Wandsworth and Haringey to hold 'London Borough of Culture' title and receive £1.35m for cultural events

Wandsworth and Haringey will hold the title of 'London Borough of Culture' in 2025 and 2027 respectively.

London Borough of Culture is an initiative from the mayor of London to “illuminate the character and diversity” of a particular London borough each year.

Each borough will receive £1.35m to deliver a year of creative and cultural activities, providing opportunities for young people as well as access to new training and jobs, while "celebrating local communities and showcasing London’s diversity".

In 2025 Wandsworth’s celebrations will include a Strictly Wandsworth mass dance, a catwalk celebration of local stories, and a concert celebrating 50 years of Wandsworth music.

In 2027 Haringey will celebrate the borough’s "rebellious" past and present, and honour Haringey’s working-class history, LGBTQI+ community, and music. It will include a free family festival, a fashion and design show, and a concert.  

Barnet, Merton and Greenwich were named as Cultural Impact Award winners, and they will receive up to £200,000 to deliver smaller scale creative projects within their communities. 

The London Borough of Culture award was first launched in 2017 with previous winners including Waltham Forest, Brent, Lewisham and Croydon.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Cultural programmes like the London Borough of Culture form a crucial part of our work to provide positive opportunities for young people, who have seen youth clubs taken away from them due to more than a decade of Government cuts. 

“We’ve seen the difference that it’s made in Waltham Forest, Brent, Lewisham and Croydon, and I’m excited to see Wandsworth and Haringey’s fantastic ideas come to life as we build a better London for all.” 

Cllr Simon Hogg, leader of Wandsworth Council, said: “Wandsworth is a fantastic place to live. Our strong, diverse communities represent the best of modern Britain. Our year as London Borough of Culture will supercharge our already vibrant, diverse sector made up of world class institutions and grassroots talent.

 “A massive thank you to the hundreds of community organisations, creative venues, schools, businesses and residents of all ages who helped shape our bid. This is brilliant news for our borough.”

Cllr Peray Ahmet, leader of Haringey Council, said: “We are delighted to have been successful in our bid to be London Borough of Culture with a focus on Haringey’s rich and diverse heritage as a ‘rebel borough’. We look forward to using this fantastic opportunity to celebrate our radical heritage and the vibrant, dynamic and diverse place we are today.”