Southbank Centre: Your culture fix
Seven wonders for your 2026
Happy new year from all of us at the Southbank Centre – wishing you a wonderful start to 2026.
It’s a very special year for us, as we turn 75 and celebrate with a mammoth programme of events, including everything from immersive whole-site takeover You Are Here to Meltdownfestival, and so much more.
So if your new year’s resolution is to try something different this year, here are seven of our top picks to get you on your way. We hope to see you soon!
1. Be here for the party
Never miss an unmissable event
As we celebrate our 75th anniversary, with highlights including You Are Here, Goalhanger: The Rest Is Fest and Anish Kapoor, plus mammoth curators for Meltdown festival and London Literature Festival still to be announced, there’s no better year to be a Member.
2. Keep the festive vibes going
Top Hat
CLOSES SAT 17 JAN
You’re invited to sample the musical equivalent of the finest vintage champagne: a stage adaptation of the classic film, featuring sparkling music and dancing.
Thu 8 Jan, 7.30pm: Audio Description available and British Sign Language Interpreted (BSL)
Thu 15 Jan, 7.30pm: Captioned
Sun 11 Jan, 2pm: Relaxed Performance
3. Feel the joy of classical
4. Start your 2026 reading challenge
TS Eliot Prize Shortlist Readings
SUN 18 JAN
Hear the best new poetry coming out of the UK and Ireland, read by the ten shortlisted poets for this year’s prize, in an event hosted by poet Ian McMillan.
This event is British Sign Language interpreted (BSL) and Speech-to-Text Transcribed.
5. Create lasting family memories
6. Encounter pioneering art
Anish Kapoor
TUE 16 JUN – SUN 18 OCT
Bringing together the essential languages of Kapoor’s practice, this landmark exhibition focuses on the artist’s recent work alongside early seminal artworks. Expect big, bold works that’ll make you rethink what art can be.
Members get exclusive access to book tickets to Anish Kapoor until general release on Monday 5 January. Join now to book your spot first.
Anish Kapoor, Mount Moriah at the Gate of the Ghetto, 2022 © Anish Kapoor. All rights reserved, DACS, 2025. Photo by Attilio Maranzano.
7. Find your next festival
Imagine
WED 11 – SAT 21 FEB
Join us for a fun-filled February half-term with world-class performances, art and free fun for children aged 0 – 11 and their grown-ups.
Southbank Centre x Montreux Jazz Festival Residency
FRI 13 – SUN 15 MAR
Explore the influence, impact and sound of jazz today through artists reshaping the genre.
Multitudes
THU 16 APR – SAT 1 MAY
The second edition of our multi-arts festival powered by orchestral music, reimagined for all the senses by world-class orchestras, dancers, visual artists and film-makers.
Want more?
26 for 2026: things to see at the Southbank Centre in the new year
Grab your diary, and get ready to fill it with these artistic highlights from the year to come.
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