Live weekends of sound
Enjoy free-to-attend weekends of live music and performance. With special curators like Jamz Supernova, Shy One, FLOHIO and more building the lineups, this is where sound lives and culture moves.
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The Music is Black Festival from East Bank
A celebration of sound, culture and community across an eight-month series of events. With four live festival weekends across the summer and a full programme of related events. Led by the artists, creators and collectives who built the legacy of Black British music and shape what’s next. From soundsystem culture to queer collectives. From Black women changing music to Afrofuturist artists driving it forward. Shaped by the stories, voices and movements that define it.
Head towards Sadler's Wells East to find the two outdoor stages, The Waterfront Stage and Mid Terrace, at Stratford Waterfront as well as The Dance Floor. Or use what3words:
- The Waterfront Stage: https://what3words.com/drives.active.snap
- Mid Terrace: https://what3words.com/junior.origin.intervals
- Sadler’s Wells East: https://what3words.com/float.given.noisy
Don't miss the rest of the programme
Alongside the festival weekends, you can also experience an eight-month programme of events with music, exhibitions, talks, film screenings, club nights, dance performances and digital content.
See the full line up
The Music is Black on the BBC
Running alongside the festival, The BBC has built a collection of digital content inspired by The Music is Black exhibition including curated playlists, archival footage, BBC Bitesize lessons and more.
Discover the collectionFrequently asked questions
What is The Music is Black Festival from East Bank?
The Music is Black Festival from East Bank is an eight-month series of events including four festival weekends with live music, dance and performance.
What dates are the live weekends?
The four live festival weekends are:
- The Music is Ours: 13-14 June
- Power & Respect: 11-12 July
- Queer Frequencies: 22-23 August
- Black to the Future: 12-13 September
What time are the live weekends on?
Saturdays | Join us from 12pm–midnight
- Live sets: 12–7pm
- The Dance Floor is Black at Sadler’s Wells East: 12pm–midnight
Sundays | Join us from 12–6pm
- Live sets: 12–5pm
- The Dance Floor is Black at Sadler’s Wells East: 12–6pm
Where are the live weekends?
Head towards Sadler's Wells East to find the two outdoor stages, The Waterfront Stage and Mid Terrace, at Stratford Waterfront as well as The Dance Floor. Or use what3words:
- The Waterfront Stage: https://what3words.com/drives.active.snap
- Mid Terrace: https://what3words.com/junior.origin.intervals
- Sadler’s Wells East: https://what3words.com/float.given.noisy
- BASSTONE PLAYGROUND at Carousel Room: https://what3words.com/limp.sticky.talent (13/14 June only)
Which venues are events taking place at?
The Music is Black Festival from East Bank events are taking place across Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park including at V&A East Museum and Storehouse, UCL East, Sadler’s Wells East and London College of Fashion, UAL. Please check the individual event to know exactly where your chosen event is taking place.
Is everything at The Music is Black Festival from East Bank free? Will I have to pay for anything?
Entrance to all activities including at live weekends are completely free. However, there is a charge for food and drinks purchased from any retailers or cafés or restaurants around the Park.
Do I need to pre-book a ticket for any events?
You do not need a ticket to come to a live festival weekend as these are completely free and unticketed.
However, for most other events throughout the festival, you will need to pre-book a free ticket. Click the link in each event page to book a free ticket.
Is the Festival family friendly?
Yes, The Music is Black Festival from East Bank is family friendly. Each festival weekend has family friendly activities such as Dance Floor sessions at Sadler’s Wells East.
How do I get to the Park?
The Park is very easy to get to with multiple train, tube and bus options available. Please see the Getting Here page for more information.
Where can I park for Blue Badge Parking?
There are blue badge car parking spaces at Copper Box Arena and London Aquatics Centre. Permits must be registered at reception on arrival at both these venues.
Alternatively, Westfield Stratford City has accessible parking spaces.
Is the event wheelchair friendly?
The live weekend event site is accessible for wheelchair users and has been designed to ensure level routes are provided across the whole Park. This includes The Dance Floor at Sadler’s Wells East.
For all other events, please refer to individual venue sites for confirmation on internal spaces.
What other accessibility provisions are there at the Festival?
The Park Mobility service supports visitors with a range of physical and visual access needs, with help from trained volunteer Park Champions. The service is based at the Information Point at Stratford Cross. Available services include buggies, mobility scooters, and wheelchairs. To book, contact Customer Services on 0800 0722 110.
Additionally, to support any Deaf or hard of hearing people, Mid Terrace on Sunday 14 June will be BSL Interpreted.
Where are there accessible toilets?
There are public toilets at Riverside East in the south Park and Timber Lodge in the north Park. Both have accessible toilets with Changing Places facilities with and there is an accessible toilet in the London Aquatics Centre located near the café in the reception area.
Sadler’s Wells East and V&A East Museum also have accessible toilet facilities.
For the live weekends, there will be an additional temporary accessible toilet installed behind Waterfront Stage next to Jikoni Cafe at V&A East.
Will there be toilets and baby changing facilities?
There are toilets at all venues with baby changing facilities.
For the live weekends only, there will be an additional temporary accessible toilet installed behind Waterfront Stage next to Jikoni Cafe at V&A East.
Will there be food and drinks available?
There are several local places to get refreshments during the Festival including: Tsujiri, Ginger & Mint, Draughts, Chilli Padi, Park Kitchen & Bar, Riverside East, Park Kiosks on Tessa Jowell Boulevard
For the live weekends, there will be a small number of pop up food retailers available including: Caribbean Food Hut, Park Kitchen & Bar and Café Jikoni.
Do I need to bring anything to the event?
No, just yourselves!
Remember to check the weather forecast before you leave the house and be prepared for a range of changeable weather conditions.
Will there be somewhere to store my personal belongings?
Storage will not be possible so please bring only essential items with you and keep them with you at all times.
Who should I contact if I've lost a personal belonging?
Please contact the venue that you were visiting directly for best chance of retrieval of lost property.
For items lost during the live weekends, contact Customer Services at customerservices@queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk who will check with the security team and Park Information Point.
Will there be photography and videography happening at the event?
Official photography and videography are taking place at The Music is Black Festival from East Bank. Images and footage may be used for marketing. If you have concerns about being photographed, please let the photographer know.
Festival Skills Programme
In partnership with London Legacy Development Corporation, East Bank is continuing its work with the Good Growth Hub, a creative industries skills and training centre based at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, to deliver the East Bank Creative Academy. The programme delivered by A New Direction supports children and young people across London to develop their creativity, shape culture, and access pathways into the sector.
As part of the Festival, the Academy will work with East Bank partners and local creative organisations to present a programme of careers events and masterclasses inspired by the festival themes. These sessions will connect young people with industry professionals, helping them build networks and gain first-hand insight into careers in the creative industries, alongside 16–20 commissioned freelance roles supporting pathways into employment. These roles will span social media and marketing, photography, content creation, event management and production, artist liaison, stage management, and sound and lighting.
Find out moreEast Bank partners
The Music is Black Festival is the first season of combined event programming from East Bank at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Inspired by V&A East Museum's inaugural exhibition 'The Music is Black: A British Story', the programming is led by East Bank partners V&A East, Sadler's Wells East, UCL, the BBC and London College of Fashion, UAL.
East Bank represents the biggest ever cultural investment by the Mayor of London; it is a powerhouse for creativity, innovation and learning, helping to support local young people into training and employment opportunities.
Bloomberg Connects is the official digital guide for East Bank and the East Bank Festival. Find all East Bank content with behind-the-scenes insights on the Bloomberg Connects app.
