This July brings the return of London’s most delightfully eccentric summer tradition, the 51st annual Soho Village Fete, which will take over St Anne’s Gardens on Wardour Street on Sunday 19 July 2026.
The historic green space in the heart of the West End will play host to six hours of non-stop live entertainment, with quintessential summer festivities including:
The Soho Waiters’ Race: Hospitality staff sprinting around the streets of Soho while balancing trays loaded with sparkling wine, a glass and ashtray
Police vs. Fire Service Tug-of-War: The annual physical showdown between Soho’s emergency services.
The Soho Dog Show: A competitive canine contest where local pooches dress up like royalty.
Quirky Staples: Live snail racing, a human fruit machine, and messy spaghetti-eating contest
Local Refreshments: An outdoor bar curated entirely by legendary Soho bar, The French House.
WILL SOHO HOUSE WIN AGAIN?
The main event of the afternoon remains the world-famous Soho Waiters’ Race, sponsored this year by global payments company, Square. Soho’s finest waiters dash from The French House, up Dean Street, round Soho Square and back down Frith Street – all while balancing a bottle of Nyetimber sparkling wine, a glass and an ashtray on a tray. Can Dean Street Townhouse win for a fourth time, and will anyone beat L’Escargot’s Coco the Time-Travelling Tart, in heels?
CLASS ACTS ON STAGE
The Fete opens with the Belles of London City Morris Dancers and runs six hours of live music featuring local resident Bob Morgan with Diego Laverde Rochas, Yamaha ambassador Cat Delphi, old-timers Ray and Johnny, and the Fabulous Lounge Swingers. The St Kat’s Sessions ALL STARS headline with jazz star Olivia Swann with Ian Shaw and guests, before a Drag Queen finale of “Soho Soho” that gets the whole fete singing, hosted by ever-calm compere Peter Cliffe.
PHENOMENAL PRIZES AND STRICTLY LIMITED ENTRY
The fete’s raffle, supported by local businesses, offers prizes including a P225 Digital Piano, Yamaha Music London an overnight stay at Hazlitt’s Hotel, a year’s membership to Ronnie Scott’s, West End theatre tickets from Nimax Theatres, and dining vouchers for hotspots such as Bocca Di Lupo, Mildreds, L’Escargot, Ham Yard Hotel and the Dean Street Townhouse.
Entry is free and first-come, first-served, with limited capacity in the gardens, so arrive early to avoid disappointment. Soho Society members get fast-track priority entry at the gates.
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION:
VENUE: St Anne’s Gardens, Wardour Street, Soho, London W1D
DATE: Sunday 19th July 2026
TIME: 12-6pm
ENTRY: FREE
