Forget Oasis at Wembley and Kylie at the O2 – much too mainstream, man.
True music aficionados know London’s underground scene is where the real beats are dropped in the metropolis.
In fact, the capital’s avant-garde music scene has never been quite as quirky or eclectic as it is at present.
So, if you’re keen to revive your inner mod, curious to know what kind of music is made when a Korean haegum meets a violin or witness a performance where the music is kept secret until the minutes before the first notes are struck, then read on.
We have 12 of the most offbeat and under-the-radar music festivals coming up in London in late 2025, early 2026 on our list.
Disclaimer: The information provided was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change. The festivals featured were selected based on their unique and offbeat characteristics.
1. K-Music Festival 2025 (1 October – 20 November 2025)
The twelfth edition of this celebration of Korean music promises to be its most boundary-pushing yet.
Expect a heady mix of fused genres, including experimental, classical, post-rock, traditional, ambient, and jazz.
Many of the acts will see Korean players paired with British artists to give a veritable fusion of East meets West.
Highlights will include a genre-bending collaboration between Okkyung Lee and Mark Fell, a mashup of post-rock JAMBINAI with the London Contemporary Orchestra, and the Korean trio Hilgeum accompanying British violinist Alice Zawadzki with their traditional stringed instruments.
Buy tickets here.
- Venues: Kings Place, Hall One, Barbican Hall, Purcell Room, Southbank Centre, Rich Mix, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Elgar Room, Royal Albert Hall.
- Times:
- Entry: Ticketed.
2. Pitchfork Music Festival London (4–8 November 2025)
‘Eclectic’ is probably the best way to describe this experimental music event organised by the online music magazine.
Everything from indie and rock to improvised jazz and orchestral music will be on offer over the four-day event.
The festival is all about boundary pushing and seeks to pursue a philosophy of playful genre fluidity and sound syncretism.
That means this year you’ll get to witness the weird and wonderful oddball pairing of Aussies King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard and the Covent Garden Sinfonia performing together at the Royal Albert Hall.
Buy tickets here.
- Venues: Royal Albert Hall, KOKO, Village Underground, EartH Hall, EartH Theatre, Roundhouse, Shacklewell Arms, The Victoria, Colour Factory, Fabric, The Barbican, Royal Festival Hall, ICA, Union Chapel, Café OTO, St Matthias Church, and 93 Feet East.
- Times: Varies per event.
- Entry: Ticketed; full lineup and schedule available on the website.
3. January Blues Festival (2 – 31 January 2026)
This month-long festival of Blues music is the perfect antidote to the frigid winter months.
Expect a mix of UK-based blues artists and international guests, and a diverse range of blues styles, too.
Over 30 shows with sets featuring everything from soulful acoustic tunes right through to electric blues-rock.
The 2026 edition’s headline acts will include Robben Ford, a Grammy-nominated American guitarist and Fantastic Negrito, a Grammy award winner three times.
Buy tickets here.
- Venue: 229, Great Portland Street, London, W1W 5PN.
- Time: 19:00–23:00.
- Entry: Ticketed; a month-long pass (£330) is also available, granting access to all the gigs.
- Nearest Tube: Great Portland Street Station.
4. Eavesdropping Festival (19-22 March 2026)
It doesn’t come more experimental than this four-day festival held each March in East London.
The organisers say the festival is a space for both artists and audiences to engage in ‘engaged listening’ and ‘fresh thinking and new sounds’.
Over the course of four evening events, each a double-bill, eight experimental performers will showcase their new works or works-in-progress in a hyper-intimate atmosphere.
The playbill is only announced on the night of the performance, so you won’t know what you’re in until just before the first notes are struck.
Tickets are not available yet. Sign up for ticket info here.
- Venue: Café OTO and Vortex Jazz Club in Dalston, East London.
- Entry: Ticketed.
- Nearest Train: Dalston Kingsland (overground).
5. London Symphony Orchestra – Contemporary Concert (13 January – 30 April 2026)
The LSO’s effort to popularise classical music continues with this four-month epic festival hosted at Barbican Centre and LSO St Luke’s.
Bringing together classics from the likes of Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, and Mahler (his unfinished tenth) with contemporary classical music, sometimes played at the same time.
The festival will see the world premiere of Finn Lotta Wennäkoski’s new work, Zelo, which is set to be given the treatment by the London Philharmonic Orchestra on March 25.
The concert might be new, but the themes it addresses are classic, as the work takes up themes from Sibelius’s epic choral symphony, Kullervo.
Buy tickets here.
- Venue: Barbican Centre, Silk St, Barbican, EC2Y 8DS.
- Time: Varies by performance. Events typically start at 19:00.
- Entry: Ticketed; tickets available via the Barbican Centre
- Nearest Tube: Barbican (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan lines).
- Website: barbican.org.uk.
6. Brick Lane Jazz Festival 2026 (24–26 April 2026)
Now in its fifth year, this East End jazz fest has always eschewed the big-name jazz players in favour of up-and-coming talent, and this year will be no different.
In fact, the organisers have already confirmed that one new up-and-coming artist will be added to its playbill in 2026 – English soul singer Nectar Woode – and more will follow in September.
While the organisers bill the event as a ‘jazz’ festival, that doesn’t do it justice – hip-hop, neo-soul, R&B, broken beat and electronic artists will be hosted across its twelve venues.
Buy tickets here.
- Venue: Several, including Rich Mix, Village Underground, and 93 Feet East.
- Times: Friday Pass (18:00–02:00). Weekend Pass (18:00–10:30).
- Entry: Ticketed.
- Nearest Tube: Liverpool Street (Central, Hammersmith & City, Circle lines.
- Website:bricklanejazzfestival.com.
7. Mods Mayday Festival (3 May 2026)
Dust off your old mohair suit and fire up the Vespa, because the mods are coming back to London in 2026.
This day festival celebrates all things mod, the 1970s subculture made famous by the film Quadraphenia.
The playlist will be a mix of ‘60s soul, ska, revival rock, and some foot-stompingly fun Northern Soul beats.
Highlights this year include performances by Steve White, legendary drummer with The Style Council and Paul Weller, and Fay Hallam.
Buy tickets here.
- Time: 15:00–23:00.
- Nearest Tube: Great Portland Street Station.
- Entry: Ticketed. Early bird tickets sold out.
- Venue: 229 Great Portland Street, London (opposite Great Portland Street Tube Station).
8. Wide Awake Festival (22 May 2026)
The festival in Lambeth is known for two things – its boundary-pushing music acts and the friendly atmosphere among attendees.
The day-long gig is one of the most eclectic you’ll find anywhere in London, with post-punk, indie, electronica and folk all well represented.
Along with its killer playlist, the organisers get the basics right – the layout of the stages minimises sound bleed, so you won’t get an earful from the stage next door as you enjoy the act you’ve come to see.
The Wide Awake is also known for giving up-and-coming acts a chance to get their feet wet on the big stage.
So, if you want to see the next big thing in indie music or punk, then it’s here you’ll likely see them before they hit the big time.
Tickets are not available yet.
- Venue: Brockwell Park, SE24 0NG.
- Time: 12:00–22:30.
- Entry: Ticketed; refundable deposit of £50
- Nearest Tube: Brixton (Victoria Line).
- Website: wideawakelondon.co.uk.
9. GALA Festival (22–24 May 2026)
Another festival celebrating a birthday – its tenth – the GALA in Peckham will be a jamboree of house, techno, and electronic music.
The line-up is yet to be confirmed, but you can expect a lively mix of live performances and DJ sets, spanning genres like house, techno, disco, and experimental electronic music
Buy tickets here.
- Venue: Peckham Rye Park, SE15 3UA.
- Times: Friday: 14:00–22:30; Saturday & Sunday: 11:30–22:30.
- Entry: Ticketed; 18+ only; Challenge 25 policy in effect.
- Nearest Tube: Peckham Rye (Overground & National Rail).
- Website: thisisgala.co.uk.
10. City Splash Festival (25 May 2025)
This day-long festival held over the May Day bank holiday in Brockwell Park bills itself as ‘home of culture’ in London.
Each year, over 30,000 people come together to experience the sounds of more than 60 international and UK-based artists.
The event showcases both big stars and rising talent; at its heart, it’s a colourful celebration of everything Afro-Caribbean.
The music is rooted in black and African culture, so you can expect to hear everything from Reggae and Dancehall to Jungle and Amapiano.
Buy tickets here.
- Venue: Brockwell Park, Norwood Road, London, SE24 9JU.
- Time: 12:00-22:00.
- Entry: Ticketed. General admission and VIP tickets are still available. Early bird tickets sold out.
- Nearest Tube: Herne Hill.
- Website: https://www.city-splash.com/.
11. Meltdown Festival (11-21 June 2026)
First launched in 1993, the Southbank-hosted festival is the longest-running in the world.
Each year, they invite someone prominent to host the event.
Past curators have included musical luminaries like David Bowie, Patti Smith, Nile Rodgers, and Grace Jones.
The festival is much more than just a music festival, offering immersive performances, collaborative projects, and multimedia installations that reflect the curator’s artistic vision.
Tickets are not available yet.
- Venue: Southbank Centre, SE1.
- Time:
- Entry: Ticketed; Southbank Centre members get early access
- Nearest Tube: Waterloo (Jubilee, Northern, Bakerloo, Waterloo & City lines).
- Website: co.uk/events/meltdown.
12. RALLY Festival (22 August 2026)
RALLY offers up a diverse lineup of alternative, electronic, and indie acts each year.
The musical genres are too many to mention, but we’ll give it a go – indie rock, electronica, alternative, pop, jazz, and spoken word.
The 2026 edition is expected to feature a mix of live performances and DJ sets, showcasing both established and emerging artists.
And the emphasis here is on grassroots action and DIY organisation – the local community hosts the event without the backing of big-name sponsors, so this is London at its salt-of-the-earth best.
Buy tickets here.
- Venue: Southwark Park, SE16.
- Time: Daytime (exact times not specified).
- Entry: Ticketed; entrance via Paradise Gates on the north side of the park.
- Nearest Tube: Bermondsey or Canada Water.
- Website: rallyrallyrally.co.uk.
Feel The Music
There has been a definite shift in the entertainment industry in recent years towards more immersive experiences, and the avant-garde music scene hasn’t been untouched by this trend.
This means the sounds are no longer simply blasted at gig-goers from stereo PA speakers but come at them from all angles in 3D.
Polygon Live LDN has been a leader here, and the 2026 event promises to be its most boundary-pushing and immersive to date. Featuring a hemispherical stage with a 12.1.4 spatial audio set-up, the production company’s events bathe attendees in a 360° sea of unrelenting sonic waves. – You can register your interest here.
Got more off-the-beaten-track music event tips? Spread the word and get featured on LBN magazine!
Author Profile
- Online Media & PR Strategist
- As the Chief of Marketing at the digital marketing agency ClickDo Ltd I blog regularly about technology, education, lifestyle, business and many more topics.
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