London will turn green once again next spring after the Mayor confirmed the capital’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations will take place on Sunday 15 March 2026, with a

full day of parades, live music and family-friendly events in central London.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said the annual festival will celebrate the creativity, culture and lasting contribution of London’s Irish community, which is the largest in the UK.

Parade through the heart of the capital

Festivities will begin at 12pm with the St Patrick’s Day Parade, a vibrant procession winding through central London before finishing in Trafalgar Square. More than 50,000 people are expected to line the streets to watch Irish marching bands, dancers, musicians and community groups fill the route with colour and pageantry.

This year’s parade will be led by Grand Marshal Emma Dabiri, whose work explores culture, identity and modern Ireland.

Live music, comedy and culture in Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square will once again host a packed programme of free, family-friendly entertainment throughout the day. The main stage will be hosted by Irish comedian Rachel Galvo, alongside performances that blend traditional Irish culture with contemporary sounds.

Acts announced for the Square include the Irish Culture Centre Choir, Moonlight: The Philip Lynott Enigma, Carrie Baxter, Cór Na nÓg, London Bodhrán Band, The Wran, Nell Mescal, Huartan, David Keenan**, and The Commitments.

Beyond the main stage, visitors can explore the Irish Creative Collective sessions tent, featuring comedy, spoken word, music and short Irish film and TV screenings. The programme also includes the ‘Out in the World’ exhibition, highlighting stories from Ireland’s LGBTQ+ diaspora, Irish language lessons, children’s arts and crafts with Artburst, and the immersive Oldbog Cottage experience.

Irish food and market stalls

Food lovers will be well catered for, with celebrity chef Anna Haugh returning with The Wee Sister restaurant pop-up, serving classic Irish dishes in the Square. A range of stalls offering Irish food, crafts and cultural products will also be open throughout the day.

Celebrating London–Ireland ties

The Mayor’s annual St Patrick’s Festival has become a key date in London’s cultural calendar, celebrating the deep and enduring friendship between London and Ireland. Organisers say the 2026 celebrations will once again showcase how Irish culture continues to shape the life, energy and creativity of the capital.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “London’s St Patrick’s Festival is one of the highlights of our capital’s cultural calendar and I’m delighted to welcome everyone back to Trafalgar Square on Sunday 15 March. It’s a chance for Londoners and visitors to celebrate Irish culture and to say thank you for the incredible contribution Irish Londoners have made, and continue to make, to our capital. As we build a better, fairer London for everyone, I’m proud that we can bring communities together for what promises to be our most joyful celebration yet. Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh!”

His Excellency Martin Fraser, Ambassador of Ireland to Great Britain, said: “Once again, the Embassy of Ireland is delighted to support and be part of the 2026 St Patrick’s Day parade in London. St Patrick’s Day in London is a magical moment each year, bringing together not only our Irish community but all friends of Ireland here in Britain, and people from around the world who feel a connection to Ireland. This year we are lucky to be led by our fantastic grand marshal Emma Dabiri, an esteemed Irish writer, broadcaster and academic, and to be joined by Tánaiste Simon Harris. I want to express my gratitude to all involved for their creativity, talent and hard work, and to the people of London who always give the event such a warm reception. I also want to express my sincere thanks to Mayor Sadiq Khan and his team for their continued support for the parade and the strong friendship between Ireland and Britain. Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh go léir!”

Grand Marshal, Emma Dabiri, said: “I’m so thrilled and it’s such an honour to be invited to be the Grand Marshal of The St Patrick’s Day Parade, especially as it’s the London one! I am so proud of being Irish, and my Irishness remains my anchor and North Star wherever I am in the world. I have lived in the UK for many years now and have such a special relationship with London, but nonetheless while you can take the girl out of Dublin, you can never take Dublin out of the girl!”

Adam Rooney and Eoin O’Reilly, from programme partner Head the Ball events, said: “We’re delighted to work alongside the Mayor of London’s office to deliver this year’s programme for the St Patrick’s Day Festival. It’s been an immense privilege to work on this event and provide a platform for just some of the amazing community groups and Irish talent based in London. We’re really looking forward to seeing everyone in Trafalgar Square on the 15th of March to celebrate the amazing London Irish community.”

Ger Hayes, Managing Director of Sisk Construction UK, the event's title partner, said: “As an Irish business with deep roots in London since the 1980s, staying connected to the London Irish community is hugely important to us. Our long-standing commitment to local engagement includes extensive voluntary grass roots work and a strong relationship with the Kilburn Irish Pensioners Group in Brent, which we are honoured to support. Over the past four decades, we have delivered close to 500 construction projects across the capital, leaving our mark on this great city. Today, we are proud to be constructing the new Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Cancer Centre another great example of our continued dedication to building places for future generations. We are delighted to support this important cultural festival once again and we would like to wish everyone a Happy St Patrick’s Day!”

Chef Anna Haugh said: “The beauty of culture is that it always evolves but retains the heartbeat of your ancestors and the St Patrick’s Day parade in London at Trafalgar Square is a great representation of that.”

The event is free to attend and open to all. 

Photo by garryknight, Wikimedia commons.