Welcome to the Southbank Centre
From our landmark position in the heart of London, we aim to reflect the amazing breadth and diversity of creative communities in this city and across the UK.
Over four days in July, we introduce a new series celebrating contemporary art and culture from East and South East Asia and the diaspora. ESEA Encounters showcases an incredible line-up – with a performance from musical legend Haruomi Hosono and a 12-hour theatre-rave experience by artist Tianzhuo Chen – and free events including the pop-up Yokimono Japanese Summer Market
New Music Biennial returns this month, shining a light on outstanding new work being composed in the UK right now. Each work in this free festival is no longer than 15 minutes, so it’s a great way to dip into new music of all genres. Over the summer, we’re celebrating the ways that dance connects us in our programme Dance Your Way Home, inspired by Emma Warren’s book of the same name. Bringing together dance, gigs, visual arts and poetry, Dance Your Way Home begins in late July with the American choreographer Jeremy Nedd’s London debut.
Mark Ball
Artistic Director
An update from our CEO
There’s nothing like being at the Southbank Centre in the summer. It is a joy to see our spaces filled with people enjoying the buzz of our riverside location, alongside all that our artistic programme has to offer over our Summer Time season, including many free events on our Riverside Terrace.
Our Grade-I listed Royal Festival Hall has undergone some critical refurbishment works in the past year, including the creation of our fantastic new destination bar, Seventy5th Balcony Bar. Pay a visit to the fifth floor to take in the spectacular views of the London skyline with a cool drink on the balcony.
Another spot with unbeatable views is our Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden, an escape to nature right in the middle of the city. This gorgeous green oasis (250 species of wildflowers!) is managed by a team of incredible volunteers from pioneering recovery programme Grounded Ecotherapy.
Visit our pop-ups and food market for al fresco refreshments, and explore our outdoor spaces to find artworks including Jeppe Hein’s playful Appearing Rooms fountain – an annual source of delight for visitors of all ages.
Everyone can find a warm welcome here at the Southbank Centre, a space to come together for unforgettable experiences.
Elaine Bedell OBE Chief Executive
Until Sunday 31 August
Five things to know about Yoshitomo Nara
Dive into a captivating, creative world in the largest European retrospective of Yoshitomo Nara, one of Japan’s most celebrated artists
Discover the world of Yoshitomo Nara at the largest European retrospective of his work to date, now on at the Hayward Gallery. Whether you’re already familiar with the artist, or you’re new to his work, here are five things to know.
He’s best known for his distinctive child-like characters
Nara has become globally recognised for his portraits of large-headed and wide-eyed childlike figures, which initially took shape and became a recurring fixture of the artist’s works in the early 1990s during his studies at Germany’s Kunstakademie Düsseldorf.
These figures look back directly at the viewer conveying feelings of joy, soulfulness and defiance, but also isolation. There’s a sense of the artist projecting himself through these characters, with Nara himself having said that they are all, in effect, self-portraits.
Music is a theme in his life and work
As a young boy growing up in Japan’s Aomori Prefecture, Nara listened to the network broadcasts of a nearby American military base. He developed an early love of artists such as Bob Dylan and Donovan. In adulthood this would evolve into a love of rock and punk.
Nara has said that the first visual art he ever encountered was that of album covers, and music and the musicians he admires are a recurring theme through his practice.
His depictions of houses reflect his changing feelings on the notion of ‘home’
Another motif that often appears in Nara's work is that of the house. ‘As a child I saw home as a safe place… a place of refuge. But since
adolescence I wanted to distance myself from it,’ he explains. However, during his 12 years in Germany, Nara began to reassess his feelings. When he returned to Japan in the 2000s he created a number of house installations which possess a much greater intimacy than his earlier house paintings and sketches.
The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami had a significant effect on him
The earthquake and subsequent catastrophic tsunami that struck Japan on 11 March 2011 had a particular impact on Nara and his work. It devastated a region of the country known well to the artist, and in its aftermath he felt unable to paint. When Nara felt ready to go back to his art, he did so initially through sculpture, working in clay in the company of students at his former university in Nagoya.
His lifelong anti-war and anti-nuclear stance is evident in his work
Nara grew up in a Japan rapidly rebuilding following the Second World War and the nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, so it’s perhaps of little surprise that he has maintained a lifelong anti-war and antinuclear stance. This theme regularly recurs in the artist’s work, in paintings such as No Nukes (1998) and Stop the Bombs (2019).
July highlights
Also this month...
Ghazaleh Avarzamani and Ali Ahadi: Freudian Typo
In our free HENI Project Space exhibition, explore punning and playful works created collectively by two Iranian-Canadian artists.
Tuesday 10 June – Sunday 31 August
Nature Theater of Oklahoma: No President
A story ballet of enlightenment in two immoral acts, from one of the US’s most innovative and irreverent theatre companies, in their London debut.
Wednesday 9 – Friday 11 July
Dance Your Way Home
Taking in dance, gigs, visual arts and poetry, our summer programme Dance Your Way Home celebrates all the ways that dance connects people and communities. Join us for stories, music and the joy of movement in a programme that includes dozens of free events on a dance floor installation on the Riverside Terrace.
Inspired by the stories and spirit of Emma Warren’s book of the same name and curated in collaboration with the author, Dance Your Way Home is an ode to the dance floors – from nightclubs to Irish dance halls, to street parties – that unite us across space and time.
The season opens in July with choreographer Jeremy Nedd's London debut from rock to rock, inspired by a lawsuit about a viral dance move; talks from writers including Arifa Akbar, Wendy Erskine, Caleb Femi and Jordan Stephens; and opportunities to shake it out for free.
Wednesday 23 July – Friday 29 August
New Music Biennial
Discover some of the best new music being composed in the UK in this free festival, where composers share and discuss their new works.
Friday 4 – Sunday 6 July
ESEA Encounters
Join us for a celebration of East and South East Asian arts and culture, spanning performances, music, poetry, literature, art and a pop-up market.
Thursday 17 – Sunday 20 July
Stewart Lee vs The Man-Wulf
In this new show, Lee shares his stage with a tough-talking werewolf comedian from the dark forests of the subconscious, who hates humanity.
Saturday 5 – Sunday 13 July
futuretense: Choose Your Beat
Our free Dance Your Way Home parties start here: move to house, drum and bass, dubstep and jungle music from up-and-coming artists on our Riverside Terrace.
Thursday 24 July
Art & exhibitions
From internationally acclaimed artists at the Hayward Gallery to free displays and outdoor installations, art and exhibitions can be found all around our site
Throughout the month
Yoshitomo Nara
Discover the world of the Japanese artist through his drawings, paintings and sculptures.
Until Sun 31 Aug; Tue – Fri & Sun, 10am –6pm; Sat, 10am – 8pm (closed Mon); Hayward Gallery; Tickets £20 (free to Members; concessions available)
Ghazaleh Avarzamani and Ali Ahadi: Freudian Typo
A multi-layered exhibition of new image-based works, sculpture, video and found objects.
Until Sun 31 Aug; Tue – Fri & Sun, 10am –6pm; Sat, 10am – 8pm (closed Mon); HENI Project Space, Hayward Gallery; Free
Jeppe Hein's Appearing Rooms
A summer favourite returns: a playful fountain that shoots jets of water into the air.
Until Mon 25 Aug; Wed – Sun, 10am –9pm (subject to weather conditions and maintenance; closed Mon & Tue); Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
Dance Your Way Home: Public Art
Explore spectacular art across our site for free, with many works connected to the theme of our series Dance Your Way Home
Until Mon 25 Aug; Across the site; Free
Future Exhibition
Makers: The People’s Exhibition
Get new perspectives on the 1951 Festival of Britain in a free display created by 15 young people.
Until Fri 28 Nov; Tue, 10am – 6pm; Wed – Sun, 10am – 11pm (closed Mon); Archive Studio, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; Free
Bharti Kher:
Target Queen
On the exterior of the Hayward Gallery, a colourful artwork celebrates the bindi at super scale.
Daily; Hayward Gallery Wall, Belvedere Road Side; Free
Klaus Weber: Thinking Fountains
An outdoor sculpture commission features two water-spouting bronze figures and a waterfall.
Daily (subject to weather conditions); Hayward Gallery Terrace; Free
Tuesday 8
Relaxed Hours: Yoshitomo Nara
Take in our current exhibition in a more relaxed environment with additional support, and get involved in creative workshops inspired by the exhibition.
10am – 3pm; Hayward Gallery; Tickets from £20 (for info on bursary places and travel support, contact haywardrelaxedhours@ southbankcentre.co.uk)
Saturday 12
British Sign Language Tours: Yoshitomo Nara
Join us for a British Sign Language tour of our current Hayward Gallery exhibition, with artist Rubbena Aurangzeb-Tariq.
5pm; Hayward Gallery; Tickets from £8
Wednesday 23
Iris Colomb: Opening Event
Part of Dance Your Way Home
Be the first to see the National Poetry Library's new exhibition with a live performance from the artist.
7.30pm; National Poetry Library, Level 5, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall; Free
From Wednesday 23
The Space Between
Part of Dance Your Way Home
Set beside the River Thames, this dance floor installation invites you into a space where you can sit, sway or dance like no one (or everyone) is watching. Presented by Beyond the Box & QSP Studio.
For all ages | Until Mon 25 Aug; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
From Thursday 24
Iris Colomb: Try! Try! Try! Again!
Part of Dance Your Way Home
Dive into daring poetic experiments in this exhibition merging poetry with other art forms.
For all ages | Until Sun 4 Jan; Tue, 12 noon –6pm; Wed – Sun, 12 noon – 8pm (closed Mon); National Poetry Library, Level 5, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall; Free
Performance & dance
Innovative theatre, durational experiences and irreverent comedy: discover international performance for all ages here in our venues
Saturday 5 – Sunday 13
Stewart Lee vs The Man-Wulf
In a brand new show, Lee shares the stage with a tough-talking werewolf comedian who hates humanity. Speech-to-Text transcribed: Sun 13 Jul at 3.30pm.
For ages 14+ | Various times; Royal Festival Hall; Tickets from £28
Wednesday 9 – Friday 11
Nature Theater of Oklahoma: No President
A story ballet of enlightenment in two immoral acts, from one of the US's most innovative theatre companies in its London debut. All performances are Captioned.
For ages 14+ | 7.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; Tickets from £22
Post-show talk: Wed 9 Jul
Thursday 17
Ye Xian: A Story Untold
Part of ESEA Encounters
Contemporary music and storytelling combine in a new adaptation of the Chinese folk story.
For ages 12+ | 7pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Tickets from £22
Friday 18
Tianzhuo Chen: TRANCE
Part of ESEA Encounters
A 12-hour theatre-rave from Chinese artist Tianzhuo Chen and his Asian Dope Boys collective. Drop in for some or all of this durational experience.
For ages 18+ only | 1pm – 1am; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Tickets from £26
Saturday 19
Ura Matsuri’s Daylight Ninjas
Part of ESEA Encounters
Join us for an afternoon of East and South East Asian culture, making and transformation into ninjas. British Sign Language interpreted (BSL).
For ages 5+ | 1pm – 3pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
Ura Matsuri 2025
Part of ESEA Encounters
An evening of live music, dance and storytelling celebrates the diverse heritage of the East and South East Asian diaspora in the UK. British Sign Language interpreted (BSL).
For ages 12+ | 7pm; The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; Free
Wednesday 23 & Thursday 24
Jeremy Nedd: from rock to rock
Part of Dance Your Way Home
Discover the hidden poetry in social and viral dance moves in this work based on a dance move known as the Milly Rock.
For ages 12+ | 7.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; Tickets from £18
Wednesday 30 & Thursday 31
Alex Baczyński-Jenkins: Untitled (Holding Horizon)
Part of Dance Your Way Home
Queer embodiment and desire, collectivity and subjectivity are all explored in this durational dance built around the simple box step.
For ages 12+ | 7pm – 10pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; Tickets from £27
Booking fees apply online (£3.50) and over the phone (£4). There are no booking fees for in-person bookings, Southbank Centre Members, Supporters Circles and Patrons, and Hayward Gallery exhibition tickets.
Music
Open your ears to thrilling new sounds from across the globe at our music events, including shows as part of our series ESEA Encounters and free festival New Music Biennial
Wednesday 2
Debut Sounds: Memory Palace
Music and spoken word collide as composers collaborate with talented poets on the topic of memory.
Players from the London Philharmonic Orchestra
London Philharmonic Orchestra Foyle Future Firsts
Juya Shin conductor
5 world premieres by LPO Young
Composers: Joy Nkoyo, Niamh O'Donnell, Jorge Ramos, Zach Reading, Daniel Soley; 5 new poems written and performed by poets from Southbank Centre's New Poets Collective: Johanna Gibson, Erica Hesketh, Gayathiri Kamalakanthan, Pèlúmi Obasaju & William Wyld
For ages 7+ | 7.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; Tickets from £10
Friday 4
Hardi Kurda: Voice Notes
Part of New Music Biennial
Hear refugees and migrants tell their stories in this creative soundworld. British Sign Language interpreted (BSL).
For ages 7+ | 6pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Free, but ticketed
Verity
Watts: PEACE
Part of New Music Biennial
Does music about peace have to be peaceful? What does peace sound like in 2025? British Sign Language interpreted (BSL).
For ages 14+ | 7pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Stef Conner: Ghost Weavers
Part of New Music Biennial
Immerse yourself in a multilayered sound experience infused with folk song. British Sign Language interpreted (BSL).
For ages 12+ | 8pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Free, but ticketed
All Men Unto Me: Requiem
Part of New Music Biennial
Take in tracks from All Men Unto Me’s new album, Requiem, in an electric live performance. British Sign Language interpreted (BSL).
For ages 12+ | 9pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Saturday 5
Ellie Wilson: Moth x Human
Part of New Music Biennial
Hear a cross-species collaboration in this thought-provoking work that uses sonified moth activity.
For ages 7+ | 12 noon; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Jasdeep Singh Degun: Into the Night
Part of New Music Biennial
Sitarist and composer Jasdeep Singh Degun's new work reflects on his creative and contemplative relationship with the night.
For ages 7+ | 1pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Halina Rice: The Path
Part of New Music Biennial Walk a new trail with electronic music artist Halina Rice in this exciting new work.
For ages 7+ | 3pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Ailís Ní Ríain: Holocene
Part of New Music Biennial
Onyx Brass reimagines the contemporary brass ensemble in a bold and unconventional work.
For ages 7+ | 4pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Free, but ticketed
De Saint Paul, Hope, Salvadori & Sterling: Penumbra
Part of New Music Biennial
Explore the intersection of voice, video, lighting and looping in this musical collaboration.
For ages 12+ | 5pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
m3UNTITLED & GOMID: Bantam's Drift
Part of New Music Biennial Dive into deconstructed soundscapes and images drawing on Bradford’s South Asian youth culture.
For ages 12+ | 7pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
SIPHO.: Yearn
Part of New Music Biennial Love, longing and passion are the centrepiece to this concert from SIPHO., a rising voice in R&B.
For ages 7+ | 8pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Free, but ticketed
Alex Groves: Dance Suite
Part of New Music Biennial
Find out what Baroque music might sound like on today's dance floor with Zubin Kanga.
For ages 7+ | 9pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Sunday 6
Linda Buckley: Thar Farraige (Over Sea)
Part of New Music Biennial
Explore the melding of chamber and folk music in a moving meditation on love, loss and home.
For ages 7+ | 12 noon; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Xenia Pestova
Bennett: Glow
Part of New Music Biennial
Get ready to enter an eclectic soundscape woven together by composer-pianist Xenia Pestova Bennett.
For ages 7+ | 1pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Uri Agnon: MARCH
Part of New Music Biennial
Survey and interrogate the many forms of protest in this powerful, joyful performance.
For ages 7+ | 2pm; The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; Free, but ticketed
Matthew Bourne & Emily Levy: Mercury Songs
Part of New Music Biennial
Watch a five-piece ensemble play an experimental piece that recasts British folk traditions for today.
For ages 12+ | 3.30pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Mark David Boden: Chasing Sunlight
Part of New Music Biennial
See – and hear – an engaging new ‘audio-visual concerto’ that harnesses the power of the senses.
For ages 7+ | 4.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Daniel Kidane: N’dehou
Part of New Music Biennial
Don’t miss the premiere of composer Daniel Kidane’s choral work, performed by The Carice Singers.
For ages 7+ | 6pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Free, but ticketed
Chisara Agor: Nocturnal Sun
Part of New Music Biennial
Follow a final journey across an arid landscape in this live performance and conceptual film.
For ages 7+ | 7pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Shri Shriram:
Dhamaal – Core
Part of New Music Biennial
Fusing South Asian, jazz and electronic music, this up-tempo work is bursting with joyful energy.
For ages 7+ | 8pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Thursday 10
futuretense: Shivani Day + nikhil
Hear a fusion of sounds that range from R&B to indie rock in a free gig from two musicians on the rise.
For all ages | 6pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Free
Monday 14
Lambeth Music Service: Harmonise! Summer Showcase
See young musicians from Brixton Hill Music Centre and In Harmony Lambeth join together in concert.
For all ages | 7.15pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; Tickets from £6.50
Friday 18
Tianzhuo Chen: TRANCE
Part of ESEA Encounters
A 12-hour theatre-rave from Chinese artist Tianzhuo Chen and his Asian Dope Boys collective. Drop in for some or all of this durational experience.
For ages 18+ only | 1pm – 1am; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Tickets from £26
Saturday 19
Haruomi Hosono
Part of ESEA Encounters
Hear eclectic sounds and rhythms from the Japanese musician, singer and songwriter.
For ages 14+ | 7pm; Royal Festival Hall; Tickets from £27
Sunday 20
Ayatori & Lotus Code
Part of ESEA Encounters
Two audio-visual projects probe the connections between the seen and unseen.
For ages 14+ | 3pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Tickets from £22 (multi-buy with No One's an Island: get top-price tickets to both for £44 when booked together)
No One's an Island
Part of ESEA Encounters
Explore the ancient and modern in a concert of contemporary jazz and Japanese folk music.
For ages 14+ | 6pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Tickets from £22 (multi-buy with Ayatori & Lotus Code: get top-price tickets to both for £44 when booked together)
Thursday 24
futuretense:
Choose Your Beat
Part of Dance Your Way Home
Find a free beat with house, drum and bass, dubstep and jungle music from up-and-coming artists on our terrace.
For all ages | 6pm – 10pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
Saturday 26
JAZZ RE:FEST 2025
Part of Dance Your Way Home
Get into the swing of a celebration of all things jazz, spotlighting new artists alongside international names.
12 noon – 7.45pm; The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall & Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
Fuse ODG – Spirit of New Africa
Part of Dance Your Way Home
The Afrobeats artist shares his hits past, present and future, reclaiming the African narrative.
For ages 14+ | 8.30pm; Royal Festival Hall; Tickets from £22
Sunday 27
Dub the Dance Floor
Part of Dance Your Way Home
We’re turning up the volume on the Riverside Terrace in this free London sound system celebration.
For all ages | 12 noon – 7pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
From Thursday 31
Our HeartBeats: Unity in Motion
Part of Dance Your Way Home
Over four Thursday evenings, join us on the terrace for global club sounds, community and celebration, in collaboration with Kensaye and Counterpoints Arts.
For all ages | Thu 31 Jul; Thu 7, Thu 14 & Thu 21 Aug; 6pm – 10pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
Family
Our events are not just for the grown-ups – bring your little ones along for a splash in our fountain, origami on the terrace and poems and rhymes
Throughout the month Jeppe Hein's Appearing Rooms
A summer favourite returns: a playful fountain that shoots jets of water into the air.
Until Mon 25 Aug; Wed – Sun, 10am –9pm (subject to weather conditions and maintenance; closed Mon & Tue); Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
REPLAY: A Limitless Recycled Playground
Enter a world of play and invention in a recycled playground for children and their grown-ups. Sensory Adapted and early years sessions are available.
For ages 6 months – 11 years | Until Sun 24 Aug; Various times; Spirit Level, Level 1, Royal Festival Hall; Tickets from £7.50 (every adult and child needs a ticket)
Friday 11 Rug Rhymes: Summer
Bring your little ones to the National Poetry Library for poems, nursery rhymes and rhyming stories.
For ages 0 – 5 | 11am; National Poetry Library, Level 5, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall; Tickets from £4 (admits one adult and one child)
Saturday 19
Ura Matsuri’s Daylight Ninjas
Part of ESEA Encounters
Join us for an afternoon of East and South East Asian culture, making and transformation into ninjas. British Sign Language interpreted (BSL).
For ages 5+ | 1pm – 3pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
Booking fees apply online (£3.50) and over the phone (£4). There are no booking fees for in-person bookings, Southbank Centre Members, Supporters Circles and Patrons.
Literature & talks
We’re the home of literature and spoken word events in the UK, and our programme brims with today’s bestselling authors, rising literary stars and award-winning poetry
Wednesday 2
Debut Sounds: Memory Palace
Music and spoken word collide as composers collaborate with talented poets on the topic of memory.
Players from the London Philharmonic Orchestra London Philharmonic Orchestra Foyle Future Firsts Juya Shin conductor
5 world premieres by LPO Young Composers: Joy Nkoyo, Niamh O'Donnell, Jorge Ramos, Zach Reading, Daniel Soley; 5 new poems written and performed by poets from Southbank Centre's New Poets Collective: Johanna Gibson, Erica Hesketh, Gayathiri Kamalakanthan, Pèlúmi Obasaju & William Wyld
7.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; Tickets from £10
European Poetry Festival: Switzerland
The UK’s biggest celebration of continental poetry in performance and collaboration returns.
For ages 16+ | 8pm; National Poetry Library, Level 5, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall; Free, but ticketed
Wednesday 9
Special Edition: Spicy Queer Crip Takeover
A fistful of queer, disabled and sexy a.f. poets share work from a spicy anthology of poetry. British Sign Language interpreted (BSL).
For ages 16+ | 8pm; National Poetry Library, Level 5, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall; Tickets from £9
Thursday 10
Out-Spoken: July
Immerse yourself in an evening of poetry and music from artists on the rise and at the top of their game. Speech-to-Text transcribed (STT).
For ages 16+ | 7.45pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Tickets from £17
Friday 11
Rug Rhymes: Summer
Join us in the National Poetry Library for poems, nursery rhymes and rhyming stories for little ones.
For ages 0 – 5 | 11am; National Poetry Library, Level 5, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall; Tickets from £4 (admits one adult and one child)
Writers Mosaic: We Were There
Lanre Bakare’s debut novel shines a spotlight on extraordinary Black lives in once-rich cities, at a night of music, poetry and discussion.
For ages 16+ | 7.45pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Tickets from £15
Saturday 19
Seeing Ghosts: Pio Abad & Susan Barker
Part of ESEA Encounters
Turner Prize-nominated artist Pio Abad and novelist Susan Barker discuss the spectral, political histories and the weight of beauty.
For ages 12+ | 12.15pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Tickets from £12
Epic Intimacies: Tash Aw & Will Harris
Part of ESEA Encounters
Family, the masculine and fragmentation are the topics of this talk between the novelist and the poet.
For ages 12+ | 3pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Tickets from £12
Language and Lineage: Poetry Reading
Part of ESEA Encounters
Poets Troy Cabida, Vera Chok, Natalie Linh Bolderston and Nina Mingya Powles share poetry that has inspired them from South East Asia and the diaspora.
For ages 12+ | 4.30pm; St Paul’s Roof Pavilion, Level 6, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall; Tickets from £12
Love in the Time of Tech: Elaine Castillo & John Lau
Part of ESEA Encounters
The writer and the game producer talk games, fiction and the future of love in an age of disconnection.
For ages 12+ | 5.45pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Tickets from £12
Sunday 20
Out-Spoken Masterclass: July
Whittle your writing into shape in this three-hour weekend poetry workshop with a leading poet.
For ages 18+ | 1pm; Sunley Pavilion, Level 3, Green Side, Royal Festival Hall; Tickets from £27
Irvine Welsh: Men in Love
The Trainspotting crew embark on a riotous journey through Edinburgh, London, Amsterdam and Paris. Speech-to-Text transcribed (STT).
For ages 16+ | 7.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; Tickets from £20
Wednesday 23
Iris Colomb: Opening Event
Part of Dance Your Way Home
Be the first to see the National Poetry Library's new exhibition with a live performance from the artist.
7.30pm; National Poetry Library, Level 5, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall; Free
Arifa Akbar & Wendy
Erskine: Wolf Moon
Part of Dance Your Way Home
Explore how the night shapes our lives in this talk with the two authors and editors.
For ages 16+ | 7.45pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Tickets from £15
Thursday 24
Poets on the Dance Floor
Part of Dance Your Way Home
Merge poetry, movement and experimentation at this event hosted by Chris McCabe.
For ages 16+ | 7.45pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Tickets from £15
From Thursday 24
Iris Colomb: Try! Try! Try! Again!
Part of Dance Your Way Home
Dive into daring poetic experiments in this exhibition merging poetry with other art forms.
For all ages | Until Sun 4 Jan; Tue, 12 noon –6pm; Wed – Sun, 12 noon – 8pm (closed Mon); National Poetry Library, Level 5, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall; Free
Friday 25
Caleb Femi & Jordan Stephens: On the Dance Floor
Part of Dance Your Way Home
Reflect on the life-affirming freedom of the party dance floor in this talk between the two writers. Speech-to-Text transcribed (STT).
For ages 16+ | 7.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; Tickets from £15
Sunday 27
Folk Dance:
For and of the People
Part of Dance Your Way Home
Zakia Sewell chairs a panel that includes Lally MacBeth and Charlotte Mclean, as they discuss what folk dance means to them.
For ages 16+ | 7pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Tickets from £15
Free events
There's lots to see and do for free at the Southbank Centre this month, including dance parties, art and exhibitions, and some of the best new music in the UK
Throughout the month Ghazaleh Avarzamani and Ali Ahadi:
Freudian Typo
Explore a multi-layered exhibition of new image-based works, sculpture, video and found objects.
Until Sun 31 Aug; Tue – Fri & Sun, 10am - 6pm; Sat, 10am – 8pm (closed Mon); HENI Project Space, Hayward Gallery; Free
Jeppe Hein's Appearing Rooms
A summer favourite returns: a playful fountain that shoots jets of water into the air.
Until Mon 25 Aug; Wed – Sun, 10am –9pm (subject to weather conditions and maintenance; closed Mon & Tue); Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
Dance Your Way Home: Public Art
Explore spectacular art across our site for free, with many works connected to the theme of our series Dance Your Way Home
Until Mon 25 Aug; Across the site; Free
Future Exhibition Makers: The People’s Exhibition
Get new perspectives on the 1951 Festival of Britain in a free display created by 15 young people.
Until Fri 28 Nov; Tue, 10am – 6pm; Wed – Sun, 10am – 11pm (closed Mon); Archive Studio, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; Free
Bharti Kher: Target Queen
On the exterior of the Hayward Gallery, a colourful artwork celebrates the bindi at super scale.
Daily; Hayward Gallery Wall, Belvedere Road Side; Free
Klaus Weber: Thinking Fountains
An outdoor sculpture commission features two water-spouting bronze figures and a waterfall.
Daily (subject to weather conditions); Hayward Gallery Terrace; Free
Tuesday 1
Lambeth Musitrax Festival 2025 Band Celebration
Be astounded by the energy and joy of over 400 children as they join to form a giant wind band.
For all ages | 1.30pm; The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; Free
Wednesday 2
European Poetry Festival: Switzerland
The UK’s biggest celebration of continental poetry in performance and collaboration returns.
For ages 16+ | 8pm; National Poetry Library, Level 5, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall; Free, but ticketed
Friday 4
Hardi Kurda: Voice Notes
Part of New Music Biennial
Hear refugees and migrants tell their stories in this creative soundworld. British Sign Language interpreted (BSL).
For ages 7+ | 6pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Free, but ticketed
Verity Watts: PEACE
Part of New Music Biennial
Does music about peace have to be peaceful? What does peace sound like in 2025? British Sign Language interpreted (BSL).
For ages 14+ | 7pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Stef Conner: Ghost Weavers
Part of New Music Biennial Immerse yourself in a multilayered sound experience infused with folk song. British Sign Language interpreted (BSL).
For ages 12+ | 8pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Free, but ticketed
All Men Unto Me: Requiem
Part of New Music Biennial
Take in tracks from All Men Unto Me’s new album, Requiem, in an electric live performance. British Sign Language interpreted (BSL).
For ages 12+ | 9pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Saturday 5
Ellie Wilson: Moth x Human
Part of New Music Biennial
Hear a cross-species collaboration in this thought-provoking work that uses sonified moth activity.
For ages 7+ | 12 noon; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Jasdeep Singh Degun: Into the Night
Part of New Music Biennial
Sitarist and composer Jasdeep Singh Degun's new work reflects on his creative and contemplative relationship with the night.
For ages 7+ | 1pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Halina Rice: The Path
Part of New Music Biennial
Walk a new trail with electronic music artist Halina Rice in this exciting new work.
For ages 7+ | 3pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Ailís
Ní Ríain: Holocene
Part of New Music Biennial Onyx Brass reimagines the contemporary brass ensemble in a bold and unconventional work.
For ages 7+ | 4pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Free, but ticketed
De Saint Paul, Hope, Salvadori & Sterling: Penumbra
Part of New Music Biennial
Explore the intersection of voice, video, lighting and looping in this musical collaboration.
For ages 12+ | 5pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
m3UNTITLED & GOMID: Bantam's Drift
Part of New Music Biennial Dive into deconstructed soundscapes and images drawing on Bradford’s South Asian youth culture.
For ages 12+ | 7pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
SIPHO.: Yearn
Part of New Music Biennial Love, longing and passion are the centrepiece to this concert from SIPHO., a rising voice in R&B.
For ages 7+ | 8pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Free, but ticketed
Alex Groves: Dance Suite
Part of New Music Biennial
Find out what Baroque music might sound like on today's dance floor with Zubin Kanga.
For ages 7+ | 9pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Sunday 6
Linda Buckley: Thar Farraige (Over Sea)
Part of New Music Biennial
Explore the melding of chamber and folk music in a moving meditation on love, loss and home.
For ages 7+ | 12 noon; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Xenia Pestova Bennett: Glow
Part of New Music Biennial
Get ready to enter an eclectic soundscape woven together by composer-pianist Xenia Pestova Bennett.
For ages 7+ | 1pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Uri Agnon: MARCH
Part of New Music Biennial
Survey and interrogate the many forms of protest in this powerful, joyful performance.
For ages 7+ | 2pm; The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; Free, but ticketed
Matthew Bourne & Emily Levy: Mercury Songs
Part of New Music Biennial
Watch a five-piece ensemble play an experimental piece that recasts British folk traditions for today.
For ages 12+ | 3.30pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Mark David Boden: Chasing Sunlight
Part of New Music Biennial
See – and hear – an engaging new ‘audio-visual concerto’ that harnesses the power of the senses.
For ages 7+ | 4.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Daniel Kidane: N’dehou
Part of New Music Biennial
Don’t miss the premiere of composer Daniel Kidane’s choral work, performed by The Carice Singers.
For ages 7+ | 6pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Free, but ticketed
Chisara Agor: Nocturnal Sun
Part of New Music Biennial
Follow a final journey across an arid landscape in this live performance and conceptual film.
For ages 7+ | 7pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Shri Shriram: Dhamaal – Core
Part of New Music Biennial
Fusing South Asian, jazz and electronic music, this up-tempo work is bursting with joyful energy.
For ages 7+ | 8pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free, but ticketed
Thursday 10 futuretense: Shivani Day + nikhil
Hear a fusion of sounds that range from R&B to indie rock in a free gig from two musicians on the rise.
For all ages | 6pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Free
Saturday 19
Ura Matsuri’s Daylight Ninjas
Part of ESEA Encounters
Join us for an afternoon of East and South East Asian culture, making and transformation into ninjas. British Sign Language interpreted (BSL).
For ages 5+ | 1pm – 3pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
Ura Matsuri 2025
Part of ESEA Encounters
An evening of live music, dance and storytelling celebrates the diverse heritage of the East and South East Asian diaspora in the UK. British Sign Language interpreted (BSL).
For ages 12+ | 7pm; The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; Free
Saturday 19 & Sunday 20
Yokimono Japanese
Summer Market
Part of ESEA Encounters Explore traditional and contemporary Japanese food, culture, arts and crafts at a popup market.
For all ages | Sat 19 Jul, 12 noon – 7pm; Sun 20 Jul, 11am – 6pm; The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; Free
Wednesday 23
Iris Colomb: Opening Event
Part of Dance Your Way Home
The launch of the National Poetry Library's new exhibition, with a live performance from the artist.
7.30pm; National Poetry Library, Level 5, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall; Free
From Wednesday 23
The Space Between
Part of Dance Your Way Home
Set beside the River Thames, this dance floor installation invites you to sit, sway or dance like no one (or everyone) is watching. Presented by Beyond the Box & QSP Studio.
For all ages | Until Mon 25 Aug; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
Thursday 24
futuretense: Choose Your Beat
Part of Dance Your Way Home
Move to free house, drum and bass, dubstep and jungle music from up-and-coming artists.
For all ages | 6pm – 10pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
From Thursday 24
Iris Colomb: Try! Try! Try! Again!
Part of Dance Your Way Home
Dive into daring poetic experiments in this exhibition merging poetry with other art forms.
For all ages | Until Sun 4 Jan; Tue, 12 noon –6pm; Wed – Sun, 12 noon – 8pm (closed Mon); National Poetry Library, Level 5, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall; Free
Friday 25
Trans Pride Riverside Party with Transvision
Part of Dance Your Way Home
Find liberation through community dance and pop music at this party on our terrace with Transvision, a trans+ inclusive club night.
For all ages | 5.30pm – 10.30pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
Saturday 26
JAZZ RE:FEST 2025
Part of Dance Your Way Home
Get into the swing of a celebration of all things jazz, spotlighting new artists alongside international names.
12 noon – 7.45pm; The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall & Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
Sunday 27
Dub the Dance Floor
Part of Dance Your Way Home
We’re turning up the volume on the Riverside Terrace in this free London sound system celebration.
For all ages | 12 noon – 7pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
From Thursday 31
Our HeartBeats: Unity in Motion
Part of Dance Your Way Home
Over four Thursday evenings, join us on the terrace for global club sounds, community and celebration, in collaboration with Kensaye and Counterpoints Arts.
For all ages | Thu 31 Jul; Thu 7, Thu 14 & Thu 21 Aug; 6pm – 10pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
Upcoming highlights
Summer Time
Find a warm welcome with us at our Summer Time season, which continues throughout August. Splash in the fountain, relax in our Roof Garden, sample sizzling street food and soak up sun, shows and art for everyone.
Until Sunday 31 August
Also coming soon
Grief Rave
Join us on the Riverside Terrace as our free parties continue through August. Grief Rave is a space to let go and dance out all intersections of loss, led by Annie Frost Nicholson, Carly Attridge and Linett Kamala.
Sunday 3 August
Nicola Sturgeon: Frankly
Scotland’s first female first minister and former leader of the SNP shares her long-awaited memoir reflecting on her life, in conversation with Cathy Newman.
Friday 29 August
Out to the Dancers
Explore personal stories around the power of music, dance and community with Dance Your Way Home author Emma Warren, co-curator of our summer series of the same name, and Ezra Collective’s Femi Koleoso.
Friday 8 August
Suede Takeover
The indie giants showcase the charged energy of their live performances at gigs across our venues, marking the release of their tenth studio album.
Saturday 13 – Friday 19 September
HVYWGHT & The Outlook Orchestra: 20 Years of Dubstep
Come and dance your way through the journey of dubstep, from its roots in Croydon to a global phenomenon.
Friday 29 August
Classical Music: Autumn/ Winter 2025/26
Join us for a brand new year of classical music, filled with opportunities to experience, live in person, the full range of this powerful and moving art form.
September 2025 – January 2026
Eat & explore
Ten years of our Food Market
Bustling, bold and filled with tasty food, the Southbank Centre Food Market is one of London’s most loved food destinations – and it’s been bringing people together for ten years.
Many traders have been with us for the full decade.
‘It’s got a real family feel,’ says Rébecca Brindle, Head of Commercial at the Southbank Centre. ‘Traders have been talking to us about their kids for years and suddenly they’re working on the stalls.’
It’s also been a launch pad for dozens of new businesses, including craft beer and cider shop The Hop Locker, who started their company on day one of the market in 2015 and are still here every week.
Having dialled up the energy with a colourful rebrand last year, the market is a real staple of this vibrant area. Brindle says: ‘We’re incredibly proud of what it’s become – a cornerstone of the London experience and a true celebration of global flavours and community spirit.’
With 34 traders and 15 different types of cuisine on offer, there’s something for everyone. Come on down for a taste of what makes our Food Market a melting pot of the best cuisines that London has to offer.
Southbank Centre Square; Friday – Sunday and bank holiday Mondays (see website for opening times) southbankcentre.co.uk/foodanddrink
Entertainment by the river
Wander along the riverside near our buildings to discover entertainment spilling out of our doors and onto the pavements: 250 street performers are licensed to appear on our ten busking pitches along the Queen’s Walk, from the Hungerford Bridge to the London Eye.
Musicians, living statues, magicians, acrobats, dance groups, bands and bubble entertainers regularly draw onlookers and cheers from the thousands of people who come to our central London location each week. Some of the acts, like the mind-boggling Fanti Acrobats International – who share African
traditional acrobatic and cultural dancing – have been performing on our site for decades, and many more take their first steps into the world of street performing here each year.
Take a walk and see how many entertainers you can spot – with a rotating cast of performers, no stroll you take along the river will ever be quite the same. Interested in trying out for a street performer licence yourself? Keep an eye out for the next round of auditions, opening for applications in spring 2026. Look out for the street performers on the Queen's Walk, from Hungerford Bridge to the London Eye
About the Southbank Centre
We’re the UK’s largest centre for the arts and one of the nation's top five visitor attractions, showcasing the world’s most exciting artists at our venues in the heart of London. As a charity, we bring millions of people together by opening up the unique art spaces that we care for.
The Southbank Centre is made up of the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room, Hayward Gallery, National Poetry Library and Arts Council Collection. We're also one of London’s favourite meeting spots, with lots of free events and places to relax, eat and shop. We hope that you enjoy your visit – and if you need any information or help, please ask a member of staff. If you’d like to get in touch, our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX, or email hello@southbankcentre.co.uk
While you’re here
Eating, drinking and shopping? Take in the views over food and drinks at our on-site bars and cafes. In the Royal Festival Hall, find the Seventy5th Balcony Bar on Level 5, and the Festival Bar & Kitchen and Ballroom Cafe on Level 2. Discover our green haven, the Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden, now open for the summer. Visit our shops for products inspired by our great cultural experiences, iconic buildings and central London location. Find more to explore on-site at Beany Green, Comptoir Libanais, Côte Brasserie, Flat Iron, Foyles, Giraffe, Honest Burgers, La Gamba, Las Iguanas, Pret, Strada, Skylon, wagamama and Wahaca.
Southbank Centre Food Market
With a huge choice of street food and drinks from around the globe, the Southbank Centre Food Market is a must-visit. On Southbank Centre Square, Belvedere Road, the market is open Friday – Sunday and bank holidays. Check our website for opening times.
Join and support
We have a range of Membership levels, with benefits including presales to all of our events, free entry to the Hayward Gallery, a Members’ Lounge and a discount on selected retailers and restaurants.
The Southbank Centre is a registered charity. We rely on support from kind individuals to help us deliver a vibrant programme that everyone can access. As a supporter, you can get closer to our work and see how your support makes a difference. For more details, visit our website. southbankcentre.co.uk/join
Environmental sustainability
Environmental sustainability is hugely important to the Southbank Centre and is one of our strategic priorities, and we’re already making progress towards our aim of being a net zero carbon organisation by 2040. For further information, see our website. southbankcentre.co.uk/sustainability
How to book tickets
Online southbankcentre.co.uk*
By phone 020 3879 9555*
*Booking fees apply online (£3.50) and over the phone (£4). There are no booking fees for in-person bookings, Southbank Centre Members, Supporters Circles and Patrons, and no booking fees for Hayward Gallery exhibition tickets.
Under-12s must be accompanied by an adult across our site. See our website for information about concessions.
Many of our ticket prices include a £2 restoration levy, enabling us to care for our historic buildings. Ticket prices may be adjusted without notice to reflect demand. See all of our ticket terms and conditions on the link below.
southbankcentre.co.uk/website-ticket-terms
Access
London
The Southbank Centre is accessible to all and level access is available to all of our venues. For further information and details of accessible events, see our website.
southbankcentre.co.uk/access
To receive publications in alternative formats, and for further information, email accesslist@southbankcentre.co.uk or phone 020 3879 9555. An audio version of this publication is available online at soundcloud.com/southbankcentreaudio
Stay in the know
Subscribers to our email updates are the first to hear about new events, offers and competitions. Just head to our website to sign up. On the cover
Dive into the captivating, creative world of Yoshitomo Nara in the largest European retrospective of one of Japan’s most celebrated artists, now on at the Hayward Gallery.
Image credits
On the cover: Yoshitomo Nara, Sleepless Night (Sitting), 1997. © Yoshitomo Nara, courtesy Yoshitomo Nara Foundation
Inside cover: Yoshitomo Nara, Missing in Action, 1999. Courtesy of Sally and Ralph Tawil © Yoshitomo Nara, courtesy Yoshitomo Nara Foundation
This month’s highlights: Ghazaleh Avarzamani and Ali Ahadi, Black Line and the Edifice (EBRD), 2025; New Music Biennial: Chisara Agor – Nocturnal Sun © Tim Grabham; Stewart Lee © courtesy the artist; Nature Theater of Oklahoma: No President © Heinrich Brinkmöller-Becker; ESEA Encounters: Ura Matsuri © David X Green; futuretense: Choose Your Beat © Takis Zontiros
Header images: Art & exhibitions: Yoshitomo Nara, My Drawing Room, 2008, © Yoshitomo Nara, courtesy Yoshitomo Nara Foundation. Photo: Mie Morimoto; Performance & dance: Tianzhuo Chen: TRANCE © Pierre Zylstra; Music: SIPHO.: Yearn © Jake Turney; Family:
Jeppe Hein’s Appearing Rooms © Victor Frankowski; Literature & talks: Arifa Akbar © Jocelyn Nyguyen; Free events: Yokimono Japanese Summer Market © courtesy the artist
Upcoming highlights: Grief Rave © K. Davis; Out to the Dancers: Emma Warren © Camilla Greenwell; HVYWGHT & The Outlook Orchestra: 20 Years of Dubstep © Rob Jones; Nicola Sturgeon: Frankly © Charlotte Hadden; Suede Takeover © Dean Chalkley; Vikingur Ólafsson © Ari Magg
Eat & explore: Southbank Centre Food Market © Arnaud Mbaki; Street entertainers © Pete Woodhead
Listings correct at time of going to press (2025).
The Southbank Centre is a registered charity no. 298909
