A mix of art, music and theatre in the coming months in the UK capital

London remains one of the most internationally cultural cities in the world, celebrating history, art, food and more throughout the year. This Autumn and Winter season, there seems to be a real focus on the vibrancy of Middle Eastern, Arabic and South Asian culture, with many festivals dedicated to collaborations with artists and musicians from the region. 

Below is a snapshot of some our recent finds. If you're planning a London trip or staycation, don't forget we can help build your perfect itinerary for you and the family.

A Season of Arabic Culture

October–December 2026 | Various venues across the City of London

MARSM’s new multi-year programme brings the music, film, dance, food and traditions of the Arabic-speaking world to venues across the City. The autumn programme includes Art, Women and Agents of Change in the Middle East, a Dabke Dance Night, a Darbuka drumming workshop, food and storytelling, a screening of Persepolis in partnership with the Barbican, and Jam al-Jazz x Barbican Nights, where Arabic melodies meet jazz improvisation. With nine seasons of activity planned over three years, it offers a broad introduction to contemporary Arabic culture alongside its musical and cultural traditions. Check out the MARSM website for a full calendar.

Afterglow: From the Residue of a Departed Sun

30 October–22 November 2026 | Frieze, No.09 Cork Street, Mayfair, London

Tabari Art Space brings together four artists with strong Middle Eastern and diasporic connections: Emirati artist Maitha Abdalla, British-Egyptian-Sudanese artist and curator Omar Kholeif, Egyptian artist Mohamed Monaiseer and Randa Maddah from the Golan Heights. Their new works explore memory, mythology, spirituality and mortality through painting, sculpture, installation, poetry and mixed media.

New Wave Arab

4 November 2026 | Grand Junction, Paddington, London

A showcase of emerging Arab artists redefining the region’s contemporary sound, bringing together new voices and Arabic musical traditions in a live setting. The event forms part of Grand Junction’s Right Here, Right Now programme and offers a snapshot of the next generation of Arab musical talent.

Constantinople to Istanbul: One City, Two Empires

7 November 2026 onwards | V&A South Kensington, London

This major UK-first exhibition explores 1,600 years of artistic production in one of the world’s great cultural crossroads, spanning the Byzantine and Ottoman empires from AD 330 to 1922. Bringing together art, design and architecture, it examines how Constantinople and Istanbul shaped the Christian and Islamic worlds and the wider Mediterranean.

Unfolding the Islamic Book

November 2026 | St George Street Gallery, Mayfair, London

An exhibition and interactive lecture series offering an intimate look at the craftsmanship behind Islamic manuscripts, from papermaking and pigments to calligraphy, illumination and binding. The accompanying programme explores subjects including Mamluk bookbinding, precious pigments and decorative illumination, revealing the extraordinary skill and materials behind these historic works.

Dana Awartani

19 November 2026–February 2027 | Lisson Gallery, Marylebone, London

Following her presentation representing Saudi Arabia at the 2026 Venice Biennale, Saudi artist Dana Awartani presents a new exhibition exploring cultural heritage, sustainability and the destruction of historic monuments. Her practice combines contemporary art with traditional craft, using the act of darning and repair as a metaphor for healing and cultural preservation.

Haifa Wehbe & Ahmed Saad

20 November 2026 | OVO Arena Wembley, London

Two of the Arab world’s best-known contemporary performers come together for an arena-scale celebration of Arabic music. Lebanese singer Haifa Wehbe and Egyptian star Ahmed Saad share the stage for a major London performance, with DJ Nemz also joining the line-up.

Oxford Maqam

20 November 2026 | Grand Junction, Paddington, London

The acclaimed traditional Arabic takht ensemble presents an evening of Egyptian music from the 19th and 20th centuries as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival. Known for reviving classical Arabic repertoire, Oxford Maqam offers a rare opportunity to hear music steeped in Arab heritage performed live, with Syrian vocalist Rama Alcoutlabi as support.