Namaste Community
Sign inGet the app

Festival of lights

Diwali in London 2026

Diwali 2026: Sunday, 8 November 2026

Dates and venues checked against the organisers’ own pages on .

The biggest night of the Indian year: lamps, sweets, new clothes and fireworks. Abroad it is celebrated over the surrounding weekends, with one large public event in most big cities. Every Diwali event posted in and around London is below.

The biggest Diwali celebrations in London

Diwali on the Square

When
Sunday 25 October 2026, 1pm to 7pm
Where
Trafalgar Square, London
Entry
Free, no booking

The Mayor of London’s annual Diwali: music and dance on the main stage, family activities, market stalls and food from Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities.

Greater London Authority β†—

Diwali and Annakut at Neasden Temple

When
Diwali, Sunday 8 November, and Annakut (Hindu New Year), Monday 9 November 2026
Where
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Neasden, London

Thousands visit the mandir for Diwali and for Annakut the next day, when hundreds of vegetarian dishes are offered before the deities.

Diwali events in London14 listed

Where to celebrate Diwali in London

Diwali on the Square (25 October 2026) is the big free event; on the Diwali weekend Neasden, Wembley, Harrow, East Ham, Southall and Hounslow are where the community shops, eats and celebrates. The UK’s largest share of the listings above is in London.

Diwali in London is better with people near you

The Namaste Community app finds what is on around you in London and everywhere else β€” free.

  • Groups near youJoin the Indian community groups in your city β€” chat, plans and people who get it.
  • Events near youEvery festival, garba night and meetup, ranked by distance, with RSVP and reminders.
  • Buy and sellSarees, kurtas, furniture, kitchen things β€” from people a few streets away.
  • Rent near youRooms and flats from the community, with the person behind the listing one tap away.
Download on theApp StoreGet it onGoogle Play

What Diwali is

The biggest night of the Indian year: lamps, sweets, new clothes and fireworks. Abroad it is celebrated over the surrounding weekends, with one large public event in most big cities.

If it is your first one

  • Book restaurant tables two weeks ahead β€” the Diwali weekend fills every Indian restaurant in town.
  • Check local fireworks rules before buying any; most European towns restrict them to New Year.
  • Sweets (mithai) can be ordered from Indian grocers a week ahead; many deliver nationwide.
  • The big city events sell tickets in advance and sell out; children under a certain age are usually free.

Previous Diwali events in London

Most of these return every year with the same organisers.

Questions people ask

When is Diwali 2026 in London?
Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. In London the biggest public celebration is Diwali on the Square on 25 October.
Where is Diwali on the Square?
Trafalgar Square, London. Sunday 25 October 2026, 1pm to 7pm.
How much are tickets for Diwali on the Square?
Free, no booking β€” as published by the organisers (Greater London Authority).
What Diwali events are there in London?
14 Diwali events are listed on this page so far: Karwa Chauth & Diwali Bazaar; πŸͺ” Diwali On The Square – London; Mpla Diwali Party 2026; Early hour- Diwali at Ashburton Park (SEN-inclusive session).

Organising something?

Post it from the app under Events, wherever you are. It is free, a moderator checks it, and it appears here and to every member nearby. Running several a year? Email hello@namaste.community for a listing invite.