London Design Festival and Open House Festival 12–20 September: Free Architecture and Design Week
Two major festivals run simultaneously from 12 to 20 September: the London Design Festival transforms the city with exhibitions and installations, while Open House Festival opens 800+ buildings across all 33 boroughs for free public access. Both are largely free to attend.
London Design Festival returns from 12 to 20 September for a city-wide celebration of contemporary design, with installations, talks, exhibitions and special projects unfolding across London. The 2026 festival will take place 12-20 September and will be the 35th edition. Running concurrently, Open House Festival returns from 12 to 20 September, giving Londoners access to buildings, spaces and architectural sites across all 33 boroughs, many usually closed to the public.
What's Happening
The festival presents forums, talks, product launches, open showrooms, exhibitions, installations, workshops and parties over nine days. The programme's hundreds of events explore fashion, architecture, interiors, furniture, technology, materiality, art, crafts and digital design. This year a Ukrainian light artist is projecting onto the facade of St Paul's Cathedral, a bamboo pavilion is going up on Strand Aldwych, and a hydraulic power station that has been closed to the public for thirteen years is reopening for sound art.
Planning Ahead
With events spread across London, it's worth checking dates and opening times before heading out. Some projects only run for a day or two, and some talks and events require advance booking. Download the Bloomberg Connects app before you go. It's the festival's free official guide and it's better than the website for working out what's open when.
For expats new to London, these two overlapping festivals offer an unparalleled opportunity to see behind the scenes of the city's architecture and design culture—much of it normally hidden from public view. Many events are free or under £20. The combination allows you to explore different neighbourhoods across all 33 boroughs and understand how London's built environment came together.
Sources
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