Welcome to Black History Month 2026
We’re delighted to support this programme, creating opportunities for people to come together, deepen their understanding, celebrate diversity, and honour the contributions that enrich our communities every day.
Honouring Our Communities: Black History Month 2026
We are proud and excited to support a varied programme of free events and activities taking place throughout October to mark Black History Month.
'Honouring Our Communities' is the national theme for Black History Month 2026, recognising the individuals, networks, and everyday contributions that shape and sustain Black communities and British life.
This year’s theme shines a light on the stories, achievements, and enduring legacy of Black communities, while recognising their continued impact on our workplaces, neighbourhoods, and society.
Black History Month is an important annual opportunity to come together to celebrate the immense contributions of people of African and Caribbean descent to British society.
We’re delighted to support this programme, creating opportunities for people to come together, deepen their understanding, celebrate diversity, and honour the contributions that enrich our communities every day.
And we invite people of all backgrounds to celebrate those individuals and communities in our borough, by participating in the many events taking place.
Activities include:
- Black Legacy Exchange: Honouring our Communities – community organisation Poplar Union will host an exhibition, open poetry night, an afro hair fayre, film afternoons, and other activities to celebrate culture, explore identity, build confidence, share inspiring stories and more.
- Sugar Towers: Legacy of Empire - Tommy Flowers Foundation will host interactive portrait workshops; and an exhibition of previously unseen archival photos showing industries at Leamouth including refining of sugar from the West Indies.
- Threads of Heritage – Numbi Arts will run a creative heritage programme including crochet and knitting workshops, family craft session and community celebration, and Somali craft workshop, celebrating Somali craft traditions and their contribution to the cultural fabric of Tower Hamlets.
- Through the Generations - Embracing Tower Hamlets Diasporians - Community organisation More Life Home will host intergenerational activities including storytelling, an art exhibition, hair braiding workshops and hub, and arts and crafts workshops showcasing community heroes past and present.
Lutfur Rahman, Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets
Councillor Minara Khatun, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism
If you are organising a Black History Month event in Tower Hamlets please add it to our listings.