UCL turns 200, and we're celebrating 200 years of students making more happen at our university. There is no university without its students, and throughout 2026, we'll reflect on our history, celebrate the achievements of our students, and look ahead to the next 200 years.
We want you to be at the heart of the Bicentenary celebrations, so we've put together a packed schedule of things to do, things to see, and ways to mark this special year.
Here’s how you can be part of it all...
Things to do...
UCL200 Summer Festival
📅 2 - 6 June
The headline celebration for students in the Bicentenary year. We're planning a HUGE Summer Festival in June. The main Quad will be transformed for a week of music, film, debate and a big summer celebration - the Bicentenary Ball. During each day, come and get involved in a range of activities, workshops, and events.
The artsUCL Fringe Festival
📅 1 - 13 June
This June, the artsUCL Fringe Festival will take over campus for two weeks, as part of our summer celebrations, with a range of pop-up events spreading across Mully’s, the Institute of Education, the Bloomsbury Studio, Camden People Theatre, and more. Expect live busking between venues, pop‑up performances, buzzing bars, street‑food vibes, and the thrill of wandering into something unexpected because we're covering it all.
International Festival
📅 23 - 26 February
We're celebrating our global community and everything you bring to UCL with our very own International Festival! Join us from Monday 23 - Thursday 26 February and experience UCL’s cultural diversity through society performances, workshops, food festivals, and talks. Come along and celebrate our global community right here in the heart of Bloomsbury.
The UCL Campus Run
📅 29 April
There's no better way to come together this spring than to celebrate our community getting active. Students, staff, and alumni will come together for an unforgettable run around the iconic Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, as part of UCL’s bicentennial celebrations. The track winds around the iconic Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park at UCL East, offering flat, fast paths and an encouraging atmosphere from fellow runners and supporters. It's open to everyone, no matter your ability or experience.
London Varsity Series
📅 20 - 27 March
Varsity always delivers, and this year it comes with extra meaning. Generations of students showing up, competing, and backing each other. Sport has always been part of student life at UCL, and Varsity is where that spirit shows itself loudest. Can we beat King's College (again) and retain our crown as Varsity Champions?
ExtendED
📅 18 May - 12 June
Push your thinking, grow your networks and sharpen your skills through hands-on learning opportunities in Term 3. ExtendED Learning is a collaboration between UCL and Students' Union UCL, and taught students a wide range of free learning opportunities to enhance skills and networks in Term 3. The programme has been aligned with the Pillars of Employability, which means whatever subject you study, you can step outside of assessments or dissertation planning and develop additional skills to support your future.
Things to see...
Pi Magazine Special Issue
The longest-running student publication at UCL, Pi Media, is celebrating its 80th birthday this year and marking both the bicentenary and their own birthday with a special souvenir issue of Pi Magazine. Produced by student journalists, the issue gives the student view of life at UCL, the Bicentenary celebrations, and the future. Pick up a FREE copy from 11 February from the Hanger, at the UCL Illuminated events, or across the Bloomsbury campus.
Artist in Residence: Lauren Godfrey
As part of UCL200, Lauren Godfrey has been chosen as Artist-in-Residence in the student community. Using a playful, pattern-led creative approach, Lauren will explore the student experience through workshops, performance, research and collaboration. The residency will culminate in a performance showcase at the Bloomsbury Theatre on 2 October and you can help shape her work every step of the way.
Join a workshop: Lauren is running a series of free workshops on Wednesdays from 16:00 to 18:00 for four weeks, starting 11 February. Each session explores pattern in a different way through drawing, conversation, movement or performance.
Exhibitions across UCL
There are two new exhibitions to check out this month - The Faces of UCL exhibition celebrates the people who make UCL what it is today. It spotlights the stories of students, staff and alumni who have shaped campus life, highlighting the impact they have made during their time here. And in the cloisters and Student Centre, check out Two Centuries Here, covering UCL's origin, impact, community, and future. Full of artefacts, interactive elements, and new insights into the world of UCL. The exhibitions open on 18 February.
Mark the moment...
As we mark 200 years of student life at UCL, we’re excited to share our brand‑new limited‑edition UCL200 merchandise range available exclusively at The Hanger and created to commemorate this once‑in‑a‑lifetime anniversary.
We've also been creating something really special behind the scenes with Volcano Coffee Works, and we're proud to finally introduce The Bicentenary Blend, which is now being exclusively served in all our cafés throughout our 200th year. Every sale from our blend goes straight back into supporting our community, and also contributes to The Sombra Agroforestry Project - an ambitious agroforestry initiative that aims to reforest 15 hectares with more than 60,000 trees and coffee plants to protect biodiversity, restore soil health, and, help farmers build climate‑resilient coffee farms.
We're looking forward to sharing the year with you!