WWT London Wetland Centre will bring the journeys of migratory birds and the vibrancy of West African culture together this May Bank Holiday weekend (2–4 May 2026) for its first-ever Migration Festival.
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.
Spring at 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.
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.
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.”
Highlights across the weekend include West African drumming and dance workshops, storytelling sessions, sustainable crafts, guided migratory bird walks, a family puppet show Guardian of the Wild, and Jollof rice cooking demonstrations.
The festival takes place 2–4 May 2026 at WWT London Wetland Centre. Activities are included with admission, with some sessions allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Find out more about the festival here: https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/london/whats-on/migration-festival
