Windrush 2026
From a special guest DJ set from DJAG, to a trip down memory lane with the British Reggae Artists Famine Appeal, 2026’s Windrush Generations Festival was another year to remember…
DJAG at the Hackney Caribbean Elderly Organisation
Hackney Council hosted two distinct but equally powerful events to honour the legacy and contributions of the Windrush Generation in the UK on Windrush Day 2026 with celebrations kicking off at the HCEO in Stoke Newington. Viral DJ AG (Ashley Gordon), known for his massive social media following, played a curated session of iconic tracks selected by the lively elders.
Windrush Day Commissioner Rev Clive Foster also joined in on the fun after blessing the crowd and providing a powerful message of thanks for all the contributions of the Windrush Generation. Watch the live stream playback below!
Windrush Day at the Hackney Town Hall
In the evening, Hackney Town Hall hosted a dinner and dance where Windrush elders, activists, and artists, came together for an intergenerational event of music and storytelling. The Council’s new Windrush lead, Cllr Jacob Cable, was then serenaded with a rendition of Stevie Wonder’s ‘Happy Birthday’ to mark his 30th birthday while the new Speaker, Cllr Antoinette Fernandez, announced her charities as Justice4Windrush and The Claudia Jones Organisation.
Rising Tide’s songwriting project, led by Jermain Jackman and pupils from The Urswick School, revealed original songs and poems inspired by the 40th anniversary of the 1986 British Reggae Artists Famine Appeal (BRAFA) Shoreditch Park concert – Hackney’s answer to Live Aid – using oral histories collected from HCEO members.
The newly-knighted Sir Patrick Vernon led the annual one-minute silence, honouring those lost and reminding attendees of the ongoing fight for justice for those affected by the Windrush Home Office Scandal.
The evening finished with a spectacular reggae showcase, curated by BRAFA founder Leon Leiffer and included Winston Francis, Frenchie King, Junior Bailey, Amanda Judah, Khareem Jamal - (AKA Ken Kendricks) and Donna Hinds.
Rising Tide’s songwriting project, led by Jermain Jackman and pupils from The Urswick School.
Windrush Amplified Art Grant
Olivia Twist was selected as 2026’s Windrush Amplified Art recipient. Olivia will be working with young people from Forest Road Youth Hub (Young Hackney) over the summer holidays to create new artworks as well as members of the Hackney Pensioners Convention to design a series of special edition Freedom Pass holders.
Olivia’s final work will be inspired by these sessions as well as exploring Windrush-related items during her visits to The Hackney Archives and will be revealed in October.
Olivia Twist - 2026’s Windrush Amplified Art Grant recipient
David Corio’s BRAFA exhibition
BRAFA 40th Anniversary of the Shoreditch Park Concert
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the BRAFA Shoreditch Park Concert aka'Hackney's answer to Live Aid' in 1986, the work of photographer David Corio was exhibited to celebrate some of the legendary photos of that time.
The photos, along with a series of other reggae greats from Bob Marley to Dennis Brown, gave Hackney Picturehouse a royal reggae takeover who complemented the exhibition with a series of iconic Black British reggae films.
Ridley Road Windrush Market
Ridley Road market got involved in the celebrations by hosting a Windrush market on Sunday 21 June. From mask making, may-pole dancing with a Windrush twist and beautiful crafts made from Black-owned businesses, the day was a sunny day out for all the community.
Creative workshops and the Ridley Road Windrush Market