By Hannah Reid

The Mayor of London’s free, family-friendly Black on the Square festival returned for the 4 th year running to Trafalgar Square.

This year’s programme celebrated the past, present and future of Black Londoners’ contributions to London, including celebrating 60 years of Notting Hill Carnival, 30 years of the MOBO Awards, with a tribute to founder Kanya King CBE and 35 years of Tomorrow’s Warriors and 20 years of Latino Life.

Over 20,000 people attended to commemorate the message ‘This is our London’,
the influence of Black culture and business was felt tremendously, with black
businesses’ stalls selling traditional African clothes and handmade jewellery,
Caribbean food and hampers, and a live Ghanaian cooking demonstration by Chef Abbys.

Included in the line-up of entertainment was something for everyone, with musical performances from Triniboi Joocie, Angela Marie Hurst, Shanay Holmes from Get Up Stand Up the Bob Marley musical, Miss Banks, Broken Pen, a capoeira performance, along with a Latin dance performance.

The Deputy Mayor for Communities and social justice, Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, spoke to Rico Magazine to share how she plans to continue developing a spirit of community and justice amongst Black Londoners. Weekes-Bernard told Rico Magazine, “We can’t allow justice to happen by itself; we are intentional about it. We run programmes that focus on issues that are important to Black communities such as recognising the impact the transatlantic had and has on Black communities.” The Wake monument by Khaleb Brooks will be placed on the banks of the River Thames facing London’s financial centre, highlighting the banks profiting off the back of the slave trade.

While Black on the Square is one single annual event, Weekes-Bernard is trying to generate long-lasting impact by creating a culture that supports the next generation of influential leaders: “I want young people and women of colour to know that there are opportunities out there for them. If you do want to make it and have a position of decision-making power, you will be able to do so. We will leave opportunities so you can achieve your dreams.” Whilst British society is rapidly becoming increasingly divisive, “there are a lot of us who are fighting against it, and we are standing alongside all communities.” Weekes Bernard said.

The London Assembly continue to take advice from leading individuals, experts and community advisors who bring knowledge, lived experience and creative insight into the development of the flagship event. For 2026 and 2027’s Black on the Square, Nokuthula Hatoongo, an award-winning entrepreneur and founder of Kintsugi Creative, a cultural Marketing and PR agency, is one of the Community Advisory Group members for Black on the Square with the aim of amplifying the event while reaching a wider Black audience.

Having community advisors, City Hall is showing a long-term investment in Black creatives by “allowing people within the community to represent the voice of their community, advising City Hall on the curation of the event.

Hatoongo views the success of the event as “Reaching the Black community, the
impact on Black businesses; we had more than 10 Black Businesses with activations and pop-ups, that created opportunity and profit and the full experience of how people felt. Hearing how individual people found value in a nice, safe, fun, wholesome day out that celebrated their culture. Seeing an overtly Black culture event led by the Mayor of London is mind-blowing. Just hearing that members felt celebrated and valued” is proof of the success of Black on the Square.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m delighted that Black On The Square is back for a fourth year, bigger, better and bolder than ever before. This year’s theme – This is our London – celebrates the festivals, events and Black Londoners who have shaped the sound and spirit of our capital, and the new generation bringing fresh ideas for the future. Everyone is welcome at Trafalgar Square for a day of fantastic, family-friendly entertainment that brings us together, as we build a better London for everyone.”

Black on the Square’s overarching message and the spirit felt at the event were clear. To Black people, you are loved and wanted in London.

About the Author:

HANNAH REID

Hannah is an NCTJ-qualified Multimedia Journalist with bylines in The Sun, The Daily Express and The World Cities Culture Forum.

Graduated First Class in BA Multimedia Journalism, you can find more of her work on TikTok, where she has shared videos and interviews with members of the public, Black business owners, and London’s Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice.

Hannah’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hannahjj7