Skip to main content
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
View all events for category: Art & exhibitions

Quentin Blake: The Southbank Parade

Fri 5 Jun – Sun 8 Nov 2026

The much-loved illustrator and author celebrates the 1951 Festival of Britain with a new installation for you to discover across our site.

Site wide
Free – no ticket required

With these illustrations, created as part of our 75th anniversary celebrations, Sir Quentin Blake pays tribute to some of the many legends who have graced our stages over the decades. At the same time, they honour the Londoners of all backgrounds who fill our riverfront each and every day.

You can discover illustrations throughout our indoor spaces from February to November, and a procession of Blake’s characters outside the Royal Festival Hall from May.

Look out for rock stars, ballet dancers, authors, skaters, parkour athletes, dub poets, jazz singers and heaps more characters waiting to be discovered.

Need to know

Age guidance
For all ages. Under-12s must be accompanied by an adult on our site.
Event information

Events and building closures may affect access to the installation. Please check the website before your visit.

Artwork locations

Level 1 Foyer, Royal Festival Hall: dancers and a parkour athlete
Queen Elizabeth Hall Slip Road stairs: a skater
Cloakroom, Level 2, Green Side, Royal Festival Hall: a percussionist
Blue Side Foyer, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall: an artist
Green Side Foyer, Level 3, Royal Festival Hall: opera singers and an actor
Level 3 Balcony, Royal Festival Hall: actors
Blue Side Foyer, Level 3, Royal Festival Hall: a singer
Green Side Foyer, Level 4, Royal Festival Hall: a violinist
Blue Side Foyer, Level 4, Royal Festival Hall: a conductor
National Poetry Library, Level 5, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall: poets
Outside the St Paul’s Roof Pavilion, Level 6, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall: rock stars

Times & tickets

Dates, times and prices

Dates & times

Tue 17 Feb – Sun 8 Nov 2026
Tue – Sun, 10am – 11pm
Closed Mon

 

Standard entry

Free – no ticket required

Concessions

Learn more about concession discounts

Refunds and exchanges

Find out more about our refund and exchange policy

For your visit

This event is held at the Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre

The Royal Festival Hall is open six days a week.

Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Monday, closed.

From the shop

Browse all our Quentin Blake keyrings, badges and gift ideas

Shop the Quentin Blake collection

Loading...