Southampton’s biggest free arts celebration is back, and this year’s line-up might be the best yet. Art Asia has just announced the full programme for the Southampton Mela Festival 2026, taking place across two days in Hoglands Park — Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 July. It’s completely free and open to everyone.
Now firmly established as one of the South of England’s most beloved multicultural events, the Mela brings together world-class performances, hands-on arts workshops, incredible food from around the globe, street entertainment, and a real sense of community spirit right in the heart of the city.
A Festival With Two Distinct Personalities
Here’s the twist: each day of the Mela offers something completely different, so it’s genuinely worth coming back for both. Saturday runs from 12pm to 10pm, while Sunday is a slightly shorter but no less packed afternoon of culture and family fun from 12pm to 8pm.
Art Asia Chief Executive Dahlia Jamil says the festival is about far more than entertainment;
Southampton’s Art Asia Mela Festival is a flagship celebration of the city’s diversity, it’s an event that brings together thousands of residents from every background to share music, food, dance, heritage, and the joy of being part of a connected city. The Southampton Mela is a tapestry – threads of South Asian heritage woven with the vibrant diversity of the city where dragons meet the night jar and where the rhythms from Asia ,Africa. Europe and America become one. It is a place where everyone is invited to take part, to celebrate, to learn, and to belong. Whether you come for the music, the workshops, the food, or simply the joy of being together, you become part of the story.
At Art Asia Trust, nurturing young talent is at the heart of everything we do, and the Mela gives our young musicians and dancers a real stage to shine on, in front of a live audience. We’re proud to create space for the next generation of performers to build their skills and their confidence. . It’s where culture, creativity and connection come together in one vibrant celebration. Come and immerse yourself in a global celebration of culture”
What’s Happening Around the Site All Weekend
Beyond the stages, there’s plenty to explore. Head to the Street Performance Area for the spectacular Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band, the ever-popular Circus Raj, and the irrepressible Old Thumper Jazz Band. Keep an eye out too for Phool Bloom by Nutkhut, a beautiful flower installation, and the Chinese Dragon performers roaming the site all weekend. There’s a children’s fun fair for the little ones as well.
Fancy getting hands-on? Free African Drumming sessions and Samba Drumming workshops run throughout the weekend, while the Visual Arts area invites visitors to try their hand at Rangoli, Madhubani painting, Chinese calligraphy and chess, clay modelling, Bangladeshi folk art, weaving, spinning and more. Circus skills sessions run from 12:30pm to 5:30pm, with street shows continuing throughout both days. On Sunday, there’s also a Chinese Tai Chi session.
Extra highlights worth flagging:
- TEABREAK performs on Saturday — an audio and dance journey through the story of tea, with the drink itself served from a beautifully hand-painted tuk tuk.
- Nightjar Collective, African Activities CIC’s ensemble of drummers and singers from West Africa and the UK, tells the story of the nightjar’s annual migration between the two regions — a celebration of the connections between people, cultures and traditions.
- New Forest Heritage Centre brings an exhibition on the Indian army hospitals and convalescent depots that stood in the New Forest from November 1914 to March 1916.
- A wide range of world food stalls will serve up flavours from across South Asia and beyond, alongside community and retail stalls perfect for browsing and discovering something new.
Saturday: Kathak to Qawwali, and a Bhangra Finale
Saturday kicks off with a welcome from the Lord Mayor of Southampton before the two stages spring into action for the afternoon.
Nayha from BBC Asian Network hosts the Main Stage, bringing her trademark warmth and deep knowledge of the British Asian music scene. Over on the Mela Stage — Art Asia’s platform for upcoming artists, young performers and community groups — hosts Preeti Nayyar and Sutapa Mukherjee keep things moving.
Main Stage highlights on Saturday include:
- Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band — vibrant Rajasthani folk music to set the mood
- Rakhi Sood and the TMC Dancers — captivating Kathak, followed by an energetic Bollywood set
- Papia das Baul & Ensemble — the rich Baul song tradition from West Bengal and Bangladesh
- Dalia Pathak and Tarangini Dance Group — Taal of Tarangini, a fusion of Odissi and semi-classical dance
- STRINGS Band — classic Bollywood favourites
- Khan Brothers — an unmissable Qawwali performance
The day closes in style with a high-energy bhangra finale on the Main Stage, featuring Sash, Happe Singh, Navin Kundra (returning by popular demand after his 2022 appearance), and Sadi Jori, with the UK’s first Desi folk duo act.
Sunday: A Cultural Journey, Closing With World-Renowned Drumming
Sunday has a character all its own, opening with rhythmic drumming from DKK — Dandanakka Kalai Kuzu and building through a rich programme of music and dance from across the world.
The Main Stage line-up includes:
- Chinese Arts Southampton — traditional Chinese music
- Pandit Sanju Sahai, Jaymini Sahai and Musical Friends — Indian classical music and Kathak
- Robimoy: Rituranga — celebrating the seasons through Tagore’s music and dance
- African Activities CIC — African music and drumming
- Hampshire Puja and Culture Association — the Tagore dance drama Chitrangada
- A Kung Fu performance
- Rajasthani Kalbeliya & Bhawani Pot Dance — a thrilling fusion of western and traditional music
Sunday — and the whole festival — builds to a magnificent close with a headline performance from Padma Shri Velu Aasan, the world-renowned drummer and percussionist, joined by Prathap Ramachandra for a breathtaking fusion of Parai and Mridangam. It promises to be an unforgettable end to the weekend.
Workshops and Activities for All Ages
If you want to get involved rather than just watch, the Workshop Tent runs across both days with sessions including:
- Chinese Drumming with Michael Ng
- Tabla Drumming with Iqbal Pathan
- Bollywood Dance with Shreya Chugh
- Bollywood Dance with Kanisha Mehta
- African Drumming with African Activities
- Samba Drumming with Creative Beats
Getting There, and Why It Matters
Southampton Mela remains free thanks to support from Arts Council England, Southampton City Council, Go! Southampton, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, and Mayflower Theatre & Studios.
When: Saturday 18 July, 12pm–10pm, and Sunday 19 July, 12pm–8pm
Where: Hoglands Park, Southampton
Cost: Free — everyone welcome
Whether you come for the music, the food, the workshops, or simply to soak up the atmosphere, Southampton Mela Festival 2026 is shaping up to be one of the city’s cultural highlights of the summer.