"It is always a special day for everyone visiting and taking part"
London’s National Maritime Museum will celebrate Diwali with a free festival showcasing South Asian creativity, culture and community from across the UK.
All Together Now will take place on November 7, 2026, and has been curated by Mehala Ford, founder of COMMONGROUND& and Friday Sari Project.
The festival will feature live performances, workshops, talks and family activities, bringing together South Asian artists, performers, storytellers, makers and community organisations.
Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by millions of people worldwide.
The festival is traditionally a time for families and friends to gather, share food, exchange stories and celebrate the triumph of light over darkness.
This year’s programme explores how traditions are passed between generations while being reimagined through contemporary creativity, highlighting the diversity of South Asian cultures and experiences in Britain today.
A major addition for 2026 is the Diwali Bazaar, which will bring South Asian designers, artists, makers and independent businesses into the museum.
Visitors will be able to browse jewellery, clothing, prints, accessories, gifts and handmade products from South Asian creatives and local Greenwich-based businesses.
The festival will also spotlight grassroots South Asian creative and community platforms, giving visitors opportunities to share ideas, discover different perspectives and engage with a range of creative work.
The museum will be transformed with artistic installations and Diwali decorations, including sustainable textile works by Button Masala and decorations made using recycled saris.
Now in its fourth year curated by Ford, All Together Now continues the National Maritime Museum’s long-running celebration of Diwali and its work with South Asian artists, creatives and communities.
Ford said: “Curating Diwali at the Museum is always an honour and a privilege for me.
“Royal Museums Greenwich has been celebrating Diwali as a free public celebration for 16 years, which is incredible.”
“I am always thrilled at the opportunity to take over a museum for one day and showcase the talents of so many South Asian performers, artists and creatives, as we have done over the years.
“It is always a special day for everyone visiting and taking part, with the chance to enjoy a sensory experience of celebration and discover the talents of South Asian communities.”
The free festival will take place at the National Maritime Museum on November 7, bringing together performances, creative activities, independent businesses and community organisations for a day of Diwali celebrations.
Full Schedule
Performances
Kiran SKG
Musician, sound therapist and practitioner Kiran SKG will open the festival with a solo flute performance at the Museum entrance before leading further performances on the Ocean Map and drop-in music sessions throughout the day.
Times
Stanhope Entrance: 9:50 am
Ocean Map: 10:30 am, 12:30 pm and 3:30 pm
Nandita Shankardass & Welcome Movement
Dance artist, choreographer and interdisciplinary facilitator Nandita Shankardass and her dancers will present a responsive dance work inspired by Diwali, light and this year’s theme, All Together Now. Visitors will also be invited to take part in movement workshops throughout the day.
Times
Ocean Map: 10:30 am and 2 pm
Pooja Rajguru and her Folk Mandali
Pooja Rajguru and her Folk Mandali will bring traditional Rajasthani folk dance and Gujarati Garba to the festival through a series of performances throughout the day.
Times
Ocean Map: 10:30 am, 12:30 pm and 3:30 pm
Sweta Pandey
Sweta Pandey, Bharatanatyam dancer and practitioner of classical Indian dance, will perform as part of the day’s programme.
Time
Ocean Map: 12:30 pm
Eternal Taal
The all-female group of dancers and dhol drummers Eternal Taal will bring the sounds and energy of Punjab to the Museum through live drumming performances and participatory dance workshops.
Times
Ocean Map: 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm
Bhangra4Us Performance
Bhangra4Us will perform on the Ocean Map and lead a Bhangra dance workshop.
Times
Ocean Map: 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm
Lantern Parade
The day will conclude with a lantern parade through Greenwich Park accompanied by the rhythms of Eternal Taal’s dhol drummers. Visitors are invited to bring along lanterns made during the day’s workshops.
Time
Ship in a Bottle: 5:15 – 5:30 pm
Workshops and Stalls
Diwali Bazaar
For the first time, the National Maritime Museum will host a Diwali Bazaar, bringing together South Asian designers, independent brands, artists, makers and craftspeople. Visitors can browse jewellery, clothing, accessories, gifts and handmade products from South Asian creatives and local Greenwich-based businesses.
Time
Ocean Court: 11 am – 4 pm
Black and Asian Seafarers: A Visual History
Meet Museum curator Aaron Jaffer and discover the stories behind his new book, Black and Asian Seafarers: A Visual History. Drawing on research from the Museum’s Unlocking Collections project, the book explores the lives of Black and Asian seafarers through photographs and archival records uncovered and catalogued with the support of volunteers.
Time
Sammy Ofer Wing: 11:00 am – 4 pm.
Rangoli Art
Discover the beauty and symbolism of traditional Rangoli art in this hands-on workshop with Ekta Kaur of Story Beyond Lines. Learn about the origins and meaning behind this South Asian art form before creating your own colourful Rangoli design to celebrate Diwali.
Time
Learning Space: 11 am – 4:15 pm
Lotus Lantern Making
Led by Mita, this creative workshop invites visitors to make illuminated lotus flower wands to carry in the festival’s lantern parade through Greenwich Park.
Time
Re-Think Space: 11:30 am – 4:30 pm
Button Masala
Take part in a creative textile workshop led by Button Masala, the innovative design project founded by artist and designer Anuj Sharma. Using a no-cut, no-stitch technique, participants can explore sustainable methods of making and creating with fabric.
Time
Group Space: 10 am – 4:30 pm
Block Printing
Explore the art of block printing in this drop-in workshop for visitors of all ages.
Time
Group Space: 10 am – 4:30 pm
Dress Up for Diwali
Step into the spirit of Diwali by trying on a vibrant selection of traditional South Asian clothing. Whether reconnecting with cultural traditions or trying something new, everyone is invited to celebrate and capture a festive photograph.
Time
Figureheads: 10 am – 4:30 pm
I Used to Be a Saree
Discover how pre-loved sarees can be given a new life through creative reuse and sustainable design.
Time
Figureheads: 10 am – 4:30 pm
The Saree Project
Find out more about the cultural significance and contemporary stories of the saree through this information stall and display.
Time
Figureheads: 10 am – 4:30 pm
Talks and Tours
Home + Land
Drawing on the Museum’s Home + Land podcast series, his panel discussion explores heritage, identity and belonging through personal responses to history, memory and place. The podcast series was created by Mehala Ford in collaboration with Royal Museums Greenwich.
Time
Lecture Theatre: 11:30 am
A Diwali Story Through Food
Food is central to the experience of Diwali, carrying memories, traditions and family stories across generations and borders. Curated by South Asian Salon, this discussion explores the different ways people celebrate Diwali through food and the personal stories behind those traditions.
Time
Lecture Theatre: 1 pm
Worn Into Being
Presented by Brown Game Strong, Worn Into Being explores how people express identity, belonging and wellbeing through clothing, jewellery and personal style. The panel brings together voices from fashion, culture and creative practice.
Time
Lecture Theatre: 2 pm
Creative Pioneers
Created in partnership with South Asian Creative Circle, this conversation explores creativity through themes of wellbeing, care, creative flow, belonging and collaboration. The discussion will be led by Nandita Shankardass.
Time
Lecture Theatre: 3:30 pm
Story Hour Puppet Theatre
The epic story of the Ramayana will be brought to life through handcrafted puppets by Story Hour Puppet Theatre. Following each performance, visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about the characters and how the puppets are made.
Times
Lecture Theatre: 11 am, 12:30 pm and 3 pm
Storytelling
Celebrated storyteller and cultural practitioner Debbie Guneratne will share stories inspired by Diwali and South Asian traditions.
Times
Voyagers Gallery: 11:30 am and 1 pm
The Doctor’s Secret Garden: Hidden Stories of Healing
In this gallery talk, Theeba Krishnamoorthy explores the lives of early South Asian women doctors of the British Empire, uncovering stories of healing, medicine and resilience.
Location
Traders Gallery
Traders Gallery Tour
Led by Vasant, a member of the National Maritime Museum’s visitor team, this tour explores stories of South Asia and maritime exchange through objects in the Museum’s collections.
Location
Traders Gallery
