© National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
The National Maritime Museum will celebrate Diwali with All Together Now, a free festival curated by Mehala Ford, founder of COMMONGROUND& and Friday Sari Project.
Taking place on 7 November 2026, the festival will showcase South Asian artists, performers, storytellers, makers and community organisations from across the UK through a vibrant programme of live performances, workshops, talks and family activities.
Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by millions of people around the world and is a time for gathering with family and friends, sharing food, exchanging stories and celebrating the triumph of light over darkness.
Inspired by the ways traditions are carried across generations and reimagined through contemporary creativity, this year's programme highlights the diversity of South Asian cultures and experiences in Britain today.
A major new addition for 2026 is the Diwali Bazaar, bringing South Asian designers, artists, makers and independent businesses into the Museum. Visitors will be able to browse stalls featuring jewellery, clothing, prints, accessories, gifts and handmade products from South Asian creatives and local Greenwich-based businesses.
The festival also shines a spotlight on grassroots South Asian creative and community platforms, creating opportunities to share ideas, discover new perspectives and celebrate creativity in all its forms.
The Museum will also be transformed with special artistic installations and decorations, including sustainable textile works by Button Masala and decorations created using recycled saris.
Now in its fourth year curated by Ford, the festival continues the National Maritime Museum's long-running celebration of Diwali and its collaboration with South Asian artists, creatives and communities.
Mehala Ford, founder of COMMONGROUND& and curator of the National Maritime Museum's Diwali festival, said:
'Curating Diwali at the Museum is always an honour and a privilege for me. Royal Museums Greenwich has been celebrating Diwali as a free public celebration for 16 years, which is incredible. I am always thrilled at the opportunity to take over a museum for one day and showcase the talents of so many South Asian performers, artists and creatives, as we have done over the years.
It is always a special day for everyone visiting and taking part, with the chance to enjoy a sensory experience of celebration and discover the talents of South Asian communities.'
FULL SCHEDULE:
Performances
The Ocean Map will come alive with music, dance and participatory performances throughout the day, celebrating a range of South Asian creative traditions.
Kiran SKG
Musician, sound therapist and practitioner Kiran SKG will open the festival with a solo flute performance at the Museum entrance before leading further performances on the Ocean Map and drop-in music sessions throughout the day.
Times: Stanhope Entrance: 09.50 | Ocean Map: 10.30, 12.30 and 15.30
Nandita Shankardass & Welcome Movement®
Dance artist, choreographer and interdisciplinary facilitator Nandita Shankardass and her dancers will present a responsive dance work inspired by Diwali, light and this year's theme, All Together Now. Visitors will also be invited to take part in movement workshops throughout the day.
Times: 10.30 and 14.00
Location: Ocean Map
Pooja Rajguru and her Folk Mandali
Pooja Rajguru and her Folk Mandali will bring traditional Rajasthani folk dance and Gujarati Garba to the festival through a series of performances throughout the day.
Times: 10.30, 12.30 and 15.30
Location: Ocean Map
Sweta Pandey
Sweta Pandey, Bharatanatyam dancer and practitioner of classical Indian dance, will perform as part of the day's programme.
Time: 12.30
Location: Ocean Map
Eternal Taal
The all-female group of dancers and dhol drummers Eternal Taal will bring the sounds and energy of Punjab to the Museum through live drumming performances and participatory dance workshops.
Times: 12.30 and 14.00
Location: Ocean Map
Bhangra4Us Performance
Bhangra4Us will perform on the Ocean Map and lead a Bhangra dance workshop.
Times: 14.00 and 15.30
Location: Ocean Map
Lantern Parade
The day will conclude with a lantern parade through Greenwich Park accompanied by the rhythms of Eternal Taal's dhol drummers. Visitors are invited to bring along lanterns made during the day's workshops.
Time: 17.15–17.30
Meeting point: Ship in a Bottle
Workshops and Stalls
Diwali Bazaar
For the first time, the National Maritime Museum will host a Diwali Bazaar, bringing together South Asian designers, independent brands, artists, makers and craftspeople. Visitors can browse jewellery, clothing, accessories, gifts and handmade products from South Asian creatives and local Greenwich-based businesses.
Time: 11.00–16.00
Location: Ocean Court
Black and Asian Seafarers: A Visual History
Meet Museum curator Aaron Jaffer and discover the stories behind his new book, Black and Asian Seafarers: A Visual History. Drawing on research from the Museum's Unlocking Collections project, the book explores the lives of Black and Asian seafarers through photographs and archival records uncovered and catalogued with the support of volunteers.
Time: 11.00–16.00
Location: Sammy Ofer Wing
Rangoli Art
Discover the beauty and symbolism of traditional Rangoli art in this hands-on workshop with Ekta Kaur of Story Beyond Lines. Learn about the origins and meaning behind this South Asian art form before creating your own colourful Rangoli design to celebrate Diwali.
Time: 11.00–16.15
Location: Learning Space
Lotus Lantern Making
Led by Mita, this creative workshop invites visitors to make illuminated lotus flower wands to carry in the festival's lantern parade through Greenwich Park.
Time: 11.30–16.30
Location: Re-Think Space
Button Masala
Take part in a creative textile workshop led by Button Masala, the innovative design project founded by artist and designer Anuj Sharma. Using a no-cut, no-stitch technique, participants can explore sustainable methods of making and creating with fabric.
Time: 10.00–16.30
Location: Group Space
Block Printing
Explore the art of block printing in this drop-in workshop for visitors of all ages.
Time: 10.00–16.30
Location: Group Space
Dress Up for Diwali
Step into the spirit of Diwali by trying on a vibrant selection of traditional South Asian clothing. Whether reconnecting with cultural traditions or trying something new, everyone is invited to celebrate and capture a festive photograph.
Time: 10.00–16.30
Location: Figureheads
I Used to Be a Saree
Discover how pre-loved saris can be given a new life through creative reuse and sustainable design.
Time: 10.00–16.30
Location: Figureheads
The Saree Project
Find out more about the cultural significance and contemporary stories of the sari through this information stall and display.
Time: 10.00–16.30
Location: Figureheads
Talks and Tours
Home + Land
Drawing on the Museum's Home + Land podcast series, his panel discussion explores heritage, identity and belonging through personal responses to history, memory and place. The podcast series was created by Mehala Ford in collaboration with Royal Museums Greenwich.
Time: 11.30
Location: Lecture Theatre
A Diwali Story Through Food
Food is central to the experience of Diwali, carrying memories, traditions and family stories across generations and borders. Curated by South Asian Salon, this discussion explores the different ways people celebrate Diwali through food and the personal stories behind those traditions.
Time: 13.00
Location: Lecture Theatre
Worn Into Being
Presented by Brown Game Strong, Worn Into Being explores how people express identity, belonging and wellbeing through clothing, jewellery and personal style. The panel brings together voices from fashion, culture and creative practice.
Time: 14.00
Location: Lecture Theatre
Creative Pioneers
Created in partnership with South Asian Creative Circle, this conversation explores creativity through themes of wellbeing, care, creative flow, belonging and collaboration. The discussion will be led by Nandita Shankardass.
Time: 15.30
Location: Lecture Theatre
Story Hour Puppet Theatre
The epic story of the Ramayana will be brought to life through handcrafted puppets by Story Hour Puppet Theatre. Following each performance, visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about the characters and how the puppets are made.
Times: 11.00, 12.30 and 15.00
Location: Lecture Theatre
Storytelling
Celebrated storyteller and cultural practitioner Debbie Guneratne will share stories inspired by Diwali and South Asian traditions.
Times: 11.30 and 13.00
Location: Voyagers Gallery
The Doctor's Secret Garden: Hidden Stories of Healing
In this gallery talk, Theeba Krishnamoorthy explores the lives of early South Asian women doctors of the British Empire, uncovering stories of healing, medicine and resilience.
Location: Traders Gallery
Traders Gallery Tour
Led by Vasant, a member of the National Maritime Museum's visitor team, this tour explores stories of South Asia and maritime exchange through objects in the Museum's collections.
Location: Traders Gallery
INFORMATION FOR VISITORS:
Venue: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Date: 7 November 2026
Time: 10.00 – 17.00
Admission: Free
Visitor enquiries: 020 8858 4422
Website: www.rmg.co.uk/diwali
Instagram: @royalmuseumsgreenwich
Facebook: @royalmuseumsgreenwich
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The National Maritime Museum holds the world’s largest maritime collection telling stories of Britain’s epic relationship with the sea, housed in historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site.
The National Maritime Museum is part of Royal Museums Greenwich which also incorporates the Royal Observatory, the 17th-century Queen’s House and the clipper ship Cutty Sark. This unique collection of museums and heritage buildings, which form a key part of the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site, welcomes over two and a half million British and international visitors a year and is also a major centre of education and research. The mission of Royal Museums Greenwich is to enrich people’s understanding of the sea, the exploration of space, and Britain's role in world history. For more information, visit www.rmg.co.uk.
For further information or images please contact:
Royal Museums Greenwich Press Office
Tel: 020 8312 6545/6789/6589
Email: press@rmg.co.uk