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The Royal Festival Hall is closed to the public on Tuesday 16 June. It will reopen for Harry Styles & Jules Buckley Orchestra ticket holders only at 5pm.

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On now & coming up

More info for Summer Time
A yellow sun with pink and orange zig zag rays

Summer Time

Until Mon 31 Aug
Dive in for art, performance, music, free events and outdoor fun this summer
More info for Anish Kapoor
Large red texture sculpture hanging down from the ceiling to the floor in a space with stone floors and pillars
Art & exhibitions

Anish Kapoor

Venture into a world of mystery through the artist’s awe-inspiring works at our major exhibition
Hayward Gallery
More info for London Parks: An Exhibition
A diverse group of twelve people pose playfully on and underneath a bright yellow external concrete staircase outdoors.
Art & exhibitions

London Parks: An Exhibition

See London’s green spaces anew in a photo exhibition created by young refugees and asylum seekers
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free
More info for TONIC FLOW: A Communal Chorus in Colour and Sound
Two women jump in the air in front of a brightly colored, geometric mural on an outdoor basketball court.
Art & exhibitions

TONIC FLOW: A Communal Chorus in Colour and Sound

Imagine a future overflowing with hope through a collaborative sound and visual installation
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets Free
More info for Luke Jerram: Stepping Out
A young boy jumps across large colorful dots painted on the ground at London\'s Southbank Centre on a sunny day.
Art & exhibitions

Luke Jerram: Stepping Out

Your feet make the music in an interactive installation by artist Luke Jerram and composer Dan Jones
Riverside Terrace
Tickets Free

Recently announced

More info for test sold out before on sale event
Comedy

test sold out before on sale event

More info for Dua Lipa & Mustafa: Nour
A black and white close-up portrait of a man looking over his shoulder while seated inside a vehicle, gripping a backpack strap.
Literature & poetry

Dua Lipa & Mustafa: Nour

Poetry that moves us is central to Mustafa’s collection Nour, and to this discussion with Dua Lipa
Royal Festival Hall
More info for Wasafiri: New Writing Prize 2026
Four panelists sit on a stage speaking into microphones before an audience, with large windows overlooking a city at night.
Literature & poetry

Wasafiri: New Writing Prize 2026

Join the magazine of international contemporary writing as they announce their prize winners
Royal Festival Hall
More info for Michael Lewis: Blockers
A close-up portrait of a smiling man with brown hair wearing a white collared shirt under a dark navy blue v-neck sweater.
Literature & poetry

Michael Lewis: Blockers

The author’s new book tells the story of the unsung heroes who fought back against US government cuts
Royal Festival Hall
More info for Indie Night: October
Two peoples profiles are grey and collaged with an image of piles of books and a dotted square.
Literature & poetry

Indie Night: October

Get to know an eclectic mix of writers at our series championing independent publishing
Purcell Room
More info for Dua Lipa & Zadie Smith: White Teeth
Author Zadie Smith wearing hoop earrings and a red shirt
Literature & poetry

Dua Lipa & Zadie Smith: White Teeth

Dig in to this modern classic with the author herself, in conversation with Dua Lipa
Royal Festival Hall
More info for A Celebration of British Somali Poetry
A three-quarter portrait of Momtaza Mehri looking upward, wearing a black hijab and matching black linen jacket.
Literature & poetry

A Celebration of British Somali Poetry

Explore how diaspora Somali poets rework an ancient tradition with an eye on the concept of ‘home’
Purcell Room
More info for The 2026 Forward Prizes for Poetry Ceremony
Five smiling award winners stand in a row holding blue booklets against a black, yellow, and blue curtain backdrop.
Literature & poetry

The 2026 Forward Prizes for Poetry Ceremony

Join us for live readings and experience the best poetry published in the UK and Ireland this year
Queen Elizabeth Hall

Festivals & series

View all festivals & series
More info for Summer Time
A yellow sun with pink and orange zig zag rays

Summer Time

Until Mon 31 Aug
Dive in for art, performance, music, free events and outdoor fun this summer
More info for Riverside Sessions
A dense crowd dances at an outdoor Riverside Terrace Bar under a canopy of colorful hexagonal decorations.

Riverside Sessions

Thu 11 Jun – Mon 21 Sep 2026
Join our celebration of music, youth and summer joy, curated by young people for everyone.
More info for Performance & Dance
A dancer in a dark, dusty outfit is captured mid-air during a dynamic leap or fall on a stage, with a massive, textured black mound or cave-like structure dominating the background.

Performance & Dance

Spring/Summer 2026
Spotlighting cutting-edge new work from around the world
More info for Goalhanger: The Rest Is Fest
Composite image featuring the hosts of multiple Goalhanger podcasts against a black background.

Goalhanger: The Rest Is Fest

Fri 4 – Sun 6 Sep 2026
Indulge in your favourite podcasts live as we welcome Goalhanger’s impressive starting line-up
More info for Creative Intelligence
A graphic of an eye made up of tiny black numbers, with orange and purple shadows

Creative Intelligence

Fri 11 – Sun 13 Sep 2026
Explore how AI and digital innovation are reshaping the world we live in
More info for Letters to the Future
A lady in a beige jumper with her hair up resting her head on one hand.

Letters to the Future

Fri 18 – Sun 20 Sep 2026
Address today’s pivotal issues in a series of talks and debates led by the thinkers of tomorrow
More info for Classical Music
Blue, purple and pink spirographs

Classical Music

Autumn/Winter 2026/27
Extraordinary live music experiences
More info for Season Opening Week
A group of young women hold open scissors above their heads in both hands

Season Opening Week

Tue 22 – Sun 27 Sep 2026
The start of a classical year full of stories that speak to us today

Free events

View all free events
More info for Gift to the Future
A large concrete building with colourful text decals affixed to its facade stands near a riverfront square, with the London Eye visible in the background.

Gift to the Future

See our brutalist buildings transformed with a giant poetry installation
Site wide
Tickets Free
More info for Quentin Blake: The Southbank Parade
A trio of illustrations by Quentin Blake depicting members of an orchestra; a woman in a long dress playing a violin, a person in a wheelchair plating the cymbals and a man in tails playing the flute
Art & exhibitions

Quentin Blake: The Southbank Parade

The much-loved illustrator and author celebrates the 1951 Festival of Britain for this installation
Site wide
Tickets Free
More info for Members' Private View: Anish Kapoor
Photograph of man looking into hole in the floor, artwork title 'Descent into Limbo' by Anish Kapoor, 1992-2016
Art & exhibitions

Members' Private View: Anish Kapoor

Step into Anish Kapoor’s artistic world at a Members’ Private View at the Hayward Gallery
Hayward Gallery
Tickets Free
More info for Duckie: Why Do Benders Love Divas?
A high-contrast pink stencil illustration of a singer on a black background, performing with arms spread wide.
Performance & dance

Duckie: Why Do Benders Love Divas?

David Hoyle, David McAlmont and Rupert Smith chat about the fierce queer connection to women icons
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Primary Schools Morning: Anish Kapoor
Students in yellow safety vests look through the window of a wooden shack art installation inside a modern museum gallery.
Art & exhibitions

Primary Schools Morning: Anish Kapoor

Primary school groups are invited to explore our current Hayward Gallery exhibition for free
Hayward Gallery
Tickets Free
More info for Secondary Schools Morning: Anish Kapoor
Three young people view a wall display filled with a colorful grid of vintage vinyl record album covers, including David Bowie and The Rolling Stones, in a gallery.
Art & exhibitions

Secondary Schools Morning: Anish Kapoor

Secondary school groups are invited to explore our current Hayward Gallery exhibition for free
Hayward Gallery
Tickets Free

While you’re with us

Jeppe Hein: Appearing Rooms
People enjoying the Jeppe Hein Fountain at the Southbank Centre

Jeppe Hein: Appearing Rooms

A summer favourite returns to our site with water fountains to splash around and cool down in.

Shopping
Wooden displays in the Southbank centre shop, featuring books, plushies, and colourful merchandise

Shopping

A vibrant range of inspiring books, homeware, prints, accessories and more.

Klaus Weber: Thinking Fountains
Two statues; a green human body with water spouting from its neck and another of human legs with water pouring down from above displayed outdoors

Thinking
Fountains

Water cascades and spouts over Klaus Weber’s bronze figures.

Modified Social Benches
Two children eating ice cream on a red cirrcular bench

Modified Social Benches

Benches that challenge the space and distance we place between one another.

William Pye's Zemran
A photograph showing Riverside Terrace at Southbank Centre, with the metal sculpture Zemran in the foreground, next to Queen Elizabeth Hall

William Pye's Zemran

Pye’s beautiful stainless steel sculpture sits overlooking the Thames.

Natura Nostra Forest
Bright sunlight bursts through green leaves with a lens flare, set against a blue sky and a textured concrete building.

Natura Nostra Forest

Our growing pocket forest creating a natural oasis.

On tour

More info for Georgia O’Keeffe: Memories of Drawings
A black and white abstract drawing featuring organic, swirling shapes resembling twisted horns or shells.
Art & exhibitions

Georgia O’Keeffe: Memories of Drawings

An exhibition of exquisite photogravure prints from one of the 20th-century’s most important artists
Beverley, Birkenhead
More info for Matisse: Drawing with Scissors
Blue cut out artwork of a female figure
Art & exhibitions

Matisse: Drawing with Scissors

Matisse: Drawing with Scissors, features 35 lithographic prints of the famous cut-outs
Stockton-on-Tees
More info for Eduardo Paolozzi: General Dynamic F.U.N
Sex Crime Wave Rolling High Screenprint by Eduardo Paolozzi
Art & exhibitions

Eduardo Paolozzi: General Dynamic F.U.N

Wake up your eyes with 50 works by Pop Art master Paolozzi
Lincoln
More info for Paula Rego: Visions of English Literature
The artwork The Neverland (1992) by Paula Rego, a coloured etching and aquataint depicting a dark fantasy scene
Art & exhibitions

Paula Rego: Visions of English Literature

Explore the extraordinary imagination of one of the great artists, printmakers and storytellers of our time
Cheltenham, Petworth, Rugby
More info for Joan Miró: Painting and Poetry
Artwork with orange background and other shapes over the canvas including a large bird like creature in black
Art & exhibitions

Joan Miró: Painting and Poetry

An exhibition of 26 lithographs by Joan Miró which illustrate the work of poet Robert Desnos.
Penarth, Durham, Newcastle under Lyme, Dumfries, Woking
More info for To Improvise A Mountain: Lynette Yiadom-Boakye Curates
Four black and white sketchings of a man's profile
Art & exhibitions

To Improvise A Mountain: Lynette Yiadom-Boakye Curates

The celebrated figurative painter presents works that have been critical to her way of seeing and thinking.
Bexhill on Sea
Tickets Free
More info for Linder: Danger Came Smiling
Artwork of collaged images cut together including red and pink roses, painted nails, red lips and some animals like a gecko, an owl and a seagull layered together
Art & exhibitions

Linder: Danger Came Smiling

A touring retrospective, showcasing 50 years of the pioneering feminist artist’s work, dissecting our fascination with the body.
Blackpool
Tickets Free