International Festival

Celebrating cultural diversity at UCL from 16 - 20 November 2026

We’re turning up the energy this Term 1 with International Festival!

As a university with over 55,000 students from across the world, it’s only right that we take the time to celebrate the cultures, communities and experiences that make UCL what it is. International Festival is one of the biggest cultural celebrations on campus, bringing students together through food, performances, music, workshops, society-led activities, talks, markets and more.

From Monday 16 to Friday 20 November, the heart of campus will be transformed into a celebration of our global community, with plenty of opportunities to discover something new, share your own culture and enjoy the festival atmosphere right here in Bloomsbury.

📅16-20 November 2026

📍 Come along to the Main Quad and Cloisters as we celebrate in style.

There’ll be all sorts happening across the week!! Performances, dancing, music, society-led activities, workshops, market stalls, food, warm drinks and plenty more. We want the campus to be full of energy, culture and good vibes all week long, so come along, get involved and experience something new.

And did someone mention freebies? 👀 Yes, there’ll be plenty of those happening throughout the week too!

Make sure to keep an eye on this page and book onto some of the fantastic and affordable events and activities on offer, from society tasters to calligraphy and much more.

Steel Band Performance in the Quad brought the whole space to life, with students gathering outside to enjoy the music, dance and soak up the festival atmosphere. Before long, everyone was getting involved, with students joining together in a big group dance and making their way around the Quad to the music. It was such a fun moment and really brought the energy and festival vibes to campus.

You can’t have a festival without food! Societies were leading some amazing food activities and sharing delicious dishes from around the world, giving students the chance to try something new and celebrate different cultures through food. We also had external food vendors on campus serving up a huge range of cuisines, from Asian to Caribbean and beyond, so there was plenty to enjoy throughout the week.

Have you ever been intrigued about writings in different languages? Well, we also had calligraphy activities for anyone curious about seeing their name, favourite word or phrase written in another language. Students could stop by, explore different writing styles and scripts, and take away something personalised with them.

We had markets running throughout the week, bringing even more colour, creativity and energy to campus. Students could wander through the stalls and browse a wide range of items, from clothes and jewellery to decorations, artwork, handmade crafts and unique gifts. It created a really lively atmosphere, with people stopping by between events, discovering something new and supporting the different sellers taking part.

We also had henna on campus, giving students the chance to get beautiful designs and take part in another fun cultural activity during the festival. The henna added another creative and interactive element to the festival and became an opportunity for students to chat, connect and learn a little more about the traditions and artistry behind it while enjoying the atmosphere on campus.

Extra Treats

The entire campus was transformed throughout the week.

Our cafés were serving up a range of international flavours too. The the George Farha Café menu featured Chicken Katsu Curry, Japanese Curry, Teriyaki Chicken and Tofu Katsu Curry. Gordon’s Café offered Chicken Biryani, Chicken Thai Curry and Chana Masala.
You can never go wrong with a treat of iced matcha drinks and Karma soft drinks.