What’s on
A JOINERS HISTORY - Exhibition
Come celebrate the history and legacy of the Joiners Arms through an exhibition in Hackney’s newest Queer space, the Joiners Heart
We Don’t Know What This Is: An exhibition of sunrise gatherings
Please join us for the opening night of this exhibition of sunrise gatherings, with refreshments, good company and an immersive sound installation by Steve Boardman.
Hackney: An Incomplete History by photographer Neil Martinson
Images from 1976, 2024, 2025 and 2026 of the celebrated Annual Grimaldi Clowns service held in Hackney Churches in Dalston and Haggerston.
Hackney: An Incomplete History by photographer Neil Martinson
Fifty years apart how much has the nature of work and industry changed in Hackney? A series of portraits of people at work explores this question.
Hackney: An Incomplete History by photographer Neil Martinson
There is a long tradition of protest and resistance in Hackney. From nurses to teachers, from rat runs to low traffic neighbourhoods. Over fifty years how much has it changed?
Weekly Chinese PiXiu dance workshops (Sundays, Woodberry Down)
Join Jun Mo Generations to learn the PiXiu Dance. No previous experience is required. Families, young people, adults, and older residents are all welcome.
Weekly Chinese PiXiu dance workshops (Tuesdays, Hackney Central)
Join Jun Mo Generations to learn the PiXiu Dance. No previous experience is required and all ages are welcome.
60 Years of Carnival: Our Story
The exhibition celebrates the 60th anniversary of Notting Hill Carnival through Tropical Isles’ Carnival journey.
50 + dance in Hackney on Thursdays
A playful and dynamic movement /dance session aimed at moving with ease and little effort. There are few steps to follow, always with a great soundtrack.
Queer Recipes Archive
Explore how food carries stories of migration, labour, gender and power through live cooking, tasting and collective storytelling.
Creative Workshop inspired by Frida Kahlo Part 2
An exclusive workshop inspired by the icon Frida Kahlo for LGBTQIA+ people.
reIMAGINE: Art & Sound
Through art and live performance, children, young artists, musicians and professional creatives will share work inspired by their learnings of Hackney’s Black musical history and heroes.
Journey of Carnival
The untold story behind the feathers. A virbrant theatrical production expoloring the history and evolution of Carnival.
Travel through the streets of Europe to the vibrant traditions of Africa, the Caribbean and beyond.
People's Emergency Briefing: Community Screening
A special community screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing - an eye-opening 50-minute film bringing together nine leading UK scientists and experts to explain what’s happening with climate and nature, and what it means for everyday life in the UK. After the film there will be an open discussion about what it means for our community and what we can do locally.
Walk & Talk by Arcola Mental Health Company
Connect and create through a guided exploration of Hackney’s green spaces, followed by a creative writing workshop providing space for creative storytelling and reflection.
Changing Rooms: Celebrating Trans Domesticities
Come along to The Museum of the Homes day-to-night celebration as they open a new room display of A High-rise Flat in 2008, which highlights months of community research documenting trans stories, lives and homes in 2000s East London.
Hackney Italian Club
A free monthly Italian conversation club for learners, experienced and native speakers.
Poetry Lates An Evening of New Work by Kwadjo A. Baah and Jack Houston
Join Kwadjo A. Baah and Jack Houston for a laid-back evening of fresh poetry and new work.
Hackney: An Incomplete History by photographer Neil Martinson
Once a year the streets of Stamford Hill burst in a bonanza of colour and energy as the largest Charedi community Europe celebrate Purim.
Art Club with Studio 5: Pattern and Print
Join Hackney Libraries’ resident artists for a series of drop-in, practical art-making sessions where you learn and develop new skills, techniques and confidence!
GODDESS BUNNY
This event is a tribute evening dedicated to Goddess Bunny. With a test screening of the unreleased film Goddess Bunny Superstar (2026) and a special live performance by Midgitte Bardot.
The Untold Story of Authentic Hackney Sound Systems (Era 80s - 90s) — History in the Making
Bringing together pioneering voices from Hackney’s sound system history and a new generation of young creatives, to preserve, celebrate, and expand public understanding of Hackney’s rich sound system culture.
One Mother to Another - with Vick Hope and Laura Whitmore
Amnesty International presents One Mother to Another. Join Vick Hope, Laura Whitmore & guests for an evening of honest conversations, poetry and solidarity.
A Sound System Culture - Speaker Building Workshop
An introduction to sound system culture for young people including a lesson in building sound systems and the secrets behind creating a sound!
Africanus Rex
Africanus Rex is a theatrical production of a forgotten history charting how African leadership shaped Britain in Roman times.
Good Days: An Evening To Remember. World AIDS Days 2026
SMUT Press present a special evening of film and live performance at the Rio Cinema, Hackney, marking World AIDS Day on 1st December.
Hackney Comedy Experience with John Kearns
East London's all-star stand-up show features the alternative comedy circuit's biggest and best acts - live at EartH.
Double Edinburgh Comedy Award winner and Taskmaster star JOHN KEARNS headlines in December.
Plus TIM KEY, JESSICA FOSTEKEW, HUGE DAVIES and MOLLY MCGUINNESS.
Walk & Talk by Arcola Mental Health Company
Connect and create through a guided exploration of Hackney’s green spaces, followed by a creative writing workshop providing space for creative storytelling and reflection.
Chocolate Factory N16 Winter Open Studios
The Chocolate Factory N16 is a local Hackney favourite for discovering over 30 artists & makers in their studios, showcasing ceramics, textiles, painting, photography and much more.
A Sound System Culture - Speaker Building Workshop
An introduction to sound system culture for young people including a lesson in building sound systems and the secrets behind creating a sound!
Art Club with Studio 5: Gift and Decoration
Join Hackney Libraries’ resident artists for a series of drop-in, practical art-making sessions where you learn and develop new skills, techniques and confidence!
Walk & Talk by Arcola Mental Health Company
Connect and create through a guided exploration of Hackney’s green spaces, followed by a creative writing workshop providing space for creative storytelling and reflection.
Hackney Chinese New Year 2027
Join us for a vibrant community celebration of Chinese New Year 2027, featuring colourful costumes, live music and performances of the PiXiu dance. Led by Jun Mo Generations.
Radical Roots: Hackney LGTBQ+ Theatre Histories: Son of a Gun
Join Unfinished Histories as it continues its project of rediscovering lost LGBTQ+ theatre histories through the staged readings of two plays.
Film screening of DAO, the Berlinale 2026 film, by Alain Gomis.
Join us for DAO, the Berlinale 2026 film by Alain Gomis, at the Rio Cinema, followed by a Q&A with lead actress D’Johé Kouadio. A family scattered across continents reunites for a wedding in Paris and a farewell in Guinea-Bissau: a film about migration, identity and legacy. For film lovers and anyone with roots between cultures. A three-hour film in French, Wolof, Manjak and Portuguese Creole, with English subtitles. African/traditional dress welcome! Contains scenes of animal slaughter.
ROOTS, ROUTES & RHYTHM: ECHOES OF ALL NATIONS
An unforgettable celebration honouring Bob Elliott of the legendary All Nations Club
BOOK LAUNCH: ‘BIG MAN’ BY DEAN ATTA
Join Dean Atta on his birthday to celebrate the launch of his literary fiction debut ‘Big Man’.
Make a Dutch Windmill
Get creative and use paper cups to create your very own spinning windmill, inspired by mills in the Netherlands.
Little Mask Makers
Join Little Mask Makers for a fun, hands-on workshop where children explore African art while crafting their own colourful, wearable masks to take home!
Family Film Screening
Join us for a family film afternoon! These special screenings promise fun for all ages.
Autumn Crafts
Celebrate the changing seasons by joining us for a fun, hands-on Autumn Craft session! Best for ages 5+.
Stories & Rhymes
Join in with a fun, interactive session with books and songs for babies, toddlers and their adults. This week our stories will celebrate Black History Month. Older siblings are welcome for our half-term special.
Halloween Craft
It's Halloween time, so come along and get creative with our spooky craft session!
The State We're In - Black People in Post-war British Social History.
The inaugural Professor Gus John lecture, led by Professor Gus John himself. As part of Black History Season in Hackney.
Family Film Screening
Join us for a family film afternoon! These special screenings promise fun for all ages.
Musical Storyland LIVE with BBC Symphony Orchestra
Join us at Dalston CLR James Library for free, live and interactive performances featuring stories from Musical Storyland
Musical Storyland LIVE with BBC Symphony Orchestra
Join us at Dalston CLR James Library for free, live and interactive performances featuring stories from Musical Storyland
Caribbean & African Storytelling
Storytelling is a vital part of how Black histories are pasted down from generations. This Black History Month we will narrate traditional stories from Caribbean folklore.
The Stories that Bring us Together
Join us for an interactive storytelling session and make friends with children of all ages.
Jacob Lawrence-Inspired Cityscape Craft
Join in the fun and create your own cityscape using techniques inspired by African-American painter Jacob Lawrence.
Stories & Rhymes
Join in with a fun, interactive session with books and songs for babies, toddlers and their adults. This week our stories will celebrate Black History Month. Older siblings are welcome for our half-term special.
Who is your Hero?
Join us for an interactive creative writing session. Where participants will have the opportunity to celebrate the people who inspire them most.
Make a Green Library
Join us to make our own libraries from reused paper and card! We can think about what libraries of the future will look like, and everything that they will hold, together.
Jacob Lawrence-Inspired Cityscape Craft
Join in the fun and create your own cityscape using techniques inspired by African-American painter Jacob Lawrence.
Create Hackney flag bunting
How would you represent Hackney? Create your own flag for our borough and help make a bunting of all the different designs. All ages welcome.
Poetry Slam!
Step into the spotlight and release your inner poet at our interactive Poetry Slam session! Best for ages 8+.
Make an Autumnal Tree
Make a beautiful autumn tree, inspired by African-style patterns and traditional motifs.
Storytelling Circle
Join us for an interactive storytelling session and make friends with children of all ages.
Make a handheld paper fan
Come and design your own beautiful handheld fan to celebrate Black History Month. All ages welcome.
Make your own superhero
Come along and spend an exciting afternoon crafting your very own unique superhero! All ages welcome.
Stories & Rhymes
Join in with a fun, interactive session with books and songs for babies, toddlers and their adults. This week our stories will celebrate Black History Month. Older siblings are welcome for our half-term special.
Make your own superhero
Unleash your creativity at our "Make Your Own Superhero" craft event! Come along and spend an exciting hour crafting your very own unique superhero.
Stories & Rhymes
Join in with a fun, interactive session with books and songs for babies, toddlers and their adults. This week our stories will celebrate Black History Month. Older siblings are welcome for our half-term special.
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