Written by Clara
Looking to enrich the February 2026 half term with arts and activities in London? Look no further than the Southbank Centre’s Imagine, which promises to be “a festival of fun and creativity for every family”.
2026 is a big year for the Southbank Centre as it celebrates its 75th anniversary, and Imagine is the first festival of the celebrations. The festival runs from Wednesday, 11 February 2026 to Saturday, 21 February 2026.
Feeling spontaneous? Alongside ticketed events across Southbank Centre’s various venues large and small, there are also free events that families can join on a walk-in basis – details below.
It’s easy to feel spoilt for choice, so read on for our highlights!
Music and movement
- WordPlay (Ongoing events from November 2025; free – no ticket required; separate events for ages 0 to 2 and ages 3 to 5) is a space for play, music and connection that features new music especially written for the event.
- Early Weaves (Wednesday, 11 February; free – no ticket required; recommended for ages 2 to 5) is an exploration of sound and movement and an invitation to play, featuring willow as a weaving material.
- Wonder Gig (Thursday, 12 February; free – no ticket required; recommended for ages 0 to 5) encourages everyone to dance, move and sing along to acoustic covers, and a play facilitator will be present to support child-led play.
- Toasty Tots (Friday, 13 February; free – no ticket required; recommended for ages 0 to 5) is an inclusive, joyful hangout for families and children to “vibe, dance and unwind together”.
- The Show for Young Men (Friday, 13 February to Sunday, 15 February; tickets from £16 + booking fee; recommended for ages 8+) is a dance performance that – through humour – explores how ideas of masculinity affect boys and men, as well as highlights their capacities for care, friendship and vulnerability.
- Pop-up Parkour with Ascension (Tuesday, 17 February to Thursday, 19 February; tickets from £24 + booking fee; for ages 7 to 11 only) is an introductory workshop on parkour and freerunning, which involves climbing, vaulting and jumping, and developing confidence and self-expression, run by qualified coaches.
Energy and celebration
- Lip Sync Brawl (Saturday, 14 February 2026; free – no ticket required; recommended for ages 5 to 11) is a high energy event where the audience will decide who becomes the lip sync champion, followed by a dance party to celebrate.
- Bollyqueer’s Big Boogie (Sunday, 15 February 2026; free – no ticket required; recommended for ages 5+) is a Bollywood dance celebration for the whole family that embraces self-expression.
- ZooNation’s Hip-Hop Half Term (Friday, 20 February; free – no ticket required; recommended for ages 5+) is a great day out for trying out new dance moves, watching talented young dancers perform, and competing to win a dance showdown.
Curiosity and learning
- Architecture Explorers: Family Trail (Friday, 13 February to Friday, 20 February except Monday, 16 February; free – no ticket required; recommended for ages 5+) is a journey to discover the architecture and hidden details of the Southbank Centre,perfect for curious explorers.
- The Sleepover Club (Sunday, 15 February; tickets from £82 + booking fee; for ages 7 to 11 only and must have accompanying adult) is an overnight camping experience in the Royal Festival Hall, which includes a talk by bestselling children’s author Jacqueline Wilson (also available as a standalone event) and themed activities to discover stories.
- Horrible Histories: The Concert (Tuesday, 17 February 2026; tickets from £18 + booking fee; recommended for ages 5+) features actors from the award-winning Horrible Histories television series alongside a live band and would be an absolute treat for fans of the series.
- Quentin Blake’s Mrs Armitage on Wheels (Wednesday, 18 February to Saturday, 21 February; tickets from £22 + booking fee; recommended for ages 3 to 8) is a musical based on BBC animated series Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures, bringing the eccentric Mrs Armitage and her dog Breakspear to life through music and puppetry.
- A Day at the Zoo (Thursday, 19 February; free – no ticket required; recommended for ages 5+) is a show for animal lovers created with the Zoological Society London and featuring music, story and song.
Creativity and expression
- Giant Chalkboard (Friday, 13 February to Saturday, 21 February except Monday, 16 February; free – no ticket required; recommended for all ages) invites children to express themselves through doodling and drawing using chalk on a large canvas laid out in the Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer.
- Dream, Design, Do! (Tuesday, 17 February; free – no ticket required; recommended for ages 5+) provides materials and guidance for families to get crafting and create something special or simply explore hands-on art.
Relax and unwind
- Fields of Tender (Wednesday, 11 February to Thursday, 12 February; tickets from £22 + booking fee; recommended for ages 6 months to 2 years) aims to create enchantment and relaxation through dance, music, sounds, and interactive video and to cater to all senses.
- Moving Sound Bath (Sunday, 15 February to Thursday, 19 February; free – no ticket required; recommended for ages 5+) is an opportunity for calm and connection to yourself, set to soothing sounds.
- Big Laughs for Little Bellies (Wednesday, 18 February; free – no ticket required; recommended for ages 5+) is a comedy show aimed at children, where families can unwind through laughter.
Imagine at the Southbank Centre in London runs from Wednesday, 11 February to Saturday, 21 February 2026. The full programme can be found at:
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/events/imagine/
Post a Comment