September 23, 2026Our 6 FREE Black History Month Picks in London 2026

Michaela Alagbala, Communications Assistant

Circular mosaic artwork portrait of a young Black person with a voluminous afro, pieced together from cracked ceramic tile fragments in muted browns and greys. The figure is set against a pale, geometric star patterned background and wears a blue-grey collared garment.
Portrait by Matthew Small. Courtesy of the artist

October marks Black History Month 2026, a nationwide celebration of Black history, culture and achievement across Britain.

From gallery shows to grassroots community gatherings, here are our recommendations of some of the best BHM events happening across the capital this October.

The Lewisham Lovers Rock Lounge – Elements Bar

A recreated Caribbean-British front room decorated in warm peach and terracotta tones, with a shag-pile rug underfoot. On the back wall, a square gilt-edged frame holds a photograph of a woman in an orange headwrap and jumpsuit, headphones round her neck, holding a record sleeve that reads "Otis Gayle". Beside it, a circular frame holds a photograph of a man in a red, gold and green knitted hat, singing into a microphone against a starry backdrop. To the right, a carved wooden wall plaque shows a map of the Caribbean islands labelled "CARIBBEAN", and below it an illustrated figure in a headwrap dances beside the words "Nzinga Dance" in yellow script. In the centre of the room stands a dark wood radiogram, branded "Blue Spot", topped with a stand of colourful vinyl singles and a green record sleeve; further records lean against its side and are stacked on the floor beside it. To the right, an old cathode-ray television sits on a wooden stand draped with a crocheted doily, with a stack of magazines on the shelf below. On the left, a brown sofa with patterned cushions sits beside a small table holding a vase of flowers and framed photographs, with more vinyl records propped against the wall nearby. In the foreground, a low coffee table holds a glass bowl of pink and white sweets, a folded copy of the Jamaican newspaper "Daily Gleaner", and further records. In the top left corner, partly cropped by the edge of the image, a black circular logo reads "B:M 2026" above the partly visible words "honouring our communities". In the bottom left corner, a blue square logo shows a yellow crown above the word "Lewisham".

Black History Month, The Lewisham Lovers Rock Lounge. Image Courtesy of Lewisham Council

Step back in time for a celebration of Lewisham’s reggae history and legacy, honouring the music, memories, venues and community spaces of years gone by.

Hosted by Nzinga Dance Company and supported by Lewisham Council, The Lewisham Lovers Rock Lounge invites people from across the generations to celebrate the borough’s resilient Caribbean community.

The evening features three special guest selectors: Lloyd Coxsone, DJ Melvina Moves and DJ Ade. The event will also feature a display of iconic photographs celebrating Lewisham’s reggae history and legacy alongside a Black History mini market.

When: Saturday 10 October | 18:30-00:30
Where: Elements Bar, 207 Lee High Road, London SE13 5PQ

FREE, booking required – reserve tickets here

Seeing the Potential Solo Exhibition – Swiss Cottage Gallery

Two large circular mosaic portraits made from fragments of mirror and coloured glass or tile, propped against a white brick studio wall. On the left, a smaller circular artwork shows a seated woman with long dark hair, resting her chin on her hand, wearing a blue top and shorts with white trainers, set within a geometric mosaic border of cream, grey and pale gold triangles. On the right, a larger circular artwork shows a seated man wearing a black jumper with a gold Batman logo, dark trousers and blue-cuffed boots, one arm resting on his knee, surrounded by a similar mosaic border in cream, bronze and grey tones. Between and around the two artworks, the studio floor is cluttered with the artist's working materials: a pink plastic tub and a black crate holding sheets of mirror and glass, a clear plastic storage box, a metal paint tin, scattered offcuts and shards of coloured material, and other supplies in trays and baskets across the concrete floor.

Seeing the Potential Exhibit by Matthew Small, image courtesy of artist

Seeing the Potential, an exhibition by artist Matthew Small, speaks to the act of looking beyond appearances and present circumstances to recognise what might be possible. This idea runs through both Small’s choice of materials and his approach to portraiture. Discarded metal and salvaged surfaces, marked by their own histories, are given a new life and purpose.

Rooted in the diversity and contradictions of Camden, Matthew’s practice is shaped by the rhythms of the city around him. His work asks us to slow down and look again: to recognise individuality within the crowd, and to consider whose stories are seen, remembered and celebrated.

When: 26 September – 10 December 2026 | 11:00-17:00 | Closed Sundays
Where: Swiss Cottage Gallery, Swiss Cottage, Central Library, 88 Avenue Road, London NW3 3HA

FREE – no booking required

 The Brent Reggae Album Covers Exhibition 2026

 

An image of a black vinyl record with the words 'The Brent Reggae Album Covers Exhibition' written around the perimeter and a red, yellow and red square graphic with the same words in the middle.

Brent Reggae Album Covers Exhibition. Poster courtesy of Brent Council

Explore the reggae records with album covers shot across the iconic West London borough of Brent.

Harlesden Library is hosting curator sessions where you’ll hear about the cover creation process and listen to the music from the albums. Plus, there will be a turntable if you wish to bring a record (single or album) with a Brent connection to be played and discussed.

When: October 12 and 31 2026 | 18:00-20:00
Where: Harlesden Library, Craven Park Rd, London NW10 8SE

FREE – no booking required. Learn more here.

Caribbean Voices: Shaping Docklands Trail – London Museum Docklands

Five people stand talking together in a museum gallery corridor, with wall-mounted exhibition text panels, a QR code, glass display cases and warm spotlighting overhead. On the far left, partly out of frame, a figure in a mustard-yellow long-sleeved top gestures with a raised hand. Beside them, a woman with long straight dark hair wears a vibrant geometric-patterned dress in orange, yellow, green and blue triangles, with a ruffled high collar and off-the-shoulder sleeves, one hand raised near her ear as she speaks. In the centre, a woman with braided hair styled with a white bow wears a black and white patterned quilted jacket over a black top, her hands clasped together as she talks, with patterned tights visible below. To her right, a woman in a teal top with gold hoop earrings listens, one hand raised near her face. On the far right, a woman with long curly reddish-brown hair wears an oversized orange hoodie and gestures with her hand as she speaks to the group.

Caribbean Voices Gallery Launch Event 2025. Photo by John Chase. Copyright London Museum

How has the Caribbean community influenced our past and present?
Caribbean Voices, an interactive trail at the London Museum Docklands aims to answer this very question. The trail highlights the need to reclaim the histories of colonised Caribbean nations, the role of Caribbean produce in shaping Britain, the contributions of WWII veterans and the many ways in which the community has influenced the local area’s past and present.

When: Open now until 24 January 2027 | Museum open Monday to Sunday 10:00-17:00
Where: Pick up the trail guide on the Third Floor and start your journey on the Second Floor | No. 1 Warehouse, West India Quay, London E14 4AL

FREE entry – no prior booking required. Learn more here.

Rudy Loewe: Intimacies of Care – Spaces of Grief and Possibility

Inside a gallery space exploring themes of grief and care, a large sculptural installation of two giant lilac hands, cupped together as if in comfort, rises from a plinth on a circular cork platform painted with white root-like branches radiating across the wood floor around it. A woman in white touches one of the sculpture's hands, while a man and a woman stand talking nearby beside a green bench seat. Above, a large banner hangs from the ceiling, illustrated in a folk-art style with two figures at a table arranging flowers. On the left, a curved wall displays a quote from Camille Sapara Barton reflecting on the value of collective, community-based grieving spaces, above a colourful grid of tiles naming different forms of support. Beside it hangs a folk-art illustration of two embracing figures with accompanying wall text. On the right, backlit teal and pink panels display further exhibition text on community-led care and the long-term impact of growing up in foster care, near a doorway where two more visitors look towards a green and red sculptural form with its own text banner.

Rudy Loewe: Intimacies of Care – Spaces of Grief and Possibility. Gallery Photo by Benjamin Gilbert. © Wellcome Collection. Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).

Through a network of sculptures, paintings and multi-media work, Rudy Loewe centres the lived experiences of Black British individuals whose mental healthcare has been shaped by racist discrimination. With this exhibition, Loewe asks us to consider more hopeful, empathetic, alternative approaches to care.

When: Open now until 7 February 2027 | Musuem open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-18:00
Where: 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE

FREE admission – no booking required. Learn more here.

New Beacon Book Store – Finsbury Park, London

A split image comparing New Beacon Books past and present. On the left, a contemporary photograph shows the shopfront at dusk, its black fascia reading "NEW BEACON BOOKS" beside a circular "nB" logo, with the phone number "020 7272 4889", the website "www.newbeaconbooks.com" and "EST. 1966" printed alongside. A striped awning shades the illuminated shop window below, which is packed with books, posters and red "Sale" banners, along with various notices taped to the glass. A round plaque reading "GPI Institute" is fixed to the brickwork beside the entrance. On the pavement outside, a woman in a face mask and green jacket walks past with a man in a black puffer jacket, while further along the street a figure in a blue jacket and bobble hat walks by. On the right, a sepia-toned archival photograph taken inside the shop shows a small crowd of adults and a child gathered around a table holding cups and bowls, listening to a man in light-coloured clothing who stands centrally, holding a book as he speaks to the group. Bookshelves stacked with titles and wall-mounted posters and photographs fill the background.

Left: Photo by David Levene, courtesy of The Guardian. Right: Photo courtesy of New Beacon Book Store

For 60 years, New Beacon Books has been a hub of Black literature, culture, activism and opportunity. Celebrate the 60-year diamond anniversary of the bookshop and publishing house by exploring its range of literary events, author readings, and workshops.

Support the business with a purchase or simply enjoy getting lost in a book in the historic space. Join the community in honouring New Beacon Books rich legacy and the vital role it continues to play in promoting historically marginalised voices.

When: Open Thursday – Saturday 12:00-18:00 | Sunday 12:00-17:00
Where: 76 Stroud Green Road, London, England, N4 3EN

Learn more here.

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