The city cements its status as a global design capital with major installations at the V&A and St. Paul's Cathedral.
London has once again asserted its position as a global leader in the creative arts with the 24th edition of the London Design Festival, running from 12-20 September 2026. The festival features a wide-reaching programme that spans multiple design districts, showcasing a mix of established international figures and emerging local talent. Among the most anticipated highlights of the 2026 edition are major projects hosted at the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum and a large-scale projection onto the iconic St. Paul’s Cathedral.
This year's festival interrogates the boundaries of design through a series of thought-provoking installations and collaborations. Notable works include 'The Pangolin Shield' and a unique immersive sound experience situated at the Wapping Hydraulic Power Station. The festival also highlights the intersection of traditional craft and modern design at Riverside creative hub Oxo Tower Wharf. During the event, the wharf’s resident designer-makers opened their studios to the public, allowing visitors to witness over 25 creatives at work in disciplines ranging from millinery and ceramics to weaving and leatherworking.
Beyond the central festival, the creative energy in London this month extends to the Southbank Centre, which hosted 'Creative Intelligence' from 11-13 September. This three-day takeover explored how digital innovation and AI are reshaping the artistic world through a series of performances, demos, and debates. Simultaneously, the 13th edition of Flux at the Bomb Factory in Marylebone featured 70 artists, further demonstrating the breadth of the city's current creative output. As the festival concludes, the focus shifts toward major autumn exhibitions, including Lawrence Abu Hamdan’s sonic justice takeover at the Barbican and the upcoming Van Eyck portrait exhibition at the National Gallery.
For local creatives, the festival provides a critical platform for visibility and networking, particularly through open-studio events at hubs like Oxo Tower Wharf and the intersection of AI and art at the Southbank Centre.
LoopEditions, our marketplace for buying original art, music and photography direct from independent creators, is at www.loopeditions.com. A machine-readable summary of this site is at /llms.txt.
This page needs JavaScript for the full experience. Read more about CreativLoop at www.creativloop.com.