenerational Theatre Company is at the heart of the Kilburn High Road Project. Since September 2025, 80 local participants aged 6-88, have met weekly, sharing memories, local history, developing   scenes and experimenting with movement, music and storytelling. Inspired by these memories, playwright Sonia Jalaly, has created a new play that imagines a “Museum of Kilburn”, asking what stories, places and people would like to be remembered and celebrated.

THE HIGH ROAD: UNFRAMED – OUTDOOR INSTALLATION 31 July – 15 August 2026

Six Action Space Artists have created new work inspired by Kilburn, with designer Christianna Mason adapting each piece into a large-scale outdoor installation to be presented along the High Road.

CAPTURING KILBURN 31 July – 15 August 2026

Location: Kilburn High Road

Photographer Roy Mehta will create a series of portraits celebrating five Kilburn business owners, including Sadie’s Bridal and Folkie’s Music Shop.

PASSAGES – THREE SITE SPECIFIC THEATRE EXPERIENCES 31 July – 15 August 2026

Through a public callout, 95 stories of Kilburn have been gathered as part of the Passages Project. From these stories, three themes have been selected for adaptation by professional playwrights, directors, actors and dramaturgs into site-specific performances, included are Kilburn’s rich and diverse food culture, two submissions about a mutual friend, Keith who lived in Kilburn for103 years of his life and a promenade performance along the High Road.

SOUND OF KILBURN Dates announced soon

Bringing together Kilburn’s musical heritages in a mix of genres and traditions by forming a new Kilburn House Band.

NEIGHBOURS 31 July – 15 August 2026

The Kilburn High Road Festival will be stewarded and supported by Kiln Neighbours, a group of local people, passionate about the arts.

Kiln Theatre, 269 Kilburn High Road, London, NW6 7JR

Further information: Kilburn High Road Festival | Kiln Theatre