Long defined by its effortlessly cool residents, bohemian history and punk spirit, Chelsea is reentering the London spotlight this year thanks to the newly transformed Sloane Street, a slew of new openings – including the revival of the neighbourhood’s favourite ‘90s nightclub – and a calendar of buzzy events. And in autumn 2025, make sure this event is locked into your calendar: Chelsea Arts Festival is a brand new annual fixture on London’s cultural scene drawing artists, performers, thinkers and storytellers to Chelsea’s streets this September.
Elizabeth Day, William Boyd, Kate Mosse, Dame Zandra Rhodes, Ian McEwan, Matt Haig, Jordan Stephens and plenty more make up the first wave of names on the bill. Here’s everything else you need to know.
Chelsea Arts Festival 2025: Line-Up, Dates & More
What Is It?
Chelsea Arts Festival is an upcoming cultural festival spanning literature, music, art, film, food and more. Think literary salons, author panels, workshops, film screenings and debates on the pertinent issues of today, all backdropped by Chelsea’s historic streets and captivating venues.
As much a celebration of the arts as it is the local community, a line-up of ticketed events will be accompanied by free al fresco performances across Chelsea’s leafy squares and streets.
Debuting in September 2025 and set to become an annual fixture in the calendar, Chelsea Arts Festival is a collaboration between Country & Town House’s Events division and Cadogan, Chelsea’s family-owned property managers, investors and developers.
‘Chelsea has long been a beacon of creativity, the haunt of artists, radicals, painters and poets – drawing iconic characters and stories from Oscar Wilde to Bram Stoker, James Bond to James McNeill Whistler, JMW Turner, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles to Vivienne Westwood and Mary Quant,’ says Hugh Seaborn, Cadogan’s CEO. ‘We look forward to seeing the festival ignite the neighbourhood with further artistic energy, providing an inspiring and accessible programme of events for residents and visitors alike.’
The Royal Court (© Helen Murray)
Who’s On The Line-Up?
Elizabeth Day, William Boyd, Kate Mosse, Dame Zandra Rhodes, Ian McEwan, Matt Haig and Jordan Stephens are the first names on the line-up. They’ll be joined by the likes of June Sarpong, Jack Edwards, Darren Henley, George Monbiot, Samira Ahmed, Tigris Li, Omar Karim, The London Theatre Review and many more stars from page, stage and screen, hosting events across iconic Chelsea venues.
‘I am so delighted to be launching my new novel with a one-off event at the Chelsea Arts Festival, in London’s iconic Cadogan Hall on Sunday 21 September,’ Elizabeth Day says. ‘It’s a real honour to be featured alongside such a stellar cast of cultural luminaries and I think it’s the perfect way to introduce readers to the characters and plot of One Of Us. Come and join us for an entertaining Sunday afternoon, then retire to the pub for an early evening pint and roast… Perfect.’
Exciting events on the bill include:
- Beloved author and broadcaster Elizabeth Day, launching her brand-new novel One of Us at a special event at Cadogan Hall, in collaboration with Fane
- Award winning author William Boyd discussing his latest novel, Gabriel’s Moon
- Best-selling author Matt Haig in conversation with musician and mental health advocate Jordan Stephens
- A Literary Salon celebrating 30 years of the Women’s Prize for Fiction, featuring June Sarpong, Kate Mosse and more to be announced
- Acclaimed author Ian McEwan joined by columnist and environmental activist George Monbiot to discuss his forthcoming cli-fi novel What We Can Know, in an event hosted by How To Academy
- Fashion icon Dame Zandra Rhodes celebrating the power of fashion as a form of self-expression at the Saatchi Gallery
- A unique literary debate hosted by the internet’s resident librarian Jack Edwards
- A fireside chat between Arts Council England chief executive Darren Henley and journalist and broadcaster Samira Ahmed about the life-enhancing benefits of public cultural investment
- A special evening of live music at Cadogan Hall in aid of EarthPercent (line-up to be revealed)
- A live podcast recording of the London Theatre Review featuring leading critics Nancy Durrant, Nick Curtis, and Nick Clark with a very special celebrity guest to be announced
Plus even more names from the worlds of music, comedy, visual arts and dance – all to be revealed very soon.
‘C&TH is thrilled to be partnering with Cadogan in launching the Chelsea Arts Festival, which will put Chelsea front and centre of the capital’s cultural conversation,’ says Lucy Cleland, editorial director of Country & Town House. ‘Bringing together a hugely diverse programme of artists, performers, thinkers and creators, with music, food and entertainment spilling out into Chelsea’s fabled streets, there will be no other festival like it.
When & Where
Chelsea Arts Festival will take place from 19–21 September 2025 across Chelsea, including iconic venues such as Cadogan Hall, the Saatchi Gallery and the Royal Court Theatre. Outside, free performances will take place in Duke of York Square, Sloane Square and along the King’s Road.
How To Get Tickets
Tickets for the Chelsea Arts Festival will go on sale in May. To register to receive the news first via email, sign up at chelseaartsfestival.com
