Londoners are becoming increasingly spoilt for choice when it comes to major festivals putting the creative future in the spotlight. After SXSW London arrived on the scene in 2025 (and you can check out our review and visitor guide for more info), this September, the Southbank Centre will launch Creative Intelligence, a new three-day festival exploring the intersection of art, technology and creativity. Here’s what you need to know:
WHAT: Creative Intelligence
WHERE: Southbank Centre, London, England
WHEN: Friday 11 – Sunday 13 September 2026
WHY: For those looking to experience the future of culture, Creative Intelligence will transform the Southbank Centre’s 11-acre site into a playground of art, technology and ideas. The inaugural festival brings together artists, writers, technologists and the public for installations, performances, talks, workshops and hands-on experiments exploring how technology is changing the way we live and create. Well worth scheduling your trip around!
A New Creative Destination for the Future
London has long been one of the world’s great cultural destinations, but its creative identity is evolving. Inspired by the spirit of the 1951 Festival of Britain, the festival will feature major installations including Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg’s Pollinator Pathmaker and Anatomy of an AI System by Kate Crawford and Vladan Joler.
The Creative Intelligence Summit opens the weekend on Friday 11 September, bringing together artists, writers, curators and technology experts to explore the future of creativity. Participants include Holly Herndon, Jeanette Winterson, Kate Crawford, Love Ssega and Sougwen Chung, with the day concluding with a Deep Listening Session from pioneering artist Holly Herndon.
The festival will also include interactive experiments, live demonstrations and workshops, alongside the Peckham Digital Takeover, showcasing London’s grassroots creative computing community with performances, robot combat and an Algorave.
Planning Your Visit
For travellers visiting London in September, Creative Intelligence offers a compelling addition to a weekend in the capital. The Southbank Centre sits within walking distance of the London Eye, Tate Modern, Borough Market and the National Theatre, making it easy to combine the festival with some of London’s best-known attractions.
The wider weekend also coincides with Playing With Fire: An Immersive Odyssey with Yuja Wang, a mixed-reality concert experience running from 9 September 2026 until January 2027.
Find out everything you need to know at:
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/events/creative-intelligence/