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The UCL200 Summer Festival
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Daytime eventsMark your calendars for 2 - 6 June and join us at the UCL200 Summer Festival by Students' Union UCL.
To celebrate UCL's 200th anniversary we're planning a HUGE Summer Festival in June 2026. Campus will be transformed into a festival site for the biggest and most exciting events in SU history. We'll celebrate in style each evening with a ticket only headline event. Forget Glastonbury, think live music, guest speakers and brand new events right here on the Main Quad. Trust us, you'll want to be there.
We'll end the UCL200 Summer Festival with an unforgettable finale, entirely for students to come together to celebrate being the class of UCL200. Get your tickets to the Bicentenary Ball now. Tickets are limited and once they're gone, they're gone!
Be part of history.
Be part of the community.
Be part of the celebrations.
Great Debate - Tuesday 2 June
At a time when conversations can feel increasingly polarised, the ability to engage thoughtfully with those who see the world differently has never been more important.
We've teamed up with Disagreeing Well and our Impartial Chairs to bring you an evening of thoughtful conversation and lively debate. You'll hear from industry experts Ros Atkins (BBC News), Sophia Smith Galer (Digital Journalist), Oli Dugmore (Founder of Politics Joe) and Meera Selva (CEO of non-profit Internews) on the rise of misinformation and the risk it poses to liberal democracies.
Film Festival - Wednesday 3 June
We've collaborated with UCL Film and TV Society to bring the big screen to our very own Quad for one night only.
We’ll be screening a range of student films from across the rich 78-year-old history of UCL FilmSoc. We'll hear also hear from industry professionals and notable UCL and FilmSoc alumni, who will share their own reflections on UCL's rich history with cinema and the journey of their careers so far.
UCL Proms - Thursday 4 June
Experience the Main Quad at its most magical, with a timeless evening of classical music as the sun sets beneath the Portico's grand columns.
UCL's Symphony Orchestra has teamed up with professional musicians for an evening of musical triumph. You can expect a vibrant programme of orchestral favourites, from traditional symphonic masterpieces to beloved British classics.
Bicentenary Ball - Saturday 6 June
The headline celebration for students in the bicentenary year. Join us for an unforgettable finale to the UCL200 Summer Festival, entirely for students, and come together to celebrate being the class of UCL200.
Expect an unforgettable night of glamour and entertainment as you dance the night away in the Main Quad.
We're inviting you to be a part of a defining UCL200 moment, and take part in two one-off volunteering events bringing staff and students together to make a collective impact.
Here, World Records Happen
Be part of a UCL200 moment and help make history by taking part in a Guinness World Records™ card-decorating challenge. Instead of receiving greetings cards for UCL’s 200th birthday, we’re coming together to create them.
The Biggest Help Out
Join us on Tuesday 2 June at 9:00 at the UCL Portico for UCL 200: The Biggest Help Out - a large-scale volunteering event forming part of our UCL Summer Festival.
The day will begin on campus, followed by organised group visits to a range of partner organisations across London. Each group will take part in structured, hands-on activities, with the aim of providing support to local communities. Volunteering opportunities may include activities such as canal clean-ups, river restoration projects, adventure playground improvements - and more!
Want to make memories for UCL200? Interested in breaking a World Record? Or maybe you just want to join a dance class with friends? As well as our evening events, we have a jampacked daytime line up open to all students.
Highlights include attempting to make history with our World Record Crafternoon, attending Project Active classes from UV Dance to Bounce Fit, boosting skillsets in our Events Masterclass, crowning the Pickleball champion, trying a range of food at the Eid al-Adha Market, and getting involved in our Community Dance Day (200 minutes of movement, which does include a Maypole!).
Whether you want to drop in or stay the whole day, the daytime events for the Summer Festival will be low commitment and open to all. Everyone is welcome to come along and join the fun, whether you're in a group or coming by yourself and looking to make friends! There’s only one Bicentennial Celebration, so if you’re looking for a range of activities, prizes and the chance to make core memories before the summer break, see you in June.
Join the UCL200 Summer Festival Student Steering Group
Something epic is being built behind the scenes for June 2026 and you'll want to be a part of it.
Have your say in how we celebrate UCL200 and join our UCL200 Summer Festival Student Steering Group to share your ideas, influence the events we've got planned, and help bring the festival to life. This is your chance to leave your mark on UCL’s 200-year story.
artsUCL Fringe Festival
From Monday 1 June - Saturday 13 June, the artsUCL Fringe Festival will run alongside the UCL200 Summer Festival, spreading across Mully’s, the Institute of Education, the Bloomsbury Studio, Camden People Theatre, and more.
Inspired by iconic Fringe festivals across the globe, we'll be bringing campus to life with theatre, comedy, dance, cabaret, music, drag, stand‑up, musical theatre, and everything in between - come and experience anything, everything, everywhere.
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.
Putting students at the heart of the Bicentenary
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.