After the stillness of winter, the launch of Dulwich Festival signals a new season stirring, as colour, light and creativity unfold across our streets, parks and community spaces.
From 8–17 May 2026, Dulwich Festival hosts a vibrant programme spanning music, literature, dance, visual art, walks, talks and wellbeing. Shining a bright light on our much-loved local venues — the cultural anchors of our community — artists, musicians, writers, performers and makers unite to bring the festival to life.
If high energy entices, make The Beatles Dub Club a high priority in your festival planning. A Glastonbury regular championed by Fatboy Slim, this DJ set reimagines the Fab Four through global remixes and is guaranteed to get audiences on the dance floor.
Swing star Simon Selmon leads movers to the merry tunes of the South London Jazz Orchestra, while Ghanaian Highlife band The Goldcoasters return by popular demand. Voices in the Village, a choir triple-bill hosted by Tongue & Groove, features Bellow Fellows and trans-inclusive feminist pop choir Lips Choir, while Unearthed uncovers beautiful voices at an intimate songwriter’s circle.
Classical enthusiasts can indulge in The Erda Ensemble, championing women composers through chamber music for mezzo-soprano, flute and harp, while St Stephen’s Church hosts two concerts: Mendelssohn’s Elijah with South Dulwich Chorus and a solo performance spanning musical eras by award-winning cellist Pablo Tejedor-Gutiérrez.
Talks and drama make a big impact. Picturehouse brings the iconic 90s cult classic Pulp Fiction to Outdoor Cinema, with a pre-screen discussion from author and broadcaster Miranda Sawyer. Comedian and broadcaster Robin Ince leads a panel on neurodivergence and culture, Storytelling for Grown-Ups comes from the iconic Crick Crack Club and theatre company The Factory presents Shakespeare’s Cymbeline. Dust off your laughing gear as Radio 4’s Mark Steel headlines a stand-up night at Dulwich Hamlet’s Comedy Club, joined by Arthur Smith, Andre Vincent, Micah Hall and Kate Chekka.
Families have a multitude of creative fun at their feet. The Papercat Children’s Bookshop presents Stories and Pictures for under-7s, while older children will love dancing at the Family Silent Disco and marvelling at the beatboxing skills of SK Shlomo. Award-winning comedy for all ages comes from Olaf Falafel’s Stupidest Super Stupid Show.
Slow the pace and reconnect with nature and the neighbourhood. Wildlife walks explore everything from bats at dusk to birds at dawn, while wellbeing events include Kirtan Chanting from the Heart and a Storytelling Supper Club. History lovers can step inside Christ’s Chapel, explore Dulwich Through the Ages, uncover stories of East Dulwich’s historic beer houses, or join a Railway Tour from Herne Hill to Sydenham Hill.
Literature and ideas take centre stage, with Katja Hoyer examining Weimar Germany and bee expert Dave Goulson revealing Britain’s bee species. Neurologist Dr Suzanne O’Sullivan explores our culture of diagnosis, journalist Katie Prescott unpacks the story of Mike Lynch and Liam Byrne MP reflects on the global rise of populism. Food writer Georgina Hayden celebrates her new book MEDesque.
Visual art sits at the heart of Dulwich Festival. Visitors can join Dulwich Picture Gallery Director Jennifer Scott for an early-morning tour of the Collection, explore Banksy with The Arts Society Dulwich, or watch British Ghanaian artist Kwesi Awotwi present his film Tree of Roots. Heavy Pencil brings creative communities together for live art with illustrators Andrew Rae and Chrissie Macdonald.
Alongside this creative line-up, the hotly awaited Artists’ Open House sees artists across eight postcodes opening their homes, studios and shared spaces to the public. This year marks the largest Open House yet, with more than 500 artists participating. Jo De Pear’s Sea Fan — echoing themes of renewal and optimism — has been selected for the prestigious 2026 catalogue cover.
Dulwich Festival continues its Creative Communities work throughout the year. In 2025, ticket holders donated £2,836.80 to support arts engagement across the neighbourhood. Find out more in the Event Guide and please consider donating when purchasing tickets.
Tickets for Dulwich Festival 2026 are on sale now. Visit www.dulwichfestival.co.uk to explore the events and start planning your festival.