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Following last year's thrilling launch, London’s most exciting new arts and culture celebration, Chelsea Arts Festival returns this autumn for four days of inspirational events from 17th to 20th September 2026.

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This vibrant annual festival brings together a diverse and dynamic lineup of artists, performers, and creative visionaries from all arts disciplines, alongside free outdoor performances, and bustling food and arts & craft markets. Chelsea Arts Festival provides four days of cultural experiences and unexpected encounters - artists, performers, thinkers and innovators will animate iconic venues and public spaces. Rooted in Chelsea's bohemian artistic past, the festival weaves together bold ideas and timeless creativity - interconnecting past, present and future. 

The 2025 inaugural festival featured world-class talent, including Sir Stephen Fry, Twiggy, Dame Sheila Hancock, Elizabeth Day, Sheila Atim, Ambika Mod, Rupert Everett, Sir Lenny Henry, Malala Yousafzai and many more stars of page, stage and screen. 

2026 will again feature Chelsea’s iconic venues, from Cadogan Hall, Saatchi Gallery, The Royal Court to local pubs, restaurants and shops hosting a wide-ranging programme of talks and discussions, live performances, entertainment and immersive events, across all arts disciplines including music, comedy, poetry, literature, theatre, the visual arts, and much more!  Free outdoor entertainment across Sloane Square, Duke of York Square and along the King’s Road will create joyful and unexpected moments on every corner.

With a nod to Chelsea’s rebellious roots, the extensive festival programme will feature celebrations of 50 years of Punk.  Tessa Clarfelt, the festival’s curator says “Chelsea has long been a mecca for creativity and countercultural movements, repeatedly attracted artists, writers, musicians and cultural provocateurs who have shaped the spirit of their times - where better to celebrate 50 years of Punk than the place where it all began!”

2026 will see a vital and exciting new partnership with the charity, Create, reinforcing the role of the arts as a catalyst for social transformation and wellbeing, with the creation of accessible and free events within the festival programme, enabling underprivileged individuals and communities to engage with and enjoy the arts.

Nicky Goulder MBE, Founding CEO of Create, said: “We are a charity that works to bring the power of the creative arts to those who need it most and strongly believe that everyone deserves access to creativity. We are excited to be working with Chelsea Arts Festival to continue to make that vision a reality.”