Guides Vaisakhi 2027 Saturday 17 April Updated 25 Sep 2026
Vaisakhi on the Square is held on a Saturday near Vaisakhi itself, which falls on 14 April. In 2026 it was Saturday 18 April, so 2027 should be Saturday 17 April. City Hall confirms in the spring.
Vaisakhi on the Square 2027: free Sikh festival in Trafalgar Square
The Mayor's free Vaisakhi festival, midday to six in Trafalgar Square. Kirtan, gatka, talks and langar, and nothing to pay or book.
Free, in Trafalgar Square, midday to six. One of the Mayor’s square festivals, and among the most generous days out in London: there is no ticket, no queue worth the name, and you will be fed.
Vaisakhi marks the founding of the Khalsa in 1699 and is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar. The square festival is the public face of it, put on with London’s Sikh community rather than about them.
What is on
Kirtan, which is devotional music and the thing to arrive for. Gatka, the Sikh martial art, demonstrated with real weapons and considerable speed. Talks and exhibitions on Sikh history and on the Punjabi diaspora in Britain. Activities for children. And langar: free vegetarian food, served to anyone who turns up, which is a principle rather than a catering decision.
Getting there
Charing Cross is the closest and Leicester Square is barely further. The square is closed to traffic for the day. It is busiest between one and three and calmer at either end, and the stage programme runs throughout.
What to know before you go
Cover your head if you go into any part of the site set aside for prayer; scarves are usually available. It is alcohol free, as Sikh events are. It goes ahead in rain.
Dates and events for 2027 go in as venues confirm them. The guide above is what we know so far; it is rewritten as the list fills.
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What is on right now
All 2189 listingsThis guide is rewritten each year before the dates come round. For what is actually happening this week rather than what happens every year, the listings below are dated, checked against the venue and carry the venue's own link.
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Questions people ask
When is Vaisakhi in London 2027?
Expect Saturday 17 April 2027 in Trafalgar Square. Vaisakhi itself is 14 April and the festival is held on a nearby Saturday, so treat this as the pattern until City Hall confirms.
Is Vaisakhi on the Square free?
Completely. No ticket, no booking, and the langar food is free to anyone who turns up.
What time does it run?
Midday to six, with the stage programme running throughout. Busiest between one and three.
What is langar?
Free vegetarian food served to everyone regardless of background, which is a founding principle of Sikhism rather than a nice extra. You do not need to be Sikh to eat.
Can I take children?
Yes, there is a programme aimed at them. It is outdoors, free and alcohol free.
Every listing on this page is checked against the venue's own page and the page is rewritten each year, usually six to eight weeks before the dates. Times and prices can change on the night; the venue link on each event is the one to trust. How we choose what goes in.