Things to do in London in February 2026
February in London is looking exciting, with the city gearing up for the year ahead and a packed schedule of events to kick things off. From Kew Gardens’ 30th Orchid Festival showcasing Chinese-inspired floral displays, to new theatre at Shakespeare’s Globe and rooftop adventures at Alexandra Palace. Art lovers can explore major exhibitions at Hayward Gallery and Tate Modern, while music fans can dance the night away at Drumsheds or the Barbican. Below is our guide to the best things to see and do in London this February 2026.
Kew’s 30th Orchid Festival
Orchids at Kew Gardens, celebrating the remarkable biodiversity of Madagascar. (c) RBG KeW
#FLODown: Kew Gardens’ Orchid Festival returns in 2026 to celebrate its 30th anniversary, with displays inspired by China’s biodiversity, culture and long-standing scientific collaboration with Kew. Held in the Princess of Wales Conservatory, the festival focuses on China’s rich plant life, particularly the highly biodiverse Yunnan province, and features large-scale installations such as floral dragons, koi carp, pandas and native Chinese orchids. The event also highlights Kew’s global conservation and research work, including its partnership with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Date: Saturday 7 February – Sunday 8 March 2026. Location: Princess of Wales Conservatory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB. Price: from £24 (£26.50 with donation). Book now
February at Drumsheds
Drumsheds. Image credit @sharbinson
#FLODown: February at Drumsheds continues the venue’s AW25/26 season with a run of high-profile electronic music showcases across techno, house and club sounds. After a winter hosting some of the most in-demand artists in electronic music, the North London space moves into the final stretch of the season with a mix of heavyweight collectives and forward-thinking line-ups. Key moments include XXL’sbiggest UK showcase to date on Friday 20 February, exploring harder and faster sounds across multiple rooms, followed by The Haçienda’s largest-ever indoor takeover on Saturday 21 February, blending classic house energy with a live Haçienda Classical performance and iconic artists from its history. Later in the month, Eastenderz returns to London on Friday 27 February with its most ambitious show yet, bringing together established names and rising talent in house and tech house. Together, the programme reflects Drumsheds’ role as a major platform for contemporary electronic music and large-scale club culture.
Click here for more on what’s on at Drumsheds this year.
Art After Dark 2026
Art After Dark returns to from 3–10 February 2026.
#FLODown: Art After Dark returns to London’s West End from 3–10 February 2026 with a free, week-long programme celebrating the city’s nightlife through public art, music and late-night cultural events. Led by London-based artist Lakwena Maciver, the programme is anchored by Rise and Shine, a striking seven-metre-tall installation of illuminated disco lightboxes unveiled in Piccadilly Circus, inspired by the energy of 80s and 90s club culture and community sound systems, with a soundtrack spanning hip-hop, soul and funk. Alongside large-scale public artworks and digital installations across the West End, the programme includes late-night gallery openings, special performances, and a one-off after-hours DJ event at the National Gallery on 5 February, headlined by Bimini, offering a rare chance to dance after dark in one of London’s most iconic cultural institutions.
Date: 3–10 February 2026. Location: London West End (main installation at Piccadilly Circus) artoflondon.co.uk
Deep Azure at Shakespeare’s Globe
Image courtesy of Shakespeare’s Globe.
#FLODown: Deep Azure, written by the late Academy Award-nominated actor and writer Chadwick Boseman, will open at Shakespeare’s Globe in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse from 7 February to 11 April 2026. Directed by Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu in his Globe debut, the production features a cast of Black British and Black American talent, including Jayden Elijah as Deep, Selina Jones as Azure, Elijah Cook as Tone, and Aminita Francis as SK Good. Blending theatrical elements of Hip-Hop and Shakespeare, the play explores themes that resonate across continents. The creative team includes Associate Director Marley-Rose Liburd, Candlelight Designer Azusa Ono, co-composers Conrad Murray and John Pfumojena, Fight Director Sam Lyon-Behan, and Intimacy Director Raniah Al-Sayed, with casting by Becky Paris CDG.
Date: 7 February – 11 April 2026. Location: Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT. Price: from £5 - £80. Book now
Mosaic Rooms reopens
The Circle still, Bouchra Khalili, courtesy of the artist
#FLODown: Mosaic Rooms reopens to the public on 18 February 2026, marking a new chapter as an independent organisation under director Pip Day. The reopening features the UK solo debut of French-Moroccan artist Bouchra Khalili with Circles and Storytellers, a series of works exploring overlooked histories and the power of storytelling in forming communities. The refurbished space also introduces Dima Srouji’s new permanent commission Four Moons from Home, a site-specific installation of stained-glass windows carved in Jerusalem stone, celebrating Palestinian heritage and craft. Alongside these highlights, Mosaic Rooms unveils expanded public spaces including The Salon for talks and performances, the fully accessible Play Room for creative learning, an enlarged Bookshop, the Sound Capsule live radio project, and a redesigned Garden with an outdoor amphitheatre. The reopening sets the stage for a full programme of events in 2026, from Small Press Fest to lectures, performances and participatory projects, reaffirming Mosaic Rooms as a hub for critical cultural exchange, community engagement, and contemporary Arab art.
Reopening: 18 February 2026. Location: Mosaic Rooms, Tower House, 226 Cromwell Road, London SW5 0SW. mosaicrooms.org
Chiharu Shiota: Threads of Life
Chiharu Shiota, Breathing from Earth, 2000 Performance/Installation: metal beds, bedding, black wool Kunstraum Maximilianstrasse, Stadtforum München, Munich, Germany. Image credit by Sabine Klem
#FLODown: Berlin-based Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota presents her first major solo exhibition in a London public gallery with Threads of Life at Hayward Gallery, running from 17 February to 3 May 2026. Following her recent blockbuster show at the Grand Palais, the exhibition transforms the gallery’s top floor with immersive, floor-to-ceiling thread installations, accompanied by new large-scale sculptures, drawings, early performance videos, and photographs. Shiota is renowned for enveloping everyday objects, including shoes, keys, beds, chairs, and dresses, in intricate webs of woolen thread, exploring themes of memory, the body, consciousness, and the fragile, invisible connections that shape human experience.
Date: 17 February – 3 May 2026. Location: Hayward Gallery, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX. Price: from £19. Book now
Click here for our guide to art exhibitions opening in London in February 2026.
Indie Night at Southbank Centre
Southbank Centre launches Indie Night, a new quarterly series celebrating independent publishers and writers.
#FLODown: Southbank Centre launches Indie Night, a new quarterly series celebrating independent publishers and the writers they champion, bringing together fiction and non-fiction, established names and emerging voices in an intimate live format. Hosted by writers Okechukwu Nzelu and Eliza Clark, each event features four authors reading from their work followed by in-conversation discussion, spotlighting the vital role independent presses play in shaping contemporary literature. The inaugural edition on 25 February 2026 welcomes Deepa Anappara, Khairani Barokka, Vigdis Hjorth and Tim MacGabhann, marking the start of an ongoing programme dedicated to bold, distinctive writing and the independent spirit behind it.
Date: 25 February 2026 (next event: 3 June 2026). Location: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX. Price: from £15 + £3.50 booking fee. Book now
Tracey Emin: A Second Life
Tracey Emin, I whisper to My Past Do I have Another Choice 2010. © Tracey Emin.
#FLODown: The largest survey exhibition of Dame Tracey Emin’s career, A Second Life spans more than 40 years of her practice and features over 90 works across painting, video, neon, textiles, sculpture and installation. Conceived in close collaboration with the artist, the exhibition traces Emin’s deeply confessional exploration of trauma, identity, the female body and resilience, from early autobiographical works to iconic installations such as My Bed (1998), alongside powerful recent works made in the wake of illness. The exhibition reflects on Emin’s “first life” while celebrating her “second life” as an act of survival, creativity and renewal.
Date: 26 February – 31 August 2026. Location: Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG. Price: from £20 / Free for members. Concessions available. £5 for Tate Collective. Book now
Summit at Alexandra Palace
Summit at Alexandra Palace
#FLODown: A new rooftop adventure opens in London this February with the launch of Summit at Alexandra Palace, the highest roof walk in the UK. Opening on 14 February 2026, the fully guided experience invites visitors to scale the iconic Ally Pally roof, reaching 130 metres above sea level and offering uninterrupted 360-degree views across the capital. Created by Wire & Sky, the team behind Up at The O2 and the Dare Skywalk, the hour-long climb follows a purpose-built route to the Angel of Plenty statue, with panoramic sights stretching up to 25 miles and taking in landmarks including St Paul’s Cathedral, The Shard and Canary Wharf. With daytime, sunset and after-dark climbs available, alongside group, private and educational options, Summit offers a striking new way to experience one of London’s most historic landmarks from an entirely fresh perspective.
Opening: 14 February 2026. Location: Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, London, N22 7AY. Price: from £22 child/ £28 adult. Book now.
anyone can dance with Eastern Margins
Barbican’s anyone can dance is a new series of late-night parties.
#FLODown: The Barbican’s anyone can dance is a new series of late-night parties celebrating dance, club culture, and global diasporas. The first event, curated by UK collective Eastern Margins, transforms the Level –1 foyer into an intimate dancefloor open until 3 am. Known for championing alternative East and South East Asian creativity, Eastern Margins brings together Nick Cheo, Seoul-based DJ KOLLIN, and rising stars Jianbo and MEYY, offering a night of community, joy, and emerging global sounds.
Date: 20 February 2026. Location: Barbican ClubStage, Level –1, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS. Price: from £17 (plus booking fee). Book now
On and Up Break-Up Suite at Virgin Hotels London
Image credit Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch
#FLODown: Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch reimagines Valentine’s season with the launch of the On and UpBreak-Up Suite, a self-love staycation designed to celebrate moving on rather than making up. Available throughout February 2026, the one-night experience is aimed at solo travellers, friends and anyone embracing independence, blending comfort, humour and feel-good indulgence. The package includes a Junior Suite stay, a Lily Vanilli smash cake, a Rebel Rebel Flowers “I Can Buy Myself” voucher, and a curated empowerment playlist, alongside access to the hotel’s rooftop, pool and wellness facilities. Evenings are rounded off at Hidden Grooves with music-inspired breakup cocktails, including Blondie-inspired Heart of Glass and Miley-coded Roses Are Red Flags, offering a playful alternative to traditional Valentine’s escapes.
Date: Throughout February 2026. Location: Virgin Hotels London, 45 Curtain Rd, Shoreditch, London EC2A 3PT. Price: One-night stay from £575. Book now
London Symphony Orchestra: Half Six Fix – Rachmaninoff
Image courtesy of the Barbican Centre
#FLODown: The London Symphony Orchestra’s Half Six Fix is back in February with a powerful performance of Rachmaninoff’s First Symphony, conducted by Gianandrea Noseda. Once dismissed at its 1897 premiere, the symphony is now recognised as a bold and dramatic statement from a great Russian composer, unfolding from ominous intensity and skittish energy to a thrilling finale crowned with blazing brass. With Rachmaninoff’s music coursing through his veins, Noseda leads the LSO in a performance that promises fiery brilliance and exceptional emotional depth.
Date: Wednesday 25 February 2026. Time: 6:30pm. Location: Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS. Price: £15 - £35. Book now
Lunar New Year 2026: Year of the Horse in the West End
Image courtesy of Covent Garden
#FLODown: London’s West End celebrates the Year of the Horse with a vibrant programme of Lunar New Year events across Covent Garden and Chinatown, running until 17 February 2026. The month-long celebration brings together free cultural performances, immersive experiences, limited-edition shopping and special food and drink offerings, transforming the area into the heart of the city’s Lunar New Year festivities. Highlights include a Lion Dance performance in Covent Garden Piazza on 10 February, a new ‘Claim Your Luck’ spinning wheel with daily prizes and discounts, exclusive Year of the Horse collections from leading brands, and a wide range of themed menus and pop-ups. The celebrations culminate with Chinatown’s iconic parade on 21–22 February, featuring traditional ceremonies and lively street performances.
Date: Now until 17 February 2026 (Chinatown Parade: 21–22 February). Location: Covent Garden and Chinatown, London. coventgarden.london
Artist Talk: Tomas Colbengtson
Object Maadteraahkka (Foremother). Description. Sleigh and reindeer in snowy landscape with trees. 2023. Colour screenprint with mixed media. Print made by Tomas Colbengtson.
#FLODown: In celebration of Sámi National Day, Sámi artist Tomas Colbengtson discusses his work exploring how colonial histories have impacted indigenous peoples, including the Sámi. Colbengtson combines visual art with Sámi history and collective memory to reflect on the loss and revitalisation of Sámi identity, particularly focusing on the south Sámi language. His talk is part of the public programme accompanying the Nordic noir: works on paper from Edvard Munch to Mamma Anderssonexhibition (open until 22 March 2026).
Date: 6 February 2026. Time: 6.30pm - 7.30pm. Location: Room 90, British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Price: Free (advance booking required). Book now
Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends
Inside Aardman Wallace & Gromit and Friends at the Young V&A.
#FLODown: Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends at the Young V&A offers a behind-the-scenes look at the craft of stop-motion animation. The exhibition showcases how Aardman’s beloved characters and imaginative worlds are brought to life, revealing the storytelling, models, sketches, and techniques that have made the studio’s animations iconic. It highlights the creative process that turns ideas from sketchbook to screen, celebrating the artistry and innovation of Aardman’s work.
Date: 12 February – 15 November 2026. Location: Young V&A, Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PA. Price:
£11. Concessions apply. Book now
Imagine Festival 2026
Image credit Pete Woodhead
#FLODown: Imagine, London’s leading festival for children and families, returns to the Southbank Centre from 11–21 February 2026, transforming the site into a playful cultural hub during the February half-term. Launching the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary celebrations, the festival introduces young audiences to the joy of creativity through a packed programme of theatre, music, storytelling and hands-on experiences. Highlights include live events with Dame Jacqueline Wilson, Liz Pichon and Katie Kirby, theatrical productions inspired by fairy tales and classic children’s stories, the world premiere of Mrs Armitage on Wheels by Quentin Blake, and crowd-pleasing performances from Andy and the Odd Socks and Horrible Histories: The Concert. Alongside ticketed events, a wide range of free activities, from interactive trails and drawing spaces to playful installations like REPLAY: A Limitless Interactive Playground, ensure a welcoming and imaginative festival for families of all ages.
Click here for the full programme of events.
Date: 11–21 February 2026. Location: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
Last chance
Condo London 2026
Condo London 2026.
#FLODown: February marks the final opportunity to see Condo London 2026, as the programme draws to a close mid-month. A city-wide collaborative exhibition initiative, Condo London brings together local galleries and international peers across the capital. Neither a traditional art fair nor a festival, Condo unfolds as a month-long network of shared exhibitions, with galleries exchanging spaces, audiences and curatorial approaches. Taking place across around 50 galleries in 23 venues, from Soho and the West End to South and East London, it offers a connected snapshot of contemporary art shaped by dialogue and exchange.
Click here for our guide to six shows to see at or during Condo London 2026.
Date: 17 January – 14 February 2026. Location: Multiple galleries across London.
