Things to Do in London in August 2026: Festivals, Attractions, Events and Summer Activities
August is one of the liveliest months to visit London, with major festivals, outdoor performances, food events, concerts and family-friendly activities taking place across the city. From the world-famous Notting Hill Carnival and large-scale music festivals to open-air cinemas, cultural attractions and seasonal markets, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the capital during the summer holidays.
Whether you are visiting for a weekend break, a backpacking trip or a longer stay, this guide highlights some of the best things to do in London in August 2026, including free events, outdoor activities, attractions and practical travel tips.
London Events in August 2026
London’s August calendar brings together headline concerts, city-wide festivals, free outdoor screenings, cultural celebrations and August Bank Holiday events. The list below includes paid and free activities across different parts of the city, helping you plan your days around music, food, theatre, local experiences, family outings and iconic seasonal highlights.
1. All Points East Festival
About: All Points East returns to Victoria Park with major headline music shows across two weekends, plus free community activity in between. It is one of the biggest London August events for music lovers.
Date: 21–30 August 2026
Venue: Victoria Park, East London
Price: Paid
2. The Weeknd: After Hours Til Dawn Tour
About: The Weeknd brings his stadium-scale tour to London with five confirmed Wembley Stadium dates. Playboi Carti is listed as support for the UK and European shows.
Date: 14, 15, 16, 18 and 19 August 2026
Venue: Wembley Stadium
Price: Paid
3. Ariana Grande: The Eternal Sunshine Tour
About: Ariana Grande performs a ten-night London residency at The O2 as part of her 2026 tour. It is one of the biggest confirmed arena concert runs in London for August.
Date: 15, 16, 19, 20, 23, 24, 27, 28, 31 August and 1 September 2026
Venue: The O2, Greenwich
Price: Paid
4. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Fan Expo: London
About: This official Dungeons & Dragons event features live shows, panels, gaming tables, cosplay, traders and fan experiences. It opens at indigo at The O2 before moving to The O2 Arena.
Date: 21–22 August 2026
Venue: indigo at The O2 and The O2 Arena
Price: Paid
5. Jazz Cafe Festival 2026
About: Jazz Cafe Festival brings the spirit of the famous Camden venue to a larger outdoor festival setting. It is a strong August pick for live music, soul, jazz, funk and contemporary sounds.
Date: 2 August 2026
Venue: Burgess Park
Price: Paid
6. Ghana Party in the Park
About: Ghana Party in the Park returns with ShattaFest UK, celebrating Ghanaian music, food, culture and community. It is a vibrant cultural festival for the first weekend of August.
Date: 1 August 2026
Venue: Copthall Playing Fields, London NW4
Price: Paid
7. Campfire Country Club – London Country Music Festival
About: Campfire Country Club brings country music, themed entertainment and Southern-inspired festival energy to London. It is a useful alternative to the city’s bigger pop and electronic events.
Date: 1 August 2026
Venue: The Steel Yard, London
Price: Paid
8. Croydon Pride 2026
About: Croydon Pride takes over BOXPARK Croydon for a full day of LGBTQIA+ celebration, live entertainment, drag, music, food and community activity.
Date: 15 August 2026
Venue: BOXPARK Croydon
Price: Free registration required
9. Norman Jay MBE Presents Good Times
About: Norman Jay brings the legendary Good Times Soundsystem to Alexandra Palace for an open-air August Bank Holiday party. Expect Carnival-inspired energy with house, rare groove, disco, jazz, hip-hop and drum & bass.
Date: 30 August 2026
Venue: Alexandra Palace Terrace
Price: Paid
10. Signal Festival 2026
About: Signal Festival is a day-to-night bass music event covering drum and bass, jungle, liquid, dubstep and related sounds. It is a strong choice for electronic music fans visiting London in August.
Date: 22 August 2026
Venue: The Cause London
Price: Ticketed
11. UK National Panorama Steel Band Competition
About: This steel band competition opens the Notting Hill Carnival weekend with live pan music and competitive performances. It is a great way to experience Carnival before the main parade days.
Date: 29 August 2026
Venue: Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park, Kensal Road, London, W10 3DH
Price: Paid
12. J’ouvert at Notting Hill Carnival
About: J’ouvert is an early Carnival tradition known for music, movement, colour and street celebration. It forms part of the Sunday Carnival programme.
Date: 30 August 2026
Venue: Notting Hill and Ladbroke Grove area
Price: Free
13. Children’s Parade and Families Day
About: Families Day brings young performers, costumes, music and community celebration to the Carnival route. It is one of the best Carnival options for visitors with children.
Date: 30 August 2026
Venue: Notting Hill Carnival route
Price: Free
14. Adults’ Parade and Carnival Judging Zone
About: The main Carnival Monday celebration features mas bands, costumes, sound systems, Caribbean food and large-scale street celebration.
Date: 31 August 2026
Venue: Notting Hill Carnival route
Price: Free
15. Notting Hill and Portobello Road Around Carnival Weekend
About: Notting Hill and Portobello Road are especially vibrant during Carnival weekend, with colourful streets, market stalls, cafés and a lively atmosphere that complements the celebrations taking place across west London.
Date: 29–31 August 2026
Venue: Notting Hill and Portobello Road, West London
Price: Free
16. Palace Bowl Presents 2026
About: Palace Bowl Presents is a new summer concert series at Crystal Palace Bowl, featuring a wide line-up across August including Mahrajan Festival, Kirk Franklin, Tom Jones, Gary Numan, Roots Picnic, Davido, Lenny Kravitz and Jimmy Eat World.
Date: 31 July – 16 August 2026
Venue: Crystal Palace Bowl, London
Price: Paid
17. Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man
About: Matthew Bourne’s award-winning dance thriller returns to Sadler’s Wells, reimagining Bizet’s Carmen as a gripping tale set in a 1950s American garage diner. It is a standout August theatre and dance production for visitors looking beyond outdoor festivals and concerts.
Date: 28 July – 29 August 2026
Venue: Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London
Price: Paid
18. Everyman on the Canal
About: Everyman on the Canal returns to King’s Cross with free outdoor film screenings beside Regent’s Canal. It offers a relaxed summer evening activity with a mix of classic favourites, family films and modern releases.
Date: 29 June–16 August 2026
Venue: Granary Square / Regent’s Canal Towpath, King’s Cross
Price: Free
19. London Card Show
About: London Card Show brings collectors together to buy, sell and trade sports, entertainment and pop culture cards. The August 2026 edition is listed as a major collector event.
Date: 14–16 August 2026
Venue: Sandown Racecourse, Esher
Price: From £0.00 on the organiser’s listing.
20. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with Mandle Cheung
About: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performs Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, ‘Resurrection’, under the direction of conductor Mandle Cheung at Alexandra Palace Theatre. This classical concert offers a cultural highlight for visitors interested in orchestral music and one of north London’s landmark venues.
Date: 21 August 2026
Venue: Alexandra Palace Theatre
Price: Paid
21. All Points East: In the Neighbourhood
About: This free community programme takes place between the two All Points East festival weekends, featuring outdoor cinema, live music, entertainment, street food, arts, sports, wellbeing activities and family-friendly events.
Date: 24–27 August 2026
Venue: Victoria Park, East London
Price: Free.
22. Canary Wharf Summer Screens
About: Canary Wharf’s Summer Screens programme offers free open-air entertainment including films, live sport, gaming, quizzes and big-screen events.
Date: 4 June–1 September 2026
Venue: Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf
Price: Free.
23. Lower Marsh Lates Outdoor Cinema
About: Lower Marsh Lates transforms Waterloo’s historic market street into a free outdoor cinema experience, complemented by live performances, local food vendors and special offers from nearby businesses.
Date: 27 August 2026
Venue: Lower Marsh, Waterloo
Price: Free registration; food and drinks paid separately.
24. Summer Nature Roadshows by The Royal Parks
About: These free family-friendly drop-in sessions include wildlife trails, nature specimens, crafts, quizzes and interactive activities designed to help children and adults learn more about London’s wildlife and green spaces.
Date: 29 July–20 August 2026
Venue: Various Royal Parks across London, including Greenwich Park, Kensington Gardens, Richmond Park, St James’s Park, Regent’s Park, The Green Park and Bushy Park
Price: Free
25. Canary Wharf Alfresco Arts: Theatre
About: Alfresco Arts: Theatre brings free outdoor performances to Canary Wharf, including comedy, classic adaptations and contemporary plays.
Date: Selected dates throughout summer 2026
Venue: Various locations across Canary Wharf
Price: Free.
26. Canary Wharf Alfresco Arts: Music
About: This outdoor music programme features free pop-up concerts across Canary Wharf’s gardens and waterside spaces.
Date: 12 June–18 September 2026
Venue: Various locations across Canary Wharf
Price: Free
27. TWSTDFEST 2026
About: TWSTDFEST is a live music event presented by Pretty Twisted, bringing together alternative and live music acts at the historic Islington Assembly Hall. It works well as a smaller venue-based August festival.
Date: 8 August 2026
Venue: Islington Assembly Hall
Price: Paid
28. London Tap Dance Festival 2026
About: London Tap Dance Festival celebrates the art of tap through workshops, performances, gala events and community activities, bringing together dancers and audiences from across the UK and beyond.
Date: 14–16 August 2026
Venue: Brixton House
Price: Paid
29. London Reggae & Ska Festival
About: London Reggae & Ska Festival is a one-day outdoor music event celebrating reggae, ska and related sounds in south London. It offers a relaxed summer festival atmosphere away from central London’s busiest areas.
Date: 9 August 2026
Venue: Morden Park, Morden
Price: Paid
30. Roost Chicken Festival
About: Roost Chicken Festival is a three-day food festival celebrating chicken dishes from around the world, featuring street food traders, chefs, live entertainment, cooking demonstrations and competitions.
Date: 21–23 August 2026
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Price: Paid
31. The Tacover Taco & Tequila Festival 2026
About: The Tacover returns to Richmond with tacos, tequila, mezcal, Mexican street food, entertainment and trader competitions.
Date: Selected dates from 14 August 2026
Venue: Richmond Athletic Ground
Price: Paid.
32. Hampton Court Palace Food Festival
About: This August Bank Holiday food festival brings artisan producers, street food, drinks, live music and family entertainment to the palace gardens.
Date: 29–31 August 2026
Venue: Hampton Court Palace
Price: Paid
33. Soho Spirits Festival
About: Soho Spirits Festival brings together more than 60 drinks brands for tastings and brand experiences. It suits readers looking for a central London food and drink event during August.
Date: 21–22 August 2026
Venue: The Vinyl Factory, Soho
Price: Paid
Essential Tips for London Backpackers During August Festivals and Events
- Book tickets early for major August events, as popular concerts, festivals and open-air performances can sell out or increase in price closer to the date.
- Check official event pages before travelling, especially for timings, entry gates, age restrictions, bag rules and last entry details.
- For Notting Hill Carnival, arrive early, travel light and avoid bringing large bags. Keep your phone, wallet and ID secure, as the area gets extremely busy.
- Plan your transport in advance. During big events and Carnival weekend, some Tube stations may be crowded, exit-only or temporarily closed.
- Allow extra time for queues, security checks and crowd movement, especially at stadiums, parks, festivals and bank holiday events.
- For free events, arrive ahead of time. Entry may be free, but space can still be limited.
- Check weather updates on the day, as open-air events may continue in light rain but could change plans in severe weather.
- Keep a charged phone and portable power bank with you. Long days at festivals, outdoor events and Carnival celebrations can quickly drain phone batteries, especially when using maps, tickets and mobile payments.
Accommodation Tips for Visiting London in August
August brings London to life with carnival celebrations, music festivals, food events, outdoor performances and seasonal attractions across the city. With activities taking place in different parts of London, staying somewhere with convenient transport connections can make getting around much easier.
If you are looking for a hostel in Hendon, London Backpackers offers affordable accommodation, comfortable rooms and practical facilities for travellers looking to explore London’s August events while remaining within easy reach of central London and key transport links.
