Vaisakhi on the Square 2026

Celebrate Vaisakhi with this wonderful mixture of music, spoken word and dynamic martial arts. Hosted by Dr Shani Dhanda and Beant Singh Dhillon. 

Join Chef Manpreet Singh, Chef Lorna Nanda-Gangotra and the team from Basic of Sikhi to learn about the wonderful traditions and principles of langar. 

Join the England and Wales Cricket Board, on bringing the excitement of cricket to the heart of the event. Visitors of all ages are invited to have a go with fun, accessible cricket activities designed to introduce the game and build confidence, whether you’re picking up a bat for the first time or brushing up your skills. Friendly coaches will be on hand to offer tips and encouragement, making this a welcoming, hands‑on experience that celebrates one of England’s most loved sports. 

Other activities on the square will also include: 

• Turban tying 
• What is Vaisakhi? 
• Children's activities  
• Arts marquee 

Traders and community 

• Fab.Fit - Empower Your Wellbeing 
• URBAN AKALI 
• British Transport Police Sikh Association 
• Defence Sikh Network 
• British Sikh Nurses 
• Jaskomal Foundation   
• Khalsa Aid  
• Kiran Kaur - KKreations  
• London Fire Brigade  
• ORVA 
• Smile360 
• Atam Academy 

Caterers 

• London Catering Services Ice Cream Van 
• Oh Babu 
• Spice Shack 

Join us for free vegetarian treats at our Langar marquee and enjoy traditional Indian tea, reflecting Sikh values of kindness, inclusivity, and community. 

We will do our best to make sure you feel welcome and enjoy our event. Our event staff and volunteers are here to help with any questions you might have. 

When you arrive, our stewards and Team London volunteers will greet you. Our Team London volunteers will be wearing purple high-visibility jackets and are ready to answer any questions. There will also be clear signs to help guide you around the event. Please note, we will conduct a bag search at the entrance for everyone attending. 

The event has a level access entrance, and it is wheelchair accessible.  All paths are accessible for wheelchair users and there is a lift that connects the North Terrace to the Main Square. Stewards will be there to help you find your way. Assistance dogs are welcome too. 

The festival can get busy. If being in crowds is difficult for you, you can use our accessible viewing area. It is located on the north terrace of Trafalgar Square. This area has hearing loop facilities for the performances on the main stage, and chairs are available for companions and anyone who needs to sit. If you would like to reserve a seat at the viewing area, please email us at [email protected] with your name and an estimated time of arrival. We will ask you to meet one of our volunteers at the accessible viewing area, and they will suport on the day.

All shows with speech on the main stage will have a British Sign Language interpreter. You can see this on the screen on the right side of the main stage. 

The event may be loud at times due to music and performances. If you need ear defenders, you can ask for them at our information point or speak to a volunteer for help. 

The event is relaxed. You can join or leave at any time and move around as you like. You do not need to be quiet. 

In addition to toilets, we will also have Mobiloo accessible toilet at the event. This toilet has a hoist and a changing table. If you need to use the hoist, please bring your own sling for safety and convenience. You can find more information on Mobiloo’s website: www.mobiloo.org.uk. 

If you need any help on the day with more information about the event, just ask one of our stewards or volunteers, and they will be happy to assist you. 

Trafalgar Square is easy to reach by public transport, including buses, the Tube, and national rail services. 

Tube

The nearest Underground station with step-free access from platform to street level is Westminster Station, which is served by the Jubilee, District, and Circle lines. From Westminster Station, it’s about a 10-minute walk to Trafalgar Square. 

Charing Cross Underground Station is the closest Tube station and is served by the Northern and Bakerloo lines. However, please note that this station does not have step-free access. 

Bus

Bus routes that stop close to Trafalgar Square include: 

Routes 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 15, 23, 87, 88, 91, 139, and 176, with most buses having wheelchair access. 

For accessible travel options, including step-free routes and Dial-A-Ride services, you can visit the TfL (Transport for London) website for maps and to plan your journey: tfl.gov.uk. 

National Rail 

The nearest railway station is Charing Cross. It is 325 metres away, approximately 3 minutes’ walk. Charing Cross rail station offers step-free access and a step-free route to Trafalgar Square. 

Accessible parking 

The surrounding area on Trafalgar Square can get very busy on the day of the event, so we recommend you take public transport if you're visiting the event. If you’re unable to take public transport for accessibility reasons, accessible parking is available near Trafalgar Square. 

There are Blue Badge parking spaces on St Martin’s Street, located next to the National Gallery. Please be aware that these spaces are around 250 metres from the National Gallery. There are three designated Blue Badge parking bays available here. 

For more information on parking, you can contact the Westminster Parking Information Service on 020 7823 4567. The helpline is open Monday to Saturday, from 8am to 8pm. To find other blue badge parking bays nearby, you can find disabled Blue Badge bays on the City of Westminster’s website using the postcode WC2N 5DN. 

Searching is a condition of entry to this event.
CCTV is operational in Trafalgar Square.
No bags larger than a standard A4 paper will be permitted, including shopping trolleys.
To help protect the safety and welfare of both visitors and staff, the following is a nonexclusive list of items that are prohibited from being brought into Trafalgar Square:

• All liquids
• Bladed items, including; pen knives, fixed bladed knives and scalpels*
• Offensive weapons e.g. tasers, etc.
• Imitation or toy weapons, including toy hand grenades and guns
• Items that could be readily converted into weapons
• Component parts of weapons
• Flares or fireworks
• Party poppers and party canons
• Helium filled balloons
• Strobe lights, high intensity torches and lasers
• Hazardous materials e.g. CS gas, pepper spray, gas canisters, acids and alkalis
• Spray paints or cans of paint
• Powders that are not personal prescription medicines or for cosmetic purposes
• Illegal drugs
• Pointed Scissors / pointed tweezers
• Knitting Needles
• Syringes (unless required for personal medical use)
• Placards, banners flags and flag poles
• Mobile phone jamming devices
• Full facial Masks
• Items that could cause loud audible disruption e.g. whistles, megaphones, sirens, air horns, large radios / cd players
• Covert surveillance and recording equipment
• Climbing and abseiling equipment
• Tools e.g. pliers, screwdrivers, wire cutters, saws, etc.
• Animals, other than assistance dogs
• Bottles containing liquid, water refill points are available within the Square
• Glass items
• Any items considered to be suspicious or unacceptable by security staff that the owner cannot provide a reasonable explanation for possessing.

Please also note that when full, we will operate a one in, one out policy.

*Ceremonial Kirpans will be granted an exemption for this event, where worn appropriately.