Southampton residents, families, and culture lovers, get ready for the grand return of the city’s most spectacular multicultural celebration! On Saturday 18 July and Sunday 19 July 2026, the south coast’s premier diversity showcase explodes into life: the Southampton Art Asia Mela Festival 2026. Taking over the expansive green lawns of Hoglands Park (SO14 1LT), this massive, two-day free arts celebration delivers an incredible fusion of global music, breathtaking dance, interactive family workshops, and aromatic street food markets right into the beating heart of the city center.
Southampton Mela Festival 2026 Full Weekend Schedule & Line-up
Saturday 18 July Main Stage Line Up
With compere Nayha (BBC Asian Network)
- 12:00 – Compere’s Welcome
- 12:15 – Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band
- 13:00 – Official Mela Opening by the Mayor of Southampton
- 13:30 – Rakhi Sood & the TMC Dancers
- 14:05 – Papia das Baul & ensemble
- 14:55 – Dalia Pathak and Tarangini Dance group
- 15:15 – Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band
- 15:55 – Rakhi Sood & the TMC Dancers
- 16:30 – STRINGS Band – Bollywood Classics
- 18:15 – Khan Brothers – Qawwali Music
- 20:00 – Headliners featuring: Sash, Happe Singh, Navin Kundra & Sadi Jori
Saturday 18 July Mela Stage Line Up
With comperes Preeti Nayyar & Sutapa Mukherjee
- 12:00 – K. V. Dance Company
- 12:20 – Mystical Fusion
- 13:00 – Tarangini
- 13:15 – Shreya Chugh
- 13:25 – Bitu & Sonia
- 13:45 – South Indian Arts & Cultural Society
- 14:25 – Chinese Association of Southampton
- 14:45 – Madan Vashisht
- 15:00 – Southampton Divas
- 15:10 – Team Naatya
- 15:25 – Rhythm
- 15:40 – Shree (Art Asia) & Prithvi youth Groups
- 16:05 – Art Asia Students of Pooja Angra
- 16:55 – Art Asia Students of Rakhi Sood
- 17:30 – Rakhi Sood
- 17:55 – Afghan Band, Southampton – music from Afghanistan
Sunday 19 July Main Stage Line Up
With comperes Preeti Nayyar & Sutapa Mukherjee
- 12:00 – Compare’s Welcome
- 12:10 – Dandanakka Kalai Kuzhu
- 12:40 – Chinese Arts Southampton
- 13:30 – Kaashi Arts – Pandit Sanju Sahai, Jaymini Sahai & Kiranpal Singh
- 14:40 – Robimoy
- 15:15 – African Activities CIC
- 16:10 – Hampshire Puja and Cultural Association
- 16:45 – Chinese Association of Southampton
- 17:05 – Rajasthani Kalbeliya & Bhawani Pot Dance
- 17:30 – Padma Shri Velu Aasan & Prathap Ramachandra
Sunday 19 July Mela Stage Line Up
With comperes Preeti Nayyar & Haimanti Kumar
- 12:00 – Sing Now Choir
- 12:45 – Immersive Dance Company
- 13:00 – Iqbal Pathan and Mark T
- 13:40 – Eshaan Angra
- 14:00 – Bal Vikas
- 14:25 – Chinese Arts Southampton
- 15:05 – Dandanakka Kalai Kuzhu
- 15:30 – Southampton Muthamizh Sangam Ladies Team
- 15:40 – Madugalle Sri Lankan Arts Academy
- 15:50 – Herleen Khalsa
- 16:15 – Southampton Youth Brass Band & Chandlers Ford Brass Band
What’s Happening Around the Site All Weekend
Roving Street Entertainment & Special Installations
The festival extends far beyond the main music structures. Keep your eyes peeled across the Hoglands fields for:
- The majestic, roaming Chinese Dragon performers and the acrobats of Circus Raj.
- The vibrant music of the Old Thumper Jazz Band and the returning Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band.
- Phool Bloom by Nutkhut: A gorgeous, interactive floral installation spread elegantly across the parkland.
- TEABREAK (Saturday Only): An audio and dance journey through the story of tea, with the drink itself served from a beautifully hand-painted tuk-tuk.
- Nightjar Collective: An ensemble of West African and UK drummers celebrating the incredible annual migration of the nightjar bird and the cultural connections between regions.
- New Forest Heritage Centre: An educational pop-up exhibition exploring the historic Indian army hospitals and convalescent depots that stood in the New Forest during WWI (1914–1916).
- A dedicated children’s funfair packed with rides for toddlers and youngsters.
The Free Workshop Tent & Visual Arts Zones
Want to get involved rather than just watch? Dive into a massive array of free, interactive, hands-on masterclasses running both days:
| Workshop Zone | Activities Available | Key Masterclasses |
|---|---|---|
| The Workshop Tent | Interactive performance arts | • Chinese Drumming with Michael Ng • Tabla Drumming with Iqbal Pathan • Bollywood Dance with Shreya Chugh & Kanisha Mehta • African Drumming with African Activities • Samba Drumming with Creative Beats |
| The Visual Arts Area | Traditional crafts and heritage art | Try your hand at Rangoli design, Madhubani painting, Chinese calligraphy, chess, clay modeling, traditional Bangladeshi folk art, weaving, and spinning. |
| The Performance Lawns | Active physical disciplines | • Circus Skills Training: Running daily from 12:30 to 17:30. • Chinese Tai Chi Masterclass: Sunday afternoon special session. |
Ticket Information & Entry Costs
- Admission Fee: Completely FREE for everyone. There are no tickets to book, no wristbands required, and no hidden registration fees. Simply walk right into Hoglands Park.
- Food & Retailing: A wide range of international world food stalls will be serving up piping-hot authentic flavors from across South Asia and well beyond, alongside independent retail clothing, craft, and community stalls. Cash and card options are widely accepted, but bringing cash is recommended for small independent traders.
Strict Event Regulations
- Family Safety: This is a highly inclusive, alcohol-free, family-friendly celebration. Bag checks will be conducted by security teams at all primary park entry gates.
- Dog Policy: Dogs are permitted in the public areas of Hoglands Park, but because of the massive crowds (exceeding 30,000 visitors), tight spaces, and loud percussion sounds, owners are strongly advised to keep pets on short leads and away from performance tents.
Local Tip: With the main stage schedules running until 22:00 on Saturday night, the park lawn can cool down rapidly once the sun sets. Bring a picnic blanket for the afternoon, but slip a light jacket or jumper into your backpack for the big Bhangra finale!
How to Get to Hoglands Park Southampton
Hoglands Park sits in the heart of Southampton’s central green parkland corridor, making it incredibly accessible no matter how you choose to travel:
- By Train: The park sits a flat 12-minute walk east from Southampton Central Railway Station. Simply exit via the northern terminal, walk straight past the Civic Centre, and head through the adjoining central parks.
- By Bus: Exceptionally well-connected by municipal transit networks. Any local bus route terminating at the City Centre, Westquay, or the primary hubs at Vincent’s Walk and the Bargate drops you within a 2-to-5 minute stroll of the park perimeter.
- By Car: Accessible via the main arterial routes into the city center. From the M27, exit at Junction 5 or 8 and follow the signs toward the City Centre / Westquay, which will lead you directly toward the central park ring roads.
Where to Park Near Hoglands Park
While there is no public vehicle parking inside the festival park grounds itself, excellent city-center alternatives sit just a short stroll away:
- Eastgate Multi-Storey Car Park (SO14 3HH): A highly secure and well-lit parking deck option located just a short 4-minute walk from the venue entrance, offering flat evening council parking rates.
- Westquay Multi-Storey Car Park (SO15 1ST): This massive, modern, and highly secure 24/7 parking deck is located a convenient walk from the park perimeters. It utilizes a ticketless “Drive in. Drive out.” ANPR camera logging system—simply park your car, enjoy the festival, and pay at the machines or via mobile before exiting.
- Central On-Street Parking Bays: Pay-and-display on-street parking spaces directly line the immediate boundaries of the park along Houndwell Place, Kings Park Road, and Palmerston Road. These city-center bays operate from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Sunday. You can pay easily using physical change at the roadside machines or digitally via the PayByPhone app.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What date and time is the Southampton Mela Festival 2026?
- The festival takes place across two full days in Hoglands Park. Saturday 18 July runs from 12:00 to 22:00 (12pm – 10pm BST), and Sunday 19 July runs from 12:00 to 20:00 (12pm – 8pm BST).
- Do I need to purchase tickets or register in advance?
- No, the Southampton Mela is entirely free and open to everyone. There are no entry tickets, booking fees, or wristbands required—you can simply show up on either day and enjoy everything on offer.
- What kind of hands-on activities are available for families?
- The festival features a dedicated Workshop Tent running free classes in Chinese, Tabla, African, and Samba drumming, alongside Bollywood dance sessions. There is also a Visual Arts area where you can try Rangoli design, Madhubani painting, Chinese calligraphy, Bangladeshi folk art, weaving, and clay modeling.
- Who is performing in the headline slots at the festival?
- Saturday night features a massive Bhangra finale with Sash, Happe Singh, Sadi Jori, and Navin Kundra. Sunday closes out with a spectacular, world-class drumming finale led by the legendary Padma Shri Velu Aasan and Prathap Ramachandra.
- Can I purchase food at the event?
- Yes! A massive array of independent world food stalls will be stationed around Hoglands Park, serving a wide variety of authentic global flavors from across South Asia and beyond, alongside community and retail bazaar stalls.