London’s free Brick Lane Curry Festival returns 20 September

Brick Lane Curry Festival returns to London on Sunday, 20 September 2026, filling Brick Lane, E1, with food stalls, performances and family activities from noon until 7pm. Entry is free, and the event is aimed at residents, visitors and families.

Tower Hamlets Council says free tickets can be booked through Eventbrite. Registration also gives festivalgoers 20% off at participating restaurants across the weekend.

A procession will open the festival

The main day begins with a colourful procession travelling from the Allen Gardens and Buxton Street area through Brick Lane to the Brick Lane Arch. The route will feature themed floats, community groups and three giant puppets created for the festival by Emergency Exit Arts.

Chinese lion dancers, Taal Torongo, Showmi Das Dance Company, IMD Legion and Bolly Flex are among the procession performers. The parade sets the tone for a programme built around the Bangladeshi and South Asian food, music and cultural traditions associated with Brick Lane.

Curry stalls, chef demonstrations and street performances

Participating Brick Lane restaurants will serve regional and speciality dishes from street-side stalls. The food programme will be accompanied by chef demonstrations, cultural showcases and festival-themed street art.

From midday until 7pm, entertainment will spread beyond the main stage and into the street. Visitors can expect pop-up performances, dhol drummers, DJs, the Bollywood Brass Band and appearances by students from Access Creative College.

The festival stage has a broad British South Asian line-up. Khiyo will headline with its blend of British and Bengali musical influences, while British-Bangladeshi singer and rapper Nish and South Asian pop and R&B artist Mumzy are also scheduled to appear.

Dance performances will come from East London street-dance collective IMD Legion, Bollywood company Bolly Flex, Bangladeshi dance group Taal Torongo and the Showmi Das Dance Company. Osmani Soundz, the Chinese Association of Tower Hamlets and community performers also feature in the announced programme.

The Gaat gives families space to join in

The Gaat will operate as the festival’s family zone, offering free activities throughout the day. Its programme includes saree draping and lungi wrapping, along with dance workshops led by IMD Legion and Bolly Flex.

Children can also take part in sports, games and use the bouncy castles. The zone is intended to give families a place to play, participate in cultural activities and take a break while remaining within the festival.

How to attend and claim the restaurant discount

The Brick Lane Curry Festival takes place along Brick Lane, London, E1, on Sunday, 20 September. The advertised programme runs from 12pm to 7pm and entry is free.

Tower Hamlets Council, the Bangla Town Business Association and Brick Lane Community Forum are organising the festival. It follows the event’s return in 2025 after a nine-year hiatus and is designed to celebrate Brick Lane’s culinary heritage while supporting its restaurants and independent businesses.

Visitors should register through Eventbrite for a free ticket. The same registration provides 20% off at participating restaurants across the festival weekend; the source does not specify accessibility arrangements or additional transport guidance.

Source: Tower Hamlets Council