British-Bangladeshi artist Nish was one of the acts who took to the main stage during the festival.
More than 40,000 people visited Brick Lane on Sunday 20 September as the Brick Lane Curry Festival returned with its biggest event yet. Residents and visitors enjoyed a day of food, music, culture and community celebrations in the heart of Banglatown.
The festival built on its successful return in 2025 after a nine-year break, attracting larger crowds and increased support from local businesses.
Bookings for the festival more than doubled compared with last year, highlighting the growing popularity of the event and Brick Lane's rich cultural offer. Tower Hamlets is home to the UK's largest Bangladeshi community, and the festival celebrated the generations of people whose cultures, traditions, businesses and creativity have helped shape Brick Lane into one of London's most distinctive destinations.
The event formed part of our Love Tower Hamlets campaign, which celebrates local communities, supports placemaking and helps attract visitors and investment to the borough.
A day of music, culture and entertainment
The celebrations began with a colourful procession through Brick Lane featuring dancers, dhol drummers, traditional Chinese lion dancers and three giant puppets created by arts organisation Emergency Exit Arts.
A new permanent festival stage hosted live performances throughout the day, with British-Bangladeshi artists Khiyo, Nish and Mumzy Stranger performing alongside IMD Legion, DJ Naz feat. Bolly Flex and Drumline, Taal Torongo, Showmi Das Dance Company and the Bollywood Brass Band.
Naz Choudhury (DJ Naz) said:
“Performing in Brick Lane is always a great honour for me. It's where I was born and started my career.
“I just want to say a big thank you to Tower Hamlets and all the local councillors for giving me this opportunity, and a big shout out to my amazing team, the Bolly Flex dancers and Drumline drummers.
“Thank you to everyone who came to watch and joined my Dancing DJ party.”
Families enjoyed a range of free activities at The Gaat, including saree draping, lungi wrapping, dance workshops, sports, games and bouncy castles.
Food at the heart of the festival
Local restaurants played a central role in the celebrations. Each participating restaurant offered a signature dish selected especially for the festival, alongside 20 per cent discounts for visitors. Restaurants and independent food businesses served regional and speciality dishes throughout the day, showcasing the area's diverse culinary heritage.
The festival also featured three times as many market stalls as last year. Traders sold street food, fashion, drinks, jewellery and other products, supporting independent businesses from across the borough.
Lutfur Rahman, Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets Council, said:
“The Brick Lane Curry Festival has once again shown the incredible energy, culture and community that make Brick Lane and Banglatown so special.
“It's fantastic to see so many residents and visitors coming together to enjoy the food, music and entertainment, while supporting the local restaurants and independent businesses that are such an important part of our borough.
“The increase in demand for this year's festival shows just how much people value this celebration of our shared heritage, and I want to thank everyone who helped make it such a memorable day.”
Guljar Khan, Chairman of the Bangla Town Business Association, said:
“This year's festival was a fantastic celebration of Brick Lane, Banglatown and the incredible curry houses that have made this area famous around the world.
“Seeing the street filled with people enjoying our food, music and culture was a hugely proud moment for our local traders. The festival gives our businesses a chance to welcome new customers, showcase what we have to offer and celebrate the heritage that makes Brick Lane unique. I want to extend our thanks to everyone who worked on putting this event together, and to our event sponsors for their generous support.”
Yasmin Haque, Secretary of Brick Lane Community Forum, said:
“Brick Lane Community Forum is proud to have helped bring this year's Curry Festival to life. The response from the community and visitors has been fantastic, and we hope the festival will continue to grow as one of the major events celebrating Banglatown and its heritage.”
The festival was organised by Tower Hamlets Council, the Bangla Town Business Association and Brick Lane Community Forum, with support from local sponsors, businesses, performers, community groups and volunteers.Its continued success highlights Brick Lane's enduring appeal as a place to eat, shop, visit and experience the rich cultural heritage of the East End.
Posted on Tuesday 22nd September 2026