Afghan Summer Festival 2026 Set to Draw Over 10,000 Visitors in London

The Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA), an award-winning UK-based refugee charity headquartered in London, has announced the return of the Afghan Summer Festival (MELA) 2026. The event will take place on June 21, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Cranford Community College in Hounslow, London.

According to organizers, the festival is recognized as the United Kingdom’s largest Refugee Week festival and the world’s largest Afghan music festival. ACAA described the event as one of the “most significant celebrations of Afghan culture, heritage, music and community anywhere in Europe.”

Building on the success of the 2025 festival, which attracted more than 7,500 attendees, organizers expect over 10,000 visitors this year from across London, the United Kingdom, and other parts of Europe.

Held as part of the annual Refugee Week celebrations, the festival aims to bring together Afghan, Central Asian, Persian, South Asian, and wider communities for a day of cultural exchange, entertainment, community engagement, and celebration.

The event will feature a full schedule of live entertainment, including Afghan DJs, Afghan, Persian and Central Asian singers and dance groups, as well as traditional folk music performances showcasing instruments such as the Rubab, Tabla, Santur, and Daf. Professional photography and videography services will also be available, alongside performances on a large outdoor festival stage throughout the day.

Families attending the festival can take part in a range of activities, including a dedicated children’s zone, bouncy castles, funfair rides, face painting, henna art, storytelling stalls, circus performances, games, and a 360-degree photo booth experience.

A variety of food and beverage vendors will offer Afghan, Central Asian, Persian, and South Asian cuisine, along with traditional sweets and desserts. Additional attractions will include ice cream vendors, chocolate fountain stalls, bubble tea stands, Ice Gola vendors, and a bar offering cashless and cash payment options.

The festival’s shopping bazaar will feature more than 30 stalls showcasing Afghan and international fashion, jewelry, arts and crafts, carpets, textiles, embroidery, calligraphy, henna art, community organizations, and products from small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore cultural heritage exhibitions featuring photo displays documenting refugee experiences, exhibits highlighting Afghan and Central Asian history and heritage, community storytelling projects, and educational displays designed to promote cultural awareness.

Festival partners include Hounslow Council Summer of Culture, Inclusion Barnet, VCS Emergencies Partnership, London Communities Emergencies Partnership (LCEP), London Plus, Greater London Authority, London Borough of Hounslow, London Councils, London Boroughs Faiths Network, Community Action Sutton, Exiled Writers Ink, Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network (LRMN), and InHounslow. 

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