Carnival, Gaia and a Closing Emin: London's Final Bank Holiday Weekend

Notting Hill Carnival is the fixed point of London's last August bank holiday, 28-31 August 2026, and Citizen Femme's roundup of 33 things to do sets out what runs alongside it. Family Day falls on Sunday, the better option for anyone bringing young children; groups without them can join either Sunday or Monday. More than 300 food stalls are promised, with jerk chicken, Trinidadian roti and Guyanese pepper pot.

Elsewhere: Tracey Emin's A Second Life closes at Tate Britain on 31 August, her largest exhibition to date, with over 100 mixed-media works spanning 40 years. All Points East continues in Victoria Park to 31 August, Tyler, The Creator headlining. On 30 August, Luke Jerram's seven-metre sculpture Gaia, built from NASA imagery, hangs above an orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall for one performance of classical and contemporary string music. The Greenwich+Docklands International Festival runs to 6 September across Greenwich, taking in circus and dance. Bharti Kher's new sculptures are at V&A South Kensington until 24 January 2027, free and untickabled by ticket. Chelsea's 606 Club, a 120-seat basement, has three nights of jazz.