London’s free Brick Lane Curry Festival returns on 20 September

Brick Lane will become an open-air celebration of curry, music and East London culture on Sunday, 20 September. The free Brick Lane Curry Festival runs from noon until 7pm along Brick Lane, London E1, with activities aimed at residents, visitors and families.

Tower Hamlets Council is organising the festival with the Bangla Town Business Association and Brick Lane Community Forum. Visitors can register through Eventbrite for a free ticket and receive 20% off at participating restaurants across the weekend.

Curry stalls bring regional dishes into the street

Participating Brick Lane restaurants will serve regional and speciality dishes from street-side stalls. The programme also includes chef demonstrations, cultural showcases and festival-themed street art, placing the food traditions of East London’s Bangladeshi community at the centre of the day.

The meals sold by restaurants are described by the organisers as affordable rather than free. The published 20% restaurant discount is linked to Eventbrite registration and applies at participating venues across the festival weekend.

The event follows the festival’s return in 2025 after a nine-year break. Organisers say the revived celebration brought thousands of people to the area, supporting Brick Lane’s curry houses and other independent businesses while reconnecting the festival with Banglatown’s cultural identity.

A procession will open the festival

The day will begin with a colourful procession from the Allen Gardens and Buxton Street area through Brick Lane to the Brick Lane Arch. Floats, dancers, community groups and three large puppets created for the festival by Emergency Exit Arts will move through the route.

The procession line-up includes Chinese lion dancers, Taal Torongo, Showmi Das Dance Company, East London street-dance collective IMD Legion and Bollywood dance company Bolly Flex. Music and movement will continue beyond the parade, with DJs, dhol drummers and pop-up performances appearing along Brick Lane throughout the afternoon.

From noon until 7pm, the street entertainment programme will also feature the Bollywood Brass Band and students from Access Creative College.

Khiyo, Nish and Mumzy lead the live programme

Khiyo will headline the festival stage with a sound shaped by British and Bengali musical influences. British-Bangladeshi singer and rapper Nish and South Asian pop and R&B artist Mumzy are also listed among the principal performers.

The stage programme brings together several styles and generations. IMD Legion, Bolly Flex, Taal Torongo and Showmi Das Dance Company will perform alongside the Bollywood Brass Band, community acts, DJs and special guests. Osmani Soundz, associated with the UK Asian Underground scene, is among the featured artists.

The Chinese Association of Tower Hamlets will contribute traditional lion and dragon dancing. The programme combines Bengali music, Kathak, folk and contemporary dance with street performances rather than confining the activity to a single stage.

Tower Hamlets Executive Mayor Lutfur Rahman said the festival is intended to celebrate Brick Lane’s culinary heritage, bring communities together and support local businesses.

The Gaat gives families space to join in

The Gaat will operate as the festival’s family zone, offering free activities and hands-on cultural experiences. Visitors can try saree draping and lungi wrapping or take part in dance workshops led by IMD Legion and Bolly Flex.

Children’s activities include sports, games and bouncy castles. The zone is designed as a place where families can pause between the procession, stage programme, food stalls and performances around Brick Lane.

How to attend and claim the restaurant discount

The main festival day is Sunday, 20 September, from 12pm to 7pm on Brick Lane, London E1. Entry and the listed festival activities are free, while food sold by participating restaurants is charged separately.

Visitors can sign up through Eventbrite to register their place and obtain the advertised 20% discount at participating restaurants across the weekend. The organisers have not supplied specific transport or accessibility arrangements in the published event information.

Source: Tower Hamlets Council