What's on in London December 2026
Looking for what's on in London December 2026? This page gathers the city's cultural highlights into one place — exhibitions, theatre, concerts, cinema and family activities — so you can decide what to do without trawling a dozen sites.
We list each event's venue and neighbourhood, its dates and how to book, and order the page so our editors' picks and the most notable events appear first. It's the quickest way to turn "I'm free December 2026" into a plan, whether you want a big night out or a quiet afternoon with a free exhibition.
Browse everything on December 2026 below and follow any listing for full details. Prefer to narrow things down? Jump into exhibitions, theatre, concerts or films, or see what's free this week.
All events December 2026
Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style
10/04/2026 - 18/04/2027
Check website
King's Gallery, Buckingham Palace
Tim Walker's Fairyland: Love and Legends - FREE
08/10/2026 - 07/02/2027
Daily 10:30-18:00; Fri-Sat until 21:00
National Portrait Gallery
The Playboy of the Western World
28/02/2026 - 04/12/2026
Mon-Sat 19:30 (+ 14:30 Thu & Sat)
National Theatre (Lyttleton)
Sabine Moritz
07/10/2026 - 20/12/2026
Generally daily 10:00-17:00, but check for closures
Garden Museum
Healing Spaces: Healthcare Design Past, Present and Future
18/11/2025 - 31/12/2026
Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00
Florence Nightingale MuseumJean ProuvéMaison Démontable
16/05/2026 - 31/12/2026
Tue-Sat: 10:00-18:00; Sun: 11:00-17:00
Carpenters Workshop Gallery LondonPinocchio
28/11/2026 - 03/01/2027
Various times: 18:30 / 17:30; matinees 14:30 / 13:30
Shakespeare's GlobeThe Wind in the Willows
25/11/2026 - 03/01/2027
Various times: 11:00, 11:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 17:30, 18:30, 19:00 (see booking page)
Rose Theatre
Matilda The Musical
20/05/2025 - 17/01/2027
Tue-Fri 19:00; Wed & Sat 14:00; Sun 15:00
Cambridge TheatreHokusai: Thirty-six views of Mt. Fuji from the Iuchi Collection
20/10/2026 - 17/01/2027
Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00
Dulwich Picture GalleryPainting the French Riviera
02/10/2026 - 31/01/2027
Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00 (Fri 21:00)
Royal Academy of ArtsCharlie Mackesy: The Boy, the Fox, the Mole, the Horse... And You
03/11/2026 - 07/02/2027
Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00
Dulwich Picture GalleryShonibare and Gainsborough: A Conversation - FREE
15/10/2026 - 07/02/2027
Daily 10:00-18:00; Fri until 21:00
National GalleryLight and Magic The Birth of Art Photography
08/10/2026 - 14/02/2027
Daily 10:00-18:00 (Fri & Sat 22:00)
Tate ModernPeggy Guggenheim in London
21/11/2026 - 14/03/2027
Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00 (Fri 21:00)
Royal Academy of ArtsGoavve-Geabbil: Hyundai Commission 2026
26/10/2026 - 27/03/2027
Daily 10:00-18:00 (Fri, Sat 22:00)
Tate Modern
Agatha Christie
30/10/2026 - 20/06/2027
Mon-Sat 09:30-20:00 (Fri 18:30, Sat 17:00); Sun 11:00-17:00
British LibraryHarry Potter and the Cursed Child - One Part
09/10/2026 - 27/06/2027
Tue 19:00; Wed & Sat 13:00, 19:00; Thu-Fri 19:00; Sun 14:30 (doors ~30m before)
Palace Theatre
Yeh Dosti : Celebrating 5 Decades Of Sholay & The Legacy Of Dharmendra
09/08/2026
19:00
Leicester Square TheatreFrequently asked questions
What's on in London December 2026?
The list above shows cultural events across London December 2026 — exhibitions, shows, concerts and cinema — updated day by day, with our picks first.
What free events are on December 2026?
London has free culture on every day of the week. See our free things to do page for everything on with no ticket required.
Can I find events suitable for children?
Yes — our for-kids page collects family-friendly events and activities across London, with dedicated round-ups during half-term and the school holidays.
How accurate are these dates and times?
Listings are refreshed continuously and all dates and times are shown in London time, so what you see reflects what's actually on.