WWT London launches first-ever Migration Festival this May Bank Holiday

If you’re after something a little different this May Bank Holiday, this might just be one of the most unique events landing in London.

On the 2nd - 4th May 2026, the WWT London Wetland Centre's first-ever Migration Festival is taking flight. The three-day event explores the remarkable connection between West Africa and West London through the shared story of migration, both human cultural traditions and the long-distance journeys of birds travelling thousands of miles each spring.

Find out more about the Migration Festival below or on Skiddle here

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Delivered in collaboration with African Activities, Wuntanara, and Shirley’s, the festival will feature live music, dance, storytelling, food and family activities inspired by West African heritage, alongside guided wildlife experiences across the reserve as spring migration peaks.

Such migration to the wetlands sees the arrival of species including sand martins, swifts, yellow wagtails, common terns and chiffchaffs, many of which migrate between West Africa and the UK each year.

Reserve Manager Adam Salmon said: “Migration is one of the most remarkable phenomena in nature, linking continents, cultures and communities. This festival is about celebrating those connections, through the birds arriving at the wetlands and the cultural traditions that span the same global pathways.”

Across the three days, there’s loads going on. Think West African drumming and dance workshops, storytelling sessions, sustainable crafts and Jollof rice cooking demos, alongside guided migratory bird walks where you can spot species arriving for the season. There’s also Guardian of the Wild, a family-friendly puppet show, plus plenty more dotted across the site.

The Migration Festival runs from 2nd – 4th May 2026 at WWT London Wetland Centre. Entry is included with general admission, with some sessions first-come, first-served. So if you’re heading down, make sure to get in early!

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Header image credit: African Activities

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