Information Density: Southbank Centre – Signal Evidence & AI Readability

[H3] An engine of creativity, we’re home to art and culture that brings people together

What’s on Plan your visit

[H2] On now & coming up

More info for Farm Fatale

[IMG: Performers on set dressed up as scarecrows surrounded by hay bales]

Performance & dance

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Farm Fatale

Fri 15 May & Sat 16 May 2026

In a show created by Philippe Quesne, a group of poet scarecrows run an independent radio station

Queen Elizabeth Hall

More info for REPLAY: A Limitless Recycled Playground

[IMG: Children playing in a loose parts play installation]

Family & young people

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REPLAY: A Limitless Recycled Playground

Fri 15 May – Sun 5 Jul 2026

Explore a world of play and invention in a recycled playground for children and their grown-ups

Royal Festival Hall

More info for OAE TOTS at LPO FUNharmonics: A Musical Adventure

[IMG: A drum being played for children.]

Classical music

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OAE TOTS at LPO FUNharmonics: A Musical Adventure

Sun 17 May 2026

Three, two, one ... lift-off! Take off on a children’s musical adventure with the OAE

Royal Festival Hall

Multi-buy

More info for FUNharmonics: Stan and Mabel and the Race for Space

[IMG: Colourful illustration of animals in a space rocket]

Family & young people

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FUNharmonics: Stan and Mabel and the Race for Space

Sun 17 May 2026, 12pm

Join music-loving Stan and Mabel for an orchestral adventure for all the family with the LPO

Performers
London Philharmonic Orchestra

Nefeli Chadouli conductor

Polly Ives presenter

Repertoire
Paul Rissmann: Stan and Mabel and the Race for Space

Mozart: Overture, The Marriage of Figaro

Britten: Dawn from 4 Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes

Kabalevsky: Galop from The Comedians

Ron Grainer: Theme from Dr. Who

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Royal Festival Hall

Multi-buy

More info for Alisa Weilerstein: Fragments – Emergence

[IMG: Alisa Weilerstein playing cello with dramatic lighting]

Classical music

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Alisa Weilerstein: Fragments – Emergence

Sun 17 May 2026, 3pm

One of the foremost cellists of our time brings together new music with Bach’s beloved Cello Suites

Performers
Alisa Weilerstein cello

Repertoire
Programme includes: Works by Bach, Joseph Hallman, Thomas Larcher, Jeffrey Mumford and Carlos Simon

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Purcell Room

Multi-buy

More info for Alisa Weilerstein: Fragments – Labyrinth

[IMG: Alisa Weilerstein playing cello with dramatic lighting]

Classical music

[H3]
Alisa Weilerstein: Fragments – Labyrinth

Sun 17 May 2026, 5pm

The extraordinary cellist interweaves new works with Bach’s contemplative Fourth Cello Suite

Performers
Alisa Weilerstein cello

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Purcell Room

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More info for Wagner & Taneyev

[IMG: Pink and Yellow illustration of a flute and a knight on a horse]

Classical music

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Wagner & Taneyev

Sun 17 May 2026, 7.30pm

Mozart’s Overture to The Magic Flute opens a mystical evening with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Performers
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Vasily Petrenko conductor

Philharmonia Chorus

Repertoire
Mozart: Overture, The Magic Flute

Taneyev: John of Damascus, Op.1 for chorus & orchestra

Interval

Wagner: Symphonic excerpts from Parsifal arr. Leinsdorf for orchestra

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Royal Festival Hall

Multi-buy

More info for Mahler's Fifth

[IMG: Kahchun Wong conducting with his baton, using both arms and smiling looking down toward the orchestra]

Classical music

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Mahler's Fifth

Sun 17 May 2026, 7.30pm

From wit to wonder – an evening of Shostakovich and Mahler, with the RCM Symphony Orchestra

Performers
Royal College of Music Symphony Orchestra

Kahchun Wong conductor

Mariamna Sherling piano

Repertoire
Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No.2

Interval

Mahler: Symphony No.5

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Queen Elizabeth Hall

More info for WordPlay: Ages 0 – 2

[IMG: Two women, one holding a baby, enjoy a dance event.]

Family & young people

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WordPlay: Ages 0 – 2

Fri 15 May & Fri 29 May 2026

Enjoy songs and live music for ages 0 – 2 and their grown-ups, within a playful, squishy space

The Clore Ballroom

Tickets Free

More info for WordPlay: Ages 3 – 5

[IMG: Young boy enjoying a performance during the Imagine Festival at the Southbank Centre]

Family & young people

[H3]
WordPlay: Ages 3 – 5

Fri 15 May & Fri 29 May 2026

Enjoy songs and live music for ages 3 – 5 and their grown-ups, within a playful, squishy space

The Clore Ballroom

Tickets Free

More info for Mix & Move: Bollywood Groove

[IMG: People dancing and smiling with purple lighting]

Courses & workshops

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Mix & Move: Bollywood Groove

Fri 15 May & Fri 19 Jun 2026

Come on down for easy-to-learn routines, good energy and fresh takes on Bollywood dance

The Clore Ballroom

Tickets Free

More info for Quentin Blake: The Southbank Parade

[IMG: 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

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Quentin Blake: The Southbank Parade

Fri 15 May – Sun 8 Nov 2026

The much-loved illustrator and author celebrates the 1951 Festival of Britain for this installation

Site wide

Tickets Free

More info for TONIC FLOW: A Communal Chorus in Colour and Sound

[IMG: Two women jump in the air in front of a brightly colored, geometric mural on an outdoor basketball court.]

Art & exhibitions

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TONIC FLOW: A Communal Chorus in Colour and Sound

Fri 15 May – Sun 20 Sep 2026

Imagine a future overflowing with hope through a collaborative sound and visual installation

Royal Festival Hall

Tickets Free

More info for Skate 50

[IMG: A skater skates near the Undercroft Skate Space]

Art & exhibitions

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Skate 50

Fri 15 May – Sun 21 Jun 2026

Our exhibition uncovers the story of London’s original skate space through imagery, audio and film

Queen Elizabeth Hall

Tickets Free

[IMG: Harry Styles leans back in a chair, wearing a navy blue suit jacket, white shirt, brown silk tie and yellow shorts.]

Your chance to win tickets to see Harry Styles at Meltdown
The only way to see Harry Styles’ headline Meltdown gig on Tuesday 16 June is by entering our prize draw.
Find out how to enter

[H2] Festivals & series

View all festivals & series

More info for Harry Styles’ Meltdown

[IMG: Harry Styles leans back in a chair, wearing a navy blue suit jacket, white shirt, brown silk tie and yellow shorts.]

[H3]
Harry Styles’ Meltdown

Thu 11 – Sun 21 Jun 2026

The culture-defining artist curates the 31st edition of Meltdown

More info for Classical Music

[IMG: Pink, purple and yellow spirographs]

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Classical Music

Spring/Summer 2026

This is classical music in the 21st century

More info for Spring Family Fun

[IMG: Colorful cartoon confetti and streamers float against a solid bright orange background.]

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Spring Family Fun

Wed 1 Apr – Sun 31 May 2026

Find super shows, marvellous music and lots of free fun to grow your creativity this spring

More info for Summer Time

[IMG: A yellow sun with pink and orange zig zag rays]

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Summer Time

Until Mon 31 Aug

Dive in for art, performance, music, free events and outdoor fun this summer

More info for Performance & Dance

[IMG: 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.]

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Performance & Dance

Spring/Summer 2026

Spotlighting cutting-edge new work from around the world

More info for Refugee Week

[IMG: British-American woman wearing an orange top and a big blue ring]

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Refugee Week

Thu 25 – Sun 28 Jun 2026

Music, talks, film and public programming centred on this year's theme of 'courage'

More info for South Asian Sounds

[IMG: A man wearing sunglasses and a black patterned jacket, holding a large microphone]

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South Asian Sounds

Wed 1 – Sun 5 Jul 2026

Celebrating contemporary and classical music from India and Pakistan

More info for Poetry International Festival

[IMG: Abstract digital art featuring overlapping, semi-transparent rectangles in red, green, blue, and orange on a purple background.]

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Poetry International Festival

Fri 10 – Sun 12 Jul 2026

Poetry International Festival is taking poetry off the page this summer

More info for Rough Trade 50

[IMG: Black 50 in a white box with black border]

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Rough Trade 50

Fri 17 – Sun 19 Jul 2026

A takeover celebrating 50 years since the first Rough Trade record shop opened its doors

More info for Steel Scenes

[IMG: Vintage black and white photo of two men playing steel pans outside]

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Steel Scenes

Fri 24 – Sun 26 Jul 2026

Our site thrums with the sound of pan at a weekend takeover marking 75 years of steel pan in the UK

[H2] Recently announced

More info for Steel Legacies

[IMG: Dancers with raised arms lead a large crowd under Caribbean flags, including Guyana, Trinidad, Jamaica, and Barbados.]

Gigs

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Steel Legacies

Sun 26 Jul 2026, 11am

One instrument, 75 years of history in the UK: witness a full day of steel bands in Jubilee Gardens

Jubilee Gardens

Tickets Free

More info for Steel Sounds with Just Vibez

[IMG: People dancing on Southbank Centre Riverside Terrace for Just Vibez Carnival as part of M.I.A.]

Gigs

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Steel Sounds with Just Vibez

Sat 25 Jul 2026, 12.30pm

Steel bands from across the UK take over the Riverside Terrace, celebrating the pan’s spirit and power

Riverside Terrace

Tickets Free

More info for Liane Moriarty: Big Little Truths

[IMG: Liane Moriarty wearing a black jacket and white shirt against a black background]

Literature & poetry

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Liane Moriarty: Big Little Truths

Tue 22 Sep 2026, 7.45pm

Dig into some big little truths with the bestselling author as she discusses her new novel

Purcell Room

More info for Steel Rising

[IMG: Members of Kinetika Bloco smiling while wearing harnesses holding steel pans]

Gigs

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Steel Rising

Fri 24 Jul 2026, 12pm

Youth ensembles capture the power of the steel pan as a community force at a day of free performances

Riverside Terrace

Tickets Free

More info for futuretense x Skate 50: Tiberius b + Shooting Daggers

[IMG: Left: Person in an orange]

Gigs

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futuretense x Skate 50: Tiberius b + Shooting Daggers

Thu 4 Jun 2026

Celebrate skate culture at a special edition of our free gig series, curated by SORI Collective

Multiple locations

Tickets Free

More info for Luke Jerram: Gaia

[IMG: Luke Jerram]

Art & exhibitions

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Luke Jerram: Gaia

Sun 30 Aug 2026, 10am

Gaze in awe-struck wonder at Luke Jerram’s striking replica of our planet

Royal Festival Hall

More info for Luke Jerram: Stepping Out

Art & exhibitions

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Luke Jerram: Stepping Out

Wed 10 Jun – Wed 30 Sep 2026

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

Riverside Terrace

Tickets Free

More info for Michael Rosen: Book Signings

[IMG: Michael Rosen wearing a denim shirt against a blue background.]

Family & young people

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Michael Rosen: Book Signings

Sat 23 May 2026

Have your favourite Michael Rosen book signed by the iconic author himself

Royal Festival Hall

Tickets Free

More info for Community Quilting: A Family Workshop

[IMG: Children and adults sit around a table, meticulously sewing fabric patches onto a large, striped white textile banner.]

Family & young people

[H3]
Community Quilting: A Family Workshop

Thu 28 May – Sun 31 May 2026

Stitch a giant collective artwork at drop-in quilting workshops with textile artist Natasha Shah

Queen Elizabeth Hall

Tickets Free

More info for Gaia x BBC Concert Orchestra: Sounds of the Earth

[IMG: The BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Larry Blank with the Guilford School of Acting Choir at the Royal Festival Hall]

Classical music

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Gaia x BBC Concert Orchestra: Sounds of the Earth

Fri 28 Aug 2026, 7.30pm

Under the glow of Luke Jerram’s replica of our planet, hear a concert of heavenly works for strings

Performers
BBC Concert Orchestra

Chloé van Soeterstède conductor

Repertoire
Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis

Hildur Guðnadóttir: Bær; Opaque from Without Sinking

Dobrinka Tabakova: Sun Triptych

Barber: Adagio for strings

Arvo Pärt: Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten

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Royal Festival Hall

[H2] Free events

View all free events

More info for WordPlay: Ages 3 – 5

[IMG: Young boy enjoying a performance during the Imagine Festival at the Southbank Centre]

Family & young people

[H3]
WordPlay: Ages 3 – 5

Fri 15 May & Fri 29 May 2026

Enjoy songs and live music for ages 3 – 5 and their grown-ups, within a playful, squishy space

The Clore Ballroom

Tickets Free

More info for Mix & Move: Bollywood Groove

[IMG: People dancing and smiling with purple lighting]

Courses & workshops

[H3]
Mix & Move: Bollywood Groove

Fri 15 May & Fri 19 Jun 2026

Come on down for easy-to-learn routines, good energy and fresh takes on Bollywood dance

The Clore Ballroom

Tickets Free

More info for Quentin Blake: The Southbank Parade

[IMG: 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

[H3]
Quentin Blake: The Southbank Parade

Fri 15 May – Sun 8 N