- Ramadan Festival 2026 Programme to Feature Open Iftar Events across 8 UK Cities at some of the UK’s Most Iconic Landmarks and Venues
- Second Week sees Brighton Dome, Shoreditch Town Hall and Battersea Arts Centre welcoming guests to break their fast
- Follows a successful first week of Open Iftar events across the country, including at Banqueting House and Silverstone Circuit
LONDON, 23 February 2026 – Ramadan Tent Project (RTP) has delivered a landmark opening week to Ramadan 2026, with its multi-award-winning Open Iftar series drawing crowds across the UK in its 13th year of bringing people together through culture, community and connection. Following a successful unprecedented opening weekend which saw 7 Open Iftar events including at Historical Royal Palace’s Banqueting House, Silverstone Circuit and Soho Theatre Walthamstow, excitement is already building for another extraordinary week of Open Iftar events.
This week, Brighton will welcome its first Open Iftar of the year. On Friday 27th February, the magnificent Brighton Dome will host guests of all faiths and none to break their fast together for the very first time in over 200 years. Originally built as a stables for King George IV in
1803-1808, the exterior was inspired by the Jama Masjid of Delhi, making Open Iftar’s arrival feel timely and historically resonant. Last year’s Open Iftar at Brighton’s iconic Amex Stadium proved a powerful symbol of unity and inclusion, and all signs point to this year’s Brighton Dome event being equally as powerful.
Lucy Davies, CEO of Brighton Dome said:
“We are delighted to be welcoming people under this year’s Ramadan Festival theme of Hope to Brighton Dome’s Corn Exchange on 27 February for the Open Iftar. It is a privilege to take part in this fantastic project.”
Alongside Brighton Dome, London will welcome two more Open Iftar events. In East London, Shoreditch Town Hall will open its doors on the 28th of February to serve the local people once again. The Town Hall has long stood as a symbol of civic community, which aligns with Open Iftar’s purpose of bringing together people of all faiths and none in the spirit of Hope, Ramadan Festival’s theme for 2026. With Shoreditch’s roots as one of London’s diverse neighbourhoods, this year’s Open Iftar finds a natural home on Old Street.
Ellie Browning, Head of Cultural Programme, said:
“As an arts venue rooted in civic history, we’re excited to host Open Iftar and continue Shoreditch Town Hall’s tradition of welcome, shared experience and connection. Opening our doors in this way reflects both our past and the richness of the communities around us today, and we look forward to bringing people together in a spirit of openness, belonging and celebration.”
In South London, Battersea Arts Centre will welcome guests for its first Open Iftar of the year on the 1st of March. The former Battersea Town Hall has long been home for radical ideas and civic courage. Over 130 years on, Open Iftar arrives in the same spirit, bringing together a community in the building that has always stood for one.
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.
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:
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 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 + Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 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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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 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.
