Central London will be awash with green next month as the Mayor of London’s annual St Patrick’s Day parade and festivities return to the heart of the capital on Sunday 17 March.

Irish national treasure Panti Bliss will be Grand Marshal of this year’s spectacular parade. More than 50,000 people are expected to gather as the annual procession of Irish marching bands, dance troupes and pageantry winds its way through central London.

The parade starts in Piccadilly and ends in Whitehall, where visitors will be treated to a world-class line-up of free, family-friendly entertainment programmed in partnership with the London Irish Centre.

Londoners and visitors are invited to enjoy the best of Irish arts, culture, food and music. There will be: traditional music from Biird and Bodhrán player, Ruari Glasheen; Irish music with a bhangra twist from the band Jiggy; contemporary music from Kestine and folk singer Laura Elizabeth Hughes; performances by the Celtic Youth Orchestra; traditional Irish dancing from the Maguire O'Shea Academy of Irish Dance; community choirs; and a singalong finale.

Celebrity chef Anna Haugh will be putting on a cookery demonstration and hosting a Q&A session so people can learn how to create delicious Irish dishes at home. 

The Mayor’s annual celebration has become a highlight of London’s cultural calendar as Londoners and visitors unite in celebrating the great contributions Irish people have made to the capital. St Patrick’s Day is the ideal opportunity to pay homage to the enduring friendship between the British and Irish people.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “London’s annual St Patrick’s Day festivities are a highlight of my year. It’s wonderful to join with tens of thousands of Londoners and visitors to celebrate the immense contribution the Irish have made to our great capital over many decades. This year is going to be particularly memorable as we welcome Panti Bliss as Grand Marshal of the St Patrick’s Day parade. Celebrations like St Patrick’s Day showcase how welcoming and diverse our city is as we continue to build a better, fairer London for everyone.”

Ireland’s Ambassador to the UK, Martin Fraser, said: “Since taking up my role as Ambassador, I have witnessed the strength, determination, and kinship of the Irish community both here in London and across the country. St. Patrick’s Day presents a wonderful opportunity for the wider community in London to gather, celebrate, and build connections. This year’s St Patrick’s Day Festival in London will be a fantastic event where we can proudly celebrate our heritage and culture, as well as recognising our contemporary community in all its rich diversity. The Mayor's St Patrick’s Day Festival is a welcome opportunity to celebrate the strong and enduring links between London and Ireland. We are also very lucky to have the celebrated performer and activist Panti Bliss as our Grand Marshall this year. I look forward to welcoming all of you who are able to join us on the day, and encourage everyone to participate however they can to ensure that all of members of our community can feel connected to what will be a wonderful Festival this year.”

Tourism Ireland’s Head of Great Britain, Julie Wakley, said: “We’re gearing up for a wonderful St Patrick’s Day Festival in London and can’t wait to celebrate with everyone in Trafalgar Square on the 17th March. Now in its 21st year, the festival is a vibrant celebration of Irish arts, culture, food and community and has become an absolute staple in London’s cultural calendar. Come and visit us at the Tourism Ireland stand and find out why Ireland is a must visit destination in 2024.

Grand Marshal of this year’s parade, Panti Bliss, said: "I am equally honoured and excited to be the Grand Marshal of this year's London St Patrick's Day Parade and am already in training to cover the distance in high heels!"

Chief Executive Officer of the London Irish Centre, Séamus MacCormaic, said: “The London Irish Centre is delighted to be Programme Partner for London’s St. Patrick’s Festival for another year. This special event acknowledges and celebrates the contribution of Irish communities to London, and we are proud to be part of this story. We will be showcasing a diverse programme of Irish arts and culture in the iconic Trafalgar Square, celebrating the creativity and vibrancy of the Irish community in London, and of Irish artists from the island of Ireland. It will include everything from trad fusion band Jiggy, to Kestine, a rapper and singer from Cork, as well as intergenerational London-Irish community representation from Maguire O’Shea’s junior dancers to The Irish Pensioners Choir. We want to thank the Mayor of London and Greater London Authority for collaborating with us.” Photo by Garry Knight from London, England, Wikimedia commons.