Black History Month 2026 Brochure
Image Credit: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Photograph by Breitkopf and Hertel. incamerastock / Alamy.
Inside cover of BlackInk Issue 6 published by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH LEICESTER
Each Black History Month, Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage and partners across Leicester host a range of exciting activities that are designed to educate, inspire and entertain people of all ages. From exhibitions and workshops to talks and performances, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Black History Month in October shines a spotlight on the fantastic events and opportunities led by Black artists and practitioners year-round.
Theme
Each year focuses on a particular theme. In 2026, Black History Month Leicester is exploring the theme Black Classics. The theme celebrates Black-led work of the highest quality across art, music, film and literature that has stood the test of time. This year there is a rich programme of events taking place at venues across the city.
Eligibility Criteria for inclusion in the Black History Month 2026 listings
For an event to be included in the print brochure and the online listings, it must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Event must take place in October.
- Focus on the African and African Caribbean Diaspora.
- Feature at least 75% of event contributors/organisers with African and/or African Caribbean heritage, and the lead artist must be African or African Caribbean.
- Make specific reference to African and African Caribbean community, history and heritage, or a celebration of Black arts and culture.
- Take place in Leicester (or Leicestershire).
- Be open to and intended for the general public.
- Not discriminate against participants/audience members.
- Help foster intercultural understanding, pride and respect.
- Focus on high quality artistic programme, or community engagement.
Please note that if an event does not meet the eligibility criteria, it will not be included in the print brochure and online listings.
Black History Month Leicester 2026 Event Submissions
If you are planning an event in Leicester for Black History Month 2026, and would like your event to be included in the official Black History Month Leicester listings, website and marketing materials, you can submit your event below.
Event submissions for the Black History Month print brochure closed on Friday 12 June 2026 at 5pm.
You can still submit your events for inclusion in the online listings by clicking the button below.
Sankofa Seal
The Sankofa Seal has been created for Black History Month Leicester. The Sankofa Seal may only be used for officially sanctioned events, publications and materials related to Black History Month Leicester and year-round Black history events, subject to approval.
February 2026
Feb
11
11
February
2026
In the early twentieth century, Black communities in America had begun marking the February birthdays of social reformer and civil rights activist, Frederick Douglass and US president Abraham Lincoln as opportunities to celebrate emancipation and self-determination. In 1926, Carter G Woodson established Negro History Week, fuelled by what he saw...
October 2026
Oct
01
01
October
2026
Presented by Kainé Management and the Better Together Project with Leicester Museum and Art Gallery Kainé Management and the Better Together Project present an exhibition dedicated to the Windrush Generation who responded to the invitation to come and re-build Britain after the Second World War. Using oral histories, images and...
Oct
01
01
October
2026
Presented by Kainé Management with Leicester Museum and Art Gallery. Join Kainé Management in reminiscing about African Caribbean life in Britain in the decades following the Second World War. Inspired by a Murano glass fish ornament, by artist Wolde Selassie, members of the community share their memories of the precious...
Oct
01
01
October
2026
Classical music is a timeless and universal art form, transcending geographic and cultural boundaries. Although traditionally associated with the western canon, the richness of classical music is indebted to the diverse influences and contributions from the African and African Caribbean Diaspora. This symposium brings together leading artistic directors, composers and...
£35.00
Oct
01
01
October
2026
To launch Black History Month 2026, Black Classics in Concert is more than a mere showcase of musical excellence; it is a profound tribute to the cultural legacies and transformative contributions of the African and African Caribbean Diaspora. Join us for an exciting evening celebrating the music of Black composers...
£18.00 – £20.00
Oct
02
02
October
2026
2, 3, 16, 23, 30 October Presented by Opal22 Arts and Edutainment Join us for a heartwarming podcast series celebrating the rich traditions, stories and experiences that shape Black communities. In each episode, four guests gather around a shared meal, using food as a starting point for conversations about family...
Oct
03
03
October
2026
Presented by The Sewing Circle Presented by The Sewing Circle Trustees, where Caribbean heritage meets timeless African elegance. Join us for a beautiful evening of fashion, culture, creativity and community, as families take to the runway showcasing handcrafted garments and accessories created through The Sewing Circle. This special intergenerational celebration...
Oct
03
03
October
2026
Presented by Leicester Libraries In conversation with author and award-winning playwright, Mel Pennant and Lisa Smith, author of Jamaica Road. Hosted by broadcaster, Merisha Stevenson.
Oct
04
04
October
2026
Presented by Phoenix Leicester This fascinating documentary profiles Willie Mae ’Big Mama’ Thornton - a blues powerhouse who shook American music to its core. Towering in voice and presence, she made ‘Hound Dog’ a number one hit before Elvis ever sang it and her ferocious ‘Ball and Chain’ launched Janis...
Oct
05
05
October
2026
Presented by BAKUYARD A gentle one-hour soundbath-style performance with voice, live looping, meditative soundscapes, healingfrequency instruments and healing songs from artist Mellow Baku’s Afro-Trinidadian mixed lineage. Come relax, with an optional invitation to join a sound-offering libation honouring our ancestors for Black History Month. A restorative lunchtime space to release,...
Oct
07
07
October
2026
Reel Histories is a bold and compelling film programme for Black History Month 2026 that amplifies the cinematic legacies of Black communities across the globe. For 2026, the programme explores the theme of Black Classics with a collection of landmark narrative, documentary and short films by pioneering Black film makers...
£45.00
Oct
07
07
October
2026
Presented by the African Heritage Alliance and the Pamela Campbell-Morris Health Awareness Alliance As part of Black History Month, this flagship event celebrates African and Caribbean communities while addressing health inequalities. This year’s programme features health information, screenings, workshops, wellbeing activities and free health checks, alongside collaboration with NHS organisations...
Oct
07
07
October
2026
Playing Away Director: Horace Ové UK 1987, 1hr 40mins Genre: Comedy Certificate: 15 When a West Indian cricket team from Brixton are invited to play a charity game in a small English village, members of both teams have their reservations. A weekend in the country away from the inner city...
£8.00 – £10.00
Oct
08
08
October
2026
Presented by Word! and Renaissance One This creative session facilitated by curator and speaker Melanie Abrahams and supported by writers and performers/facilitators Michael Brome and Lydia Towsey will support participants to develop their speaking and writing skills and focus on the importance and the value of using literature and voice,...
Oct
08
08
October
2026
Presented by Word! and Renaissance One Join us for a Black History Month celebration featuring the poetry and wordplay of international poet Grace Nichols and special guests. Based on a Trinidadian cultural institution that happens around the Caribbean, Liming mashes up poetry and spoken word with carnival and encourages going...
Oct
10
10
October
2026
Presented by Curve Head to Curve for Black History Month Community Day, a FREE afternoon of culture, creativity and community. The day will feature local artists, creatives and practitioners of African and Caribbean heritage, celebrating the richness, diversity and impact of Black artistic practice. Enjoy live performances of spoken word,...
Oct
11
11
October
2026
Presented by LuvEntertainment COBO Comedy Shutdown proudly presents a Black History Month Special, returning to Leicester! Gather your friends and family for an unforgettable evening of uproarious laughter and celebration. The line-up features Gbemi Oladipo (ITV, BBC One), Travis Jay (Supacell), Nancy Macdonald (Vibrant, quick-witted rising comedy talent), Richard Blackwood...
Oct
13
13
October
2026
Presented by Curve A playful and interactive session for children aged 18 months – 5 years and their grown-ups. Led by Curve’s Creative Programmes Facilitator, Tamika Gore, who is a local creative whose work centres around imaginative storytelling, movement and joyful early years play. Focusing on the book Strong Like...
Oct
14
14
October
2026
Black Women Speak 14 October | 7.00pm The Passion of Remembrance Directors: Maureen Blackwood and Isaac Julien UK 1986, 82 minutes Genre: Drama Certificate: 15 Shifting between real and mystic landscapes, Blackwood and Julien create a visual mosaic to signify the complexity of the Black British experience and the often-overlooked...
£8.00 – £10.00
Oct
15
15
October
2026
Presented by The Y Theatre and Ebdon Management Aurie Styla is one of the most naturally charismatic and hilarious comedians around. Following his acclaimed 100+ date worldwide tour, he’s back on the road with his brand new show Maverick. Maverick looks at life from the end of The Aurator Tour...
Oct
15
15
October
2026
Presented by Leicester Jazz House A uniquely compelling performer with a voice that moves through all shades of feeling, Mellow Baku has spent two decades on stages across the UK and internationally. From solo to orchestra, from 20s jazz at Cadogan Hall to touring with Afro dub band Soothsayers, from...
Oct
16
16
October
2026
Presented by Curve Curve’s third successful BHM Scratch Night, a special evening celebrating creativity, culture, and community. Shining a spotlight on local theatre-makers and artists from African, Caribbean and African Latinx heritage and backgrounds, showcasing a diverse range of artforms and inspiring performances. Come and encounter some new emerging work,...
Oct
17
17
October
2026
Presented by Opal22 Arts and Edutainment with Leicester Museums and Galleries Windrush: The Legacy celebrates the lives, achievements and lasting contributions of Leicester’s Windrush Generation. Through powerful portraits by Denise Lensi, personal video testimonies and a recreated Windrush front room, visitors are invited to explore the stories of those who...
Oct
18
18
October
2026
Presented by Curve For over five decades, Lenny Henry has been telling stories—on stage, on screen and through a host of characters etched into our collective memory. Part stand-up, part storytelling and part conversation with himself (and with you), this new live show sees Lenny Henry return to the experiences...
Oct
21
21
October
2026
Presented by BAKUYARD A creative, hands-on playshop session exploring ancestry through music, altar making, sound offerings and the creation of art as ritual with Mellow Baku - anti-disciplinary artist, facilitator and space-maker. Discover the healing power of connection with ancestors, earth and cultural practices in a relaxed and welcoming space...
Oct
21
21
October
2026
Migration and Myth 21 October | 7.00pm Young Soul Rebels Director: Isaac Julien UK 1991, 105 minutes Genre: Drama Certificate: 15 Isaac Julien’s groundbreaking inner-city murder mystery explores London subcultures of the late 1970s. Pirate radio hosts Caz and Chris decide to investigate the death of their friend, who was...
£8.00 – £10.00
Oct
21
21
October
2026
Presented by the African Heritage Alliance For more than five centuries, people of African descent have experienced exploitation, displacement and systemic oppression shaped by the pursuit of power, wealth and control. While the language and methods may have changed, many argue that the structures underpinning inequality remain embedded within contemporary...
Oct
22
22
October
2026
In 2026, Leicester Museum and Art Gallery's reinvigorated collection of artworks and archival objects will go on display, including the recent acquisition of The Inimitable Mrs Morton, a portrait of Mrs Elvy Morton by Yvadney Davis, commissioned by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage for 100 Black Women Who...
£3.00 – £8.00
Oct
22
22
October
2026
Presented by Taylormade Studios (Logos x Mythos) + (Reason x Emotion) + (Reality x Fantasy) + (Science x Fiction) + (Afro x Futurism) + (Steam x Funk) = Virgo Multiverse; themes of intergalactic Diaspora explored through multimedia multidisciplinary melanated minds and movement combined with open source software and lo-fi hardware....
Oct
23
23
October
2026
Presented by 2Funky Arts 2Funky Arts showcases powerful new performances across a variety of art forms that are brave, honest, inspiring and deeply resonant. Crafted by up-and-coming Midlands artists of Black, African and Caribbean heritage, these works transform personal stories into compelling performance pieces that evoke raw emotion. “And Still...
Oct
27
27
October
2026
Presented by Curve Spend an evening with a master of the spoken word, BAFTA award-winning author, activist, performer and Sunday Times number one bestseller, Lemn Sissay OBE as he returns to the stage with this acclaimed show. With live readings from his books, Sissay will unravel some of the original...
Oct
28
28
October
2026
Presented by Kainé Management The Better Together Windrush Showcase is a vibrant, intergenerational celebration honouring the legacy, resilience and brilliance of the Windrush Generation. It brings together elders, young people, artists and local partners for a joy filled evening of presentations, songs, poetry and drama. We are committed to heritage...
Oct
28
28
October
2026
Archive and Intellect 28 October | 7.00pm The Stuart Hall Project: Revolution, politics, culture and the New Left experience Director: John Akomfrah UK 2013, 95 minutes Genre: Documentary Certificate: 12 This absorbing documentary from director John Akomfrah presents and intimate and engaging portrait of Stuart Hall, the Jamaican-born public intellectual...
£8.00 – £10.00
Oct
28
28
October
2026
Presented by Opal22 Arts and Edutainment Join us at Leicester Central Library for a free author talk with acclaimed writer Gerard Alfonzo Daley, featuring a reading from his award-winning novel The Book of Erin, followed by an audience Q&A. Set in seventeenth century Montserrat, The Book of Erin brings to...
Oct
30
30
October
2026
Presented by Phoenix Leicester The riotous new film from Boots Riley (Sorry to Bother You) sees a crew of professional shoplifters take aim at a cutthroat fashion maven in order to sell the Haute couture items on the streets. As one of the crew puts it, “It’s like community service”....
Oct
31
31
October
2026
Presented by The Overcome Group Join a group of African Caribbean women as they share, through prose and poetry, personal stories of resilience, identity and transformation. Drawing on lived experiences, the contributors reflect on overcoming significant life challenges while exploring themes of self-worth, belonging, African heritage and Black history. Celebrating...
