Riverside Sessions

For this summer's Riverside Terrace takeover, the Southbank Centre has handed over the reigns to the city's youth, with a packed lineup of weekend parties, performances and gigs on the Riverside Stage that have been curated by young people from across London.

The Riverside Sessions programme encourages everyone to express and reimagine what being and feeling young means and to embrace youth as a mindset, not as an age.

At Least We Can Reimagine
Thu 16 Jul from 6pm
The SORI Collective (Speaking Out, Reimagining Institutions), kicks off their weekend residency with a line-up of incredible improv-musicians, poets, music ensembles and radio stations to reimagine the future of the arts centre.

At Least We Have the Playground
Fri 17 Jul from 6pm
The Riverside Terrace is transformed into a playground where digital and analogue games meet, on the second evening of SORI Collective’s takeover.

At Least We Can Decide
Sat 18 Jul from 2pm
The SORI Collective residency continues with participatory workshops, open mic sessions, dance classes and battles.

At Least We Have the Pieces
Sun 19 Jul from 1pm
The SORI Collective takeover ends with an afternoon of art and a chance to make connections. They’re putting together a tasting menu of great, bite-sized art and presenting their vision of the future arts centre.

Kinetika Bloco x Tomorrow’s Warriors
Thu 23 Jul from 6pm
Two of London’s finest youth arts initiatives join forces to present an evening of live music under the stars.

Tomorrow's Warriors: July Thursday
Thu 30 Jul from 6pm
An evening of free entertainment by the pioneering youth jazz music nonprofit Tomorrow’s Warriors.

Sounds Like Chaos: Friday
Fri 31 Jul 2026, 6pm
Expect the unexpected as the radical youth art collective Sounds Like Chaos curates a free evening of chaotic entertainment.

Sounds Like Chaos: Saturday
Sat 1 Aug from 2pm
The diverse young collaborators from the south-east London radical art collective are back to curate another edition.

Femi Koleoso Presents Situation Dance
Sun 2 Aug from 1pm
Ezra Collective’s Femi Koleoso brings his musical love letter to London back to the Riverside Terrace for a free open-air party for all.

Tomorrow's Warriors: Extraordinary Summer Showcase
Sun 2 Aug from 4.30pm
Catch live music from the talented artists of Tomorrow’s Warriors, featuring some of the finest young jazz musicians on London’s bubbling scene right now.

Tomorrow’s Warriors: August Thursday
Thu 6 Aug from 6pm
The Tomorrow’s Warriors summertime residency continues on the Riverside Terrace with another evening of free fun.

Raw Materials: Friday
Fri 7 Aug from 6pm
Young creatives from the Brixton-based community music and creative arts charity curate an evening of free entertainment on the Riverside Terrace.

Bass in the Borough
Fri 7 Aug from 6.30pm
Join in a joyful celebration of music, youth and summer in the return of Kinetika Bloco’s dance bonanza.

Hekayyatna: Saturday
Sat 8 Aug from 2pm
The culture-driven production house Hekayyatna curates a line-up of free entertainment, aiming to build community through the power of storytelling.

Hekayyatna: Sunday
Sun 9 Aug from 1pm
Spend your Sunday afternoon by the river at this free event, curated by Hekayyatna, the production house which builds community through storytelling.

Tracks on Tap: Thursday
Thu 13 Aug from 6pm
The south London grassroots music community Tracks on Tap showcases rising talent in a vibrant, inclusive evening of music and community.

Boundless: Friday
Fri 14 Aug from 6pm
The Croydon-based youth performance collective Boundless curates an evening of free entertainment.

Kinetika Bloco Summer Showcase
Fri 14 Aug from 7pm
The young performers of Kinetika Bloco become the Vanguards for a summer of music that has bent genres, sparked new dance styles and forged new sounds.

ZooNation Youth Company: Saturday
Sat 15 Aug from 2pm
Curated by alumni of the famed hip-hop theatre company, this edition of the Riverside Sessions showcases up-and-coming performers.

ZooNation Youth Company: Sunday
Sun 16 Aug from 1pm
Spend the afternoon by the river watching some of the UK’s most exciting young hip-hop artists, curated by ZooNation Young Company Alumni.

Kinetika Bloco: Thursday
Thu 20 Aug from 6pm
Members of the south London creative collective curate another of the Riverside Sessions.

Raze Collective: Friday
Fri 21 Aug from 6pm
This edition of Riverside Sessions is curated by Raze Collective Young Producers, an artist-led LGBTQIA+ charity dedicated to the advancement of queer culture in the UK.

Arts Emergency: Saturday
Sat 22 Aug from 2pm
Young members of the grassroots movement curate a line-up of free comedy and more for this Saturday edition of the Riverside Sessions.

Arts Emergency: Sunday
Sun 23 Aug from 1pm
Finish your weekend in the best way possible with an afternoon of free, open-air comedy, curated by young mentees at Arts Emergency.

Heart n Soul’s Let It Be Awesome Party!
Sat 29 Aug, from 2pm
Come along for summer vibes and a big mix-up from Heart n Soul, with DJs, dancing and eclectic live music, free throughout the afternoon and evening.