LGBT+ History Month 2026 in East London

February 2026 marks the 22nd year of LGBT+ History Month in the United Kingdom. Running throughout the whole month, the national theme “Science & Innovation” shines a spotlight on the many ways queer people have driven progress in medicine, engineering, chemistry, biotechnology and beyond—while also remembering how science has once been misused to marginalise LGBT+ lives.

Key Events and Activities across the country:

• National Gallery, London: Hosts a free LGBTQ+ History Month Tour and Talkon 2 and 15 February, led by Gallery Educator Dr Tilly Scantlebury, exploring artworks through a ‘queer lens’.
• Royal Museums Greenwich: Celebrates with events including Out at Sea, a day-long festival at the National Maritime Museum, and performances at the Queen’s House.
• Newham Council: Features a programme themed ‘Science and Innovation’, including a creative workshop on queer care history and a play-in-progress at the Tate Institute.
• Bristol Museums: Hosts the LGBTQ+ History Month Festivalat M Shed, with talks on Bristol’s queer history, including the life of literary scholar John Addington Symonds.
• Wandsworth Borough: Marks the month with a Queer Wandsworth Exhibitionand a green plaque unveiling for activist Hanna Barrington.

Educational Resources and Participation

• Free presentations are available for secondary schools, youth groups, and pride clubs5.
• Registerat co.uk to receive updates, webinars, and resources.
• The official 2026 badgewas designed by Dr Robin Hayward, a science communicator and queer nature artist.

Historical Figures Highlighted in 2026

• Barbara Burford– Medical researcher advancing NHS equality.
• Charles Beyer– Co-founder of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
• Elke Mackenzie– Antarctic botanist studying lichens.
• Jemma Redmond– Biotechnologist developing 3D bioprinting.
• Robert Boyle– Founder of modern chemistry and the scientific method.

The month aims to educate out prejudice, promote inclusion, and ensure LGBT+ lives are visible, valued, and celebrated across education, workplaces, and communities.  

Across East London, our boroughs are marking the month with programmes that do more than celebrate history. They create space for dialogue. They centre lived experience. They connect past struggles to present progress. And they ensure LGBT+ communities remain visible, valued and heard.

From exhibitions and film screenings to workshops, performances and community markets, each borough brings its own energy and perspective — grounded in local stories and shaped by the people who live and work there.

Here’s what’s happening across Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.

Hackney

Hackney’s schedule opens with the town hall flying a rainbow flag that incorporates extra colours for trans and non‑binary identities. Highlights include:

• From Bedroom to Battleground and Out and About – two new exhibitions at Hackney Museum (1 Feb ) that showcase personal stories from young queer creators and older activists.
• Queer Tours of Dalston – a free 90‑minute walking tour (21‑22 Feb ) that maps historic queer sites such as the Rio Cinema, Dalston Superstore and the Divine.
• Molly Houses in Hackney – a special event (26 Feb) at Newington Green Meeting House exploring 18th‑century underground queer spaces, slang like Polari and the “hankie code.”
• Hackney Archives Podcast – launched in February, hosted by archivist Hannah Milton and drag‑king Bad Lay‑Dee, digging into hidden local queer histories.
• LGBT+ History Month Finale – a celebration at the Assembly Rooms (26 Feb) featuring student projects from primary and secondary schools, plus the Green Door youth initiative.

Hackney’s local focus mirrors the national “Politics in Art” theme, emphasizing how creative expression fuels social change.

Newham

Newham LGBT+ History Month programme highlights include:

• Opening ceremony – Pride flag raising and a Queer Ecology talk at East Ham Town Hall.
• Creative workshops – poetry, screen‑printing (“Quantum Queers”), and life‑drawing sessions for under‑25s.
• Talks & screenings – Dr Clare Summerskill’s play on elder‑care abuse, a Munroe Bergdorf film night, and a discussion on Alan Turing’s legacy.
• Markets & pop‑ups – the Shocking Pink Pound market (21 Feb ) showcases LGBT+ makers alongside Woodgrange traders.
• Community‑driven projects – “Queer Maps of Newham,” a collaborative poetry‑mapping session (25 Feb), and a series of coffee mornings and performance evenings that keep the conversation alive beyond February.
• Digital Exhibition – Portraits of LGBT+ Change Makers, Past and Present

All events are free and open to families, adults and young people.

For more information on this year’s programme,  see newhamlgbthistory.org.

Tower Hamlets

Tower Hamlets highlights the national theme with the Queer East London Fest 2026 (Thu 19 Feb, 4–7:30 pm at Positive East). The free festival blends workshops, a community marketplace, pop‑up cinema and activities that examine both scientific contributions and historic medicalisation of queer identities.

Additional offerings include:

• Lunch‑and‑Learn sessions – February‑wide health talks covering mental health, HIV support, hate‑crime reporting and cancer screening.
• Community Archives & Storytelling – projects like “Archiving Desires” that capture pre‑digital queer connections and invite residents to shape future LGBTQ+ spaces.

Residents can stay updated via the borough’s event page on the Tower Hamlets Arts website.

Waltham Forest

Waltham Forest frames its celebrations around “Activism and Social Change,” complementing the broader “Science & Innovation” narrative. Key activities include:

• Out in the Forest – the borough’s rebranded LGBTIQ+ staff network runs trans‑awareness training with Gendered Intelligence and supports internal engagement.
• Free presentations – available for schools, pride clubs and youth groups
• Badge design – the 2026 badge, created by science communicator Dr Robin Hayward, appears across promotional materials.
• Resource hub – Schools OUT UK supplies toolkits that help organisations “Usualise” LGBT+ lives, reinforcing visibility and education throughout the month.

Waltham Forest’s efforts have earned shortlisting in the Local Government Chronicle awards, underscoring its commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Get Involved

To stay informed, register for updates at lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk and follow each borough’s individual pages for event details, volunteer opportunities and downloadable resources. All activities are free, aiming to educate, inspire and ensure that LGBT+ histories remain visible, valued and celebrated across East London.

Photo credit:Frank from Friends of Joiners Arms. © Alex Janaszewski