London does Indian festivals like nowhere else outside the subcontinent — massive, loud, and dripping with colour.
Spring: Holi, Rama Navami, and Vaisakhi
Holi 2026 fell on 4 March (Holika Dahan on the 3rd), but since it landed mid-week, London's biggest events ran over the weekend of 7–8 March. London Ki Holi at Hainault Skate Park drew 7,000+ people on the Saturday. Holi London 2026 at Riverside East in Stratford ran on the day itself — colour powder, Bollywood DJs, street food, the lot. Swiss Cottage Open Spaces hosted a Holi Colour Dance Festival on the 8th with live dhol and a T20 screening. Tickets ranged from £8–£28.
Stratford is becoming a proper Holi hub — Riverside East is a great venue for it and the transport links make getting home covered in pink surprisingly easy.
Our Brick Lane poster — available framed or unframed.
Rama Navami (27 March) brings temple processions and Ramayana recitals across London. And Vaisakhi on 14 April is one of the year's biggest — the flagship event is Vaisakhi on the Square at Trafalgar Square on Saturday 18 April (12pm–6pm). Free bhangra, live dhol, food stalls, and Sikh heritage performances organised by the Mayor of London. Southall Broadway also hosts a nagar kirtan procession — one of the largest outside Punjab.
Summer: Raksha Bandhan and Janmashtami
Raksha Bandhan (3 August) is quieter — mostly a family affair — but sweet shops in Wembley, Tooting, and Southall go into overdrive with mithai boxes. If you've never tried a proper fresh kaju katli from Ambala on Drummond Street, fix that.
Krishna Janmashtami (3 September) at the Bhaktivedanta Manor in Watford (London claims it, Hertfordshire can fight us) is massive. ISKCON hosts an all-night celebration with thousands of visitors, elaborate deity decorations, and a midnight ceremony marking Krishna's birth. Get there early or don't get in.
Autumn: Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, and Durga Puja
Ganesh Chaturthi (14 September) kicks off the autumn festival season with public processions and visarjan ceremonies, especially strong in North and East London communities.
Shardiya Navratri runs from 11–20 October, with Dussehra (Vijayadashami) on the 20th. Nine nights of garba and dandiya raas across London. Wembley Arena hosts the biggest commercial events — think 10,000 people in chaniya cholis and kediyu spinning under disco lights. Community garba nights run at halls in Harrow, Kingsbury, and East Ham. The atmosphere is unmatched.
Durga Puja overlaps with Navratri in October, bringing the Bengali community out in force. Pandals spring up in Camden, Brick Lane, and south London. The London Sharad Utsav is one of the best-organised pujas outside Kolkata. Art installations, dhunuchi naach, and the food — oh, the food.
Our Camden Town poster — available framed or unframed.
November: Diwali Takes Over
The big one. Diwali falls on Sunday 8 November 2026. Diwali on the Square at Trafalgar Square (date usually confirmed in summer, expected early November, 1pm–7pm) is Europe's largest Diwali celebration — free fireworks, lantern processions, Bollywood performances, food stalls, and 30,000+ visitors. Organised by the Mayor of London. Free entry. Absolutely rammed. Go anyway.
Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus get special Diwali light installations. The West End goes gold for weeks. Southall, Wembley, and Harrow light up with street celebrations — diyas, rangoli, and sweet shop queues out the door.
Autumn Arts: Darbar and An Indian Summer
The Darbar Festival 2026 (October–November) brings Indian classical music to the Barbican Centre (31 October) and Royal Albert Hall (1 November) — top artists like Ustad Irshad Khan and midnight raga sessions. An Indian Summer, the South Asian arts festival, spreads theatre, dance, and performance across venues through summer and autumn. Both are worth booking early.
Pro Tip: Trafalgar Square events (Vaisakhi, Diwali) are completely free and family-friendly. Holi events usually need tickets and sell out fast — book early. Check the Mayor of London, Visit London, or temple websites (BAPS Neasden, ISKCON) for exact timings closer to the date. Southall, Harrow, Wembley, and Stratford are the main hubs for street-level celebrations and food pop-ups.
Are London's Indian festivals free to attend?
The big public events like Diwali on the Square and Vaisakhi on the Square are completely free. Commercial garba nights and Holi events charge for tickets, usually £8–£40. Temple celebrations are always free.
When is Diwali 2026 in London?
Diwali falls on Sunday 8 November 2026. The Trafalgar Square celebration date is usually announced in summer — expect it in early November. Southall and Wembley light up for the full week around the date.
What should I wear to Holi in London?
White clothes you don't mind ruining. The colour doesn't fully wash out. Leave your nice trainers at home. Most events provide colour powder; some ask you to bring your own. Tickets typically £8–£28.