– Royal Palace Banqueting House welcomed hundreds of guests from all backgrounds for the First Open Iftar of 2026
– Ramadan Festival Programme To Feature Open Iftar Events in 8 UK Cities at Iconic Landmarks and Historic Venues Across the UK
– First week sees 6 Landmark Venues host Open Iftar Events across the country
LONDON, 20 February 2026 – Ramadan Tent Project (RTP) has marked the start of Ramadan 2026 with the first ever Open Iftar held at Banqueting House, a magnificent survivor of the lost royal Palace of Whitehall cared for by independent charity Historic Royal Palaces.
The event took place in the main Banqueting Hall beneath the world-famous ceiling painted by Sir Peter Paul Rubens, with congregational prayers held in the Undercroft. Handheld mirrors were made available for guests to use while seated, allowing them to fully appreciate the grandeur and intricate detail of Rubens’ masterpiece overhead.
Hundreds of guests from all backgrounds gathered in the marvellous setting steeped in British history and heritage to break their fast for the very first time with meals from Comptoir Libanais, a partner and supporter of Open Iftar events since 2024.
Guests in attendance included Aaqil Ahmed (Host), Two British muslim gentlemen Chris and Ben who are known for using platforms to combat Islamophobia, Baroness Manzila Uddin (House of Lords), Shazia Arshad (Islamic Relief), and Justine Locker from Historic Royal Palaces.
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-year history. The hall welcomed over 360 guests of all backgrounds to mark the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
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.”
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 with over one million people nationwide, transforming historic, cultural and sporting landmarks into spaces of shared reflection and belonging.
Other programmes and activations taking place during Ramadan Festival 2026 include the return of Fast A Day, now in its third 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, alongside the highly anticipated Open Iftar events across 9 UK cities, hosted at some of the country’s most celebrated and iconic venues.
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.”
SUPPORTING SPONSORS:
Tony Kitous, Founder of Comptoir Libanais, said:
“Supporting the Ramadan Tent Project’s Open Iftar has been a real honour for us at Comptoir Libanais. As an immigrant British Muslim, Ramadan has always been about generosity, community and opening our table to others. Seeing so many people, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, come together to share a meal was truly special.
We are incredibly grateful to the organisers, the volunteers, and everyone who joined. We are very proud and happy to serve our community and to support an initiative that brings people together in such a meaningful way.”
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:
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: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London + 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
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TikTok: @ramadantentproject
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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 turning
strangers 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 many 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.
