Totally Thames Festival Unveils First Wave of 2026 Programming Across London

Totally Thames has revealed the first wave of programming for its 2026 festival, featuring large-scale public artworks, immersive performances, new writing and community events celebrating the River Thames. Highlights include a major installation by Turner Prize-nominated artist Catherine Yass, live performances aboard the historic SS Robin and site-specific works throughout London.

Totally Thames has announced the first wave of programming for its 2026 festival, unveiling a diverse lineup of site-specific installations, live performances, new writing, music, film and community engagement projects inspired by London's iconic river. The annual festival draws on the River Thames as a source of creativity, culture and connection, inviting audiences to engage with its ecological, historical and artistic significance. The Port of London Authority returns as the festival's principal sponsor.

Among the headline events is Turning the Tide, a major new public artwork from Turner Prize-nominated artist Catherine Yass, created in partnership with disabled-led theatre company Graeae. The free installation will transform the iconic disused Blackfriars Railway Bridge columns into a large-scale projection artwork celebrating disabled young actors and exploring themes of inclusion and urban resilience. The project recently received the prestigious Art Explora–Académie des beaux-arts European Award.

Other highlights include immersive performances aboard the historic SS Robin, a National Gallery collaboration transforming Brentford into an open-air exhibition space, a site-specific outdoor performance featuring the writings of artist and activist David Wojnarowicz, a reflective audio walk inspired by the experiences of coma survivors, and a showcase of emerging theatre voices presented aboard Theatreship in Canary Wharf.

"Totally Thames 2026 promises to be an epic year," said Thames Festival Trust Director Adrian Evans. "With an amazing site-specific installation on the orphan columns of the old Blackfriars Rail Bridge, an awesome immersive sound and light experience in SS Robin, exhibitions in new riverside public spaces, river races, regattas, foreshore clean-ups and mudlarking exhibitions, there is something for everyone."

Turning the Tide

Turner Prize-nominated artist Catherine Yass will present Turning the Tide from September 17-20. Created in partnership with Graeae Theatre Company, the free projected film installation will be displayed on the disused columns of Blackfriars Railway Bridge. Featuring disabled young actors performing original texts, the work aims to spark conversations around visibility, accessibility and public space.

Yass said the project was inspired by working with disabled young people and her daughter, who has cerebral palsy and is a member of Graeae Theatre's Young Company. "My hope is that Turning the Tide will go some way towards turning the tide on attitudes to disability, giving people confidence to show who they are."

Performance Information

Dates: September 17-20, 2026
Location: Blackfriars Railway Bridge, London
Admission: Free

River Recital Presents SS Robin

River Recital Presents SS Robin will transform the historic vessel at Trinity Buoy Wharf into an immersive environment of sound, moving image and live performance. The event features newly commissioned audiovisual installations by Clifford Sage, site-responsive works from Camberwell College of Arts' Computational Art Department and contributions from Ninon Ardisson and Mathis Saunier. Live performances on September 26 include Tara Lily, Chris Hyson, Carolina Cury, Thomas Stone and Narotam Horn.

Performance Information

Dates: September 26-27, 2026
Location: SS Robin, Trinity Buoy Wharf

Art on Your Doorstep – Creative Mile

As part of Brentford Art Trail weekend, Creative Mile and the National Gallery will present Art on Your Doorstep, transforming Brentford into an open-air exhibition featuring life-size reproductions from the National Gallery's collection. The Thames will serve as a backdrop for several installations, while schools and community groups will participate through photography, drawing and writing projects inspired by the collection.

Performance Information

Dates: September 4-6, 2026
Location: Brentford, London

The Waterfront Journals

Production company ONE DAY THIS KID will present The Waterfront Journals, a site-specific promenade performance featuring monologues by artist and activist David Wojnarowicz. Performed by three actors at Thames Barrier Park, the work explores queer histories, cruising culture, love, loss and resilience. The production is co-directed by Alex Lawther, Ellie Kendrick and Hugh Wyld.

Performance Information

Date: September 6, 2026
Location: Thames Barrier Park, London

Aftertide

Artist Seb Harcombe presents Aftertide, a site-responsive audio walk developed from testimonies of coma survivors at St Thomas' and Guy's Hospitals, including the artist's own experiences. Combining recorded voices, atmospheric soundscapes and music from Handel's Alceste, the work explores the liminal spaces between life and death while weaving together themes of recovery, memory and renewal.

Performance Information

Date: September 5, 2026
Location: Hermitage Moorings, London

Where the River Holds Us

At Two Temple Place, Helen Epega will present Where the River Holds Us, an immersive performance combining operatic voice and West African tambin flute. Inspired by the Thames as a living archive, the work explores water as a vessel for memory, ritual and belonging. The piece reflects Epega's interdisciplinary practice as a Black British neurodiverse artist and founder of The Venus Bushfires.

Performance Information

Dates: September 27-28, 2026
Location: Two Temple Place, London

Kick the Door Down Alumni Showcase

Kick the Door Down's alumni showcase will spotlight emerging theatre voices in an evening of new writing aboard Theatreship in Canary Wharf. Supported by Thames Festival Trust's Seed Funder programme and delivered in partnership with Riverside Studios, the event will feature five original works selected from 2024 and 2025 participants. Industry professionals from the Bush Theatre, Theatre503, Pleasance Theatre and Riverside Studios will provide feedback and mentorship opportunities.

Performance Information

Date: September 25, 2026
Location: Theatreship, Canary Wharf

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