Ramadan Festival 2026 Programme To Feature Open Iftar Events across 8 UK Cities at some of the UK’s Most Iconic Landmarks and Venues Silverstone Circuit to become first motorsport venue in history to host Open Iftar Historic Royal Palace Banqueting House to host first Open Iftar in over 400 years
First week sees 6 Landmark Venues host Open Iftar Events across the country including Soho Theatre Walthamstow LONDON, 16 February 2026 – Ramadan Tent Project (RTP) gears up for an unprecedented start to Ramadan 2026 with its multi-award winning Open Iftar, marking its 13th year of bringing people of all faiths and none together through culture, community and connection. Under Ramadan Festival’s theme of Hope for 2026, the Open Iftar series will host events across 8 UK cities at some of the most iconic landmarks and venues.
This week will see Silverstone Circuit, home of the British Grand Prix, host its first ever Open Iftar. On Saturday 21 February, the world-famous circuit which hosted the first-ever Formula 1 World Championship race in 1950, will be the first motorsport venue in history to open its doors to the local community and visitors alike, fostering connection during the holy month in a truly unique setting. An unprecedented evening of faith and reflection in the fast lane – at one of the world’s fastest and famous racing venues.
Stuart Pringle, Chief Executive Officer of Silverstone, said: “Silverstone has always been a place where history is made, and we are proud to mark a new and meaningful first by hosting our inaugural Open Iftar in partnership with Ramadan Tent Project. Opening our doors duringthe holy month of Ramadan is a privilege, and an opportunity for us to use this iconic space in a different way, one centred on community, connection and shared experience. We are grateful to the Ramadan Tent Project for bringing Open Iftar to Silverstone and for the chance to be part of Ramadan Festival 2026. ”
The first Open Iftar of Ramadan 2026 will take place at a new royal address for the very first time at Banqueting House, a magnificent survivor of the lost royal Palace of Whitehall cared for by independent charity Historic Royal Palaces. On Friday 20 February, the royal palace will welcome hundreds of guests from all backgrounds to break their fast for the very first time in over 400 years, in a marvellous setting steeped in British History and heritage. This follows last year’s historic Open Iftar inside Windsor Castle’s State Apartments in collaboration with Royal Collection Trust, marking the first Iftar gathering in St. George’s Hall in the Castle’s 1,000 years of royal history.
Justine Locker, Head of Banqueting House said: “We are honoured to welcome Open Iftar to Banqueting House for the very first time. As the last remaining part of the lost Palace of Whitehall, this space has witnessed centuries of national, cultural and spiritual moments.
Opening the doors of the Banqueting House to communities from across London and beyond to celebrate the shared values of reflection, compassion and togetherness embodied by Ramadan continues this legacy. We are delighted to be part of this uplifting and unifying event. ”
Alongside Silverstone and Banqueting House, Open Iftar events will also be hosted at several celebrated venues across the country, including King’s College Cambridge, Soho Theatre
Walthamstow, Bradford Live and The Glass Marquee by MyLahore. Omar Salha, Founder and CEO of Ramadan Tent Project, said: “Welcoming the return of Ramadan Festival in 2026 fills me with a profound sense of hope, our chosen theme for this year. Hope is what carries communities through challenge, inspires generosity, and reminds us that renewal is always possible. It is central to Ramadan. It is the thread that connects our past to our future, and the light that guides us towards compassion, unity, and purpose.
Entering our 13th year, it is remarkable to witness the incredible growth of the festival across exciting new spaces, venues and landmarks that reflect the diversity and dynamism of our nation. Allowing us to bring more people together, create deeper cultural experiences, and
celebrate the spirit of Ramadan in ways that are more accessible, more vibrant, and more inclusive than ever before. A powerful symbol of how Ramadan is part of Britain’s rich cultural ecology.
Ramadan teaches us to look inward with sincerity and outward with kindness. By anchoring the Ramadan Festival 2026 in the theme of Hope, we’re honouring that tradition by inviting people from all faiths and none, turning strangers into friends, to imagine and build a future rooted in empathy, connection, and shared humanity. We look forward to welcoming thousands of visitors and guests across the UK throughout the festival. We’re excited for what this year will bring and grateful to everyone who continues to make this festival a beacon of togetherness.
”This Sunday in London, Soho Theatre Walthamstow will open its doors to the community to break fast. Returning to the newly renovated venue after the Welcome Ramadan Conference in late January 2026, this theatre with an incredible heritage will host Open Iftar for the first time in the famously multicultural borough of Waltham Forest. Similarly in Cambridge, Open Iftar will return to King’s College. This historic college with over 500 years of history, continues to welcome people of all faiths and none to gather in the spirit of Ramadan.
Alessandro Babalola, Soho Theatre Creative Associate and Soho Theatre Walthamstow Co-Chair said: “As a local theatre with a national profile, the vision behind Soho Theatre Walthamstow was to create a cultural hub that would be a focal point of bold creative expression, artistic discovery, unity, and celebration both within the local community and across the country. Our bustling local community in Waltham Forest is famously multicultural and the
Muslim community play no small part in that so to be able to come together with an initiative of national significance like the Ramadan Tent Project and open our doors to people of all backgrounds/faiths for their renowned Open Iftar is a direct fulfilment of our ambition.
On a personal level: as the Co-chair of Soho Theatre Walthamstow, as an artist, and as a Muslim who was born and raised in the borough; hosting the Open Iftar at our theatre represents a heartwarming conflation of these different aspects of my life. It fills me with immense pride that our stunning venue will be able to play a part in month of Ramadan; a time for peaceful reflection, generosity and the appreciation of community.”
Fellow Henning Grose-Ruse Khan, Kings College Cambridge said: “Open Iftar is a wonderful opportunity for Muslims and non-Muslims from across Cambridge to gather at King’s College during Ramadan. Previous events have been a great success, and I’m delighted that King’s College continues to be a place that welcomes these opportunities for people of all faiths and none to gather. ” Other programmes and activations taking place during Ramadan Festival 2026 includes the return of Fast A Day now in its 3rd year, working with businesses to host intimate iftars raising awareness about Ramadan and encouraging colleagues to fast a day, fostering workplace inclusion and understanding. Also making a return is Ramadan Run Club, a safe space for runners of all backgrounds, seeking physical activity and connection in Ramadan, and of course, the highly anticipated Open Iftar events across 8 UK cities, hosted at some of the country’s most celebrated and iconic venues.
Open Iftar, the showcase of the annual Ramadan Festival and the UK’s largest community event series in Ramadan, brings together people of all backgrounds to open their fast and share a meal in the spirit of generosity, inclusion and cultural exchange. Since its inception, Ramadan Tent Project has welcomed and connected over one million people nationwide, transforming historic, cultural and sporting landmarks into spaces of shared reflection and belonging.
SUPPORTING SPONSORS:Islamic Relief UK Interim Director, Zia Salik said: “Ramadan is a sacred month that brings communities together every year. We are delighted to be partnering with the Ramadan Tent Project once again for a series of special iftar events around the country. Now more than ever it is so important to bridge the gaps between communities to combat rising division and inspire hope. If you’ve never been to an Open Iftar I encourage you to do so, everyone is welcome and they provide inspiring moments of togetherness. Whilst some may seek to divide us, our strength is found by working together to tackle the real issues facing families in the UK right now, like the cost-of-living crisis and food poverty, hand in hand with our neighbours from all backgrounds.”
Ismael Danahein, Founder & CEO, EverGive: “The Ramadan Tent Project shows what becomes possible when people gather around shared values – generosity, dignity, and care for one another. At EverGive, our mission is to build long-term structures that help these human instincts endure, not just in moments of crisis, but across time. Supporting this project reflects our belief that when community, culture, and long-term thinking meet, the impact reaches far beyond the table.”
Tim Rees, Managing Director of Vita Coco said: “Vita Coco is proud to mark our third year of supporting Open Iftar and the Ramadan Tent Project, offering our coconut water to ‘Fuel Your Fast’. This partnership reflects who we are as a brand and our commitment to building thriving communities, championing health and wellness, and creating positive impact beyond our products. We support initiatives that unite people, and through Open Iftar we are honoured to stand alongside the Ramadan Tent Project in welcoming people of all backgrounds around the table to strengthen social bonds and shared humanity across the UK. ”
The Open Iftar programme for Ramadan Festival 2026 includes the following dates and venues: (further locations and dates to be announced)
WEEK ONE
Friday 20 February: Banqueting House, London + Bradford Live
Saturday 21 February: Silverstone Circuit + Bradford Live + MyLahore Glass Marquee, Blackburn
Sunday 22 February: Soho Theatre Walthamstow, London + King’s College, Cambridge
WEEK TWO
Friday 27 February: Brighton Dome, Brighton
Saturday 28 February: Shoreditch Town Hall, London
Sunday 1 March: Battersea Arts Centre, London
WEEK THREE
Friday 6 March: National Gallery, London
Saturday 7 March: Guildhall, City of London + Glasgow City Chambers, Glasgow
Sunday 8 March: Library of Birmingham, Birmingham
WEEK FOUR
Friday 13 March: AFC Wimbledon, London
Sunday 15 March: 22 Bishopsgate, London
Monday 16 March: Trafalgar Square, London
For further enquiries, media accreditation and interviews, please contact:
RTP@wearemediahive.com
media@ramadantentproject.com
Instagram: @openiftar @ramadantentproject
X (Twitter): @openiftar @ramadantent
TikTok: @ramadantentproject
YouTube: @ramadantentproject
LinkedIn: Ramadan Tent Project
Website: www.ramadantentproject.com
About Ramadan Tent Project
Ramadan Tent Project is a multi-award- winning British charity established in 2013 with a mission to bring communities together and to further develop the understanding of Ramadan.
Ramadan Tent Project organises the annual Ramadan Festival, which is a collection of artistic, cultural, creative events to inspire and engage audiences from all backgrounds, in addition to the UK’s largest community event in Ramadan, Open Iftar.
About Open Iftar
Open Iftar is Ramadan Tent Project’s flagship initiative and the UK’s largest community event in Ramadan. Open Iftar invites people from all walks of life and is open to people of all faiths and none to increase community harmony, belonging, softening hearts and minds, and turningstrangers into friends.
‘Iftar’ is the meal that is prepared and offered to Muslims observing Ramadan when breaking their fast from sunrise to sunset. Since 2013, Open Iftar has connected over one-million people from across the globe including first of its kind events at some of Britain’s most loved & iconic cultural spaces, from Windsor Castle to the Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Stadium, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tate Modern, the V&A and Trafalgar Square, to
events at the Baltic Museum, Bradford’s Centenary Square, Coventry Cathedral and man more.
About Ramadan Run Club (RRC)
Fostering a safe space for runners, from diverse faith backgrounds, seeking activity during the
holy month that is aligned with the spiritual essence of Ramadan. RRC facilitates connections among runners of all levels, building a healthy, mindful, and spiritually fit community.
About Fast A Day
Fast a Day is a unique initiative designed for businesses and organisations looking to create a more inclusive and meaningful workplace during the month of Ramadan.
