Vaisakhi Festival — a celebration of Sikh and Punjabi culture —returns to Trafalgar Square in April 2026.
The festival marks the founding of the Sikh community, the Khalsa in 1699, making it one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar — celebrated in events worldwide.
London’s official Vaisakhi celebrations —on Saturday 18 April 2026 — take the form of a whole afternoon of free entertainment, open to everyone. Vaisakhi itself falls on Tuesday 14 April 2026.
In the spirit of Langar (the community kitchen of a gurdwara), free vegetarian treats and traditional Indian tea will be available to everyone. Beyond that, 2026 details haven’t been announced yet, but based on previous years, we’d expect to see live performances on the main stage, educational talks for anyone wanting to learn more about Vaisakhi, family activities for children, and perhaps turban-tying workshops or demonstrations of the intense Sikh martial art, Gatka, which uses wooden sticks (‘gatka’) in place of swords.
Vaisakhi on the Square festival 2026, Trafalgar Square, 18 April 2026, 12pm-6pm. It’s free to attend.
The following day, London’s free St George’s Day festival also takes place in Trafalgar Square.
