The Music is Black Festival from East Bank at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is a major eight-month cultural season celebrating Black British music. Running between June and September 2026, the free open-air festival features four specially programmed summer weekends of live music and performance across multiple stages. Each weekend responds to a distinct theme: 'The Music is Ours', 'Power and Respect', 'Queer Frequencies', and 'Black to the Future'.
The initial weekend in June explored the roots of east London culture, specifically honouring the local Soundsystem legacy and the far-reaching impact of Grime. The July weekend shifts focus to amplify the vital contributions of Black women and non-binary individuals within the music industry. In August, 'Queer Frequencies' traces the evolution of Black Queer music culture from underground club spaces to global dancefloors. The final weekend in September explores themes of futurism and possibility, highlighting creatives who are actively pushing the boundaries of contemporary sound.
Beyond these live performances, the overarching eight-month celebration incorporates a wider programme of exhibitions, talks, and digital content developed alongside major cultural institutions like the BBC and V&A East.
You can find out more about the festival, including the full programme, here.