Holi events: celebrate the festival of colours in London

Ancient traditions don’t get much more fun than Holi, the centuries-old festival where revellers mark the start of spring by hurling brightly coloured paint at each other.

When is Holi 2023?

Holi falls on Wednesday March 8 this year, although many celebrations will take place on the weekends before or after that date.

What is Holi festival?

It’s a millennia-old tradition celebrated across the Indian subcontinent by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and nonbelievers alike. For Hindus, it’s a time to celebrate the love of Radha Krishna and the triumph of good over evil with events that begin with a ritual evening bonfire, followed by coloured paint flinging, music and feasting the following day. But the paint-slinging part of the festivities is getting more and more popular across the world with both believers and non-believers, as everyone embraces the chance to cut loose, spread a little chaos, and get some dayglo-brite pics for the Gram. 

Whether you’re after a traditional celebration of Indian culture or just an excuse to chuck some coloured power around, here are the places to go. Dig out some old clothes you don't mind getting messy and prepare for some serious fun.

Recommended: Hungry for more? Check out London’s best Indian restaurants.