Underbelly Festival in South Bank

Enjoy a fun-packed festival of live entertainment and al-fresco eating and drinking at Underbelly Festival in South Bank.

In 2017, the Udderbelly Festival and London Wonderground were joined together in a huge season of top live acts, forming the Underbelly Festival. Stretching throughout the summer, the festival returns for the 10th year with stages full of affordable circus, theatre, cabaret, comedy, music and children’s shows on the south bank of the Thames.

You can also drop by the free-to-enter festival site to tuck into street food from the riverside vendors and grab a drink at one of London’s biggest outdoor bars.

Comedy at Underbelly Festival

This year’s line-up of top comedians includes Katy Brand (26 Apr), Nina Conti (28 Apr and 1 Jul), James Acaster (9 May), Sara Pascoe (19-20 May), Ruby Wax (26-27 May), Danny Bhoy (4 Jun), Stephen K. Amos (8 June), Gina Yashere (22-24 Jun), Dane Baptiste & Friends (7 Jul) and The Horne Section (11 Jul).

Plus, try your luck in cult interactive gameshow Knightmare Live (17 Jun and 8 Jul), enjoy Jess Robinson’s hilarious impressions (31 May and 5 Jul), or catch Glasgow’s dark comedy star Limmy in a screening of his acclaimed Vines (2 Jun).

Underbelly circus and cabaret shows

Watch in awe as Ethiopian circus troupe Circus Abyssinia mix stunts and adventure with their show Ethiopian Dreams (6 Apr-20 May); or catch Circa’s thrilling circus-cabaret show, Peepshow (27 Jun-18 Aug).

Plus, enjoy weird and wonderful acts on the 250th anniversary of circus, including SOAP, a quirky production combining water and spectacular acrobatics (3 May-17 Jun); award-winning circus extravaganza Elixir (12-23 Jun); and Circolombia’s enthralling Latin circus-concert show (24 May-14 Jul).

Underbelly family shows

It’s not just adults who can have all the fun, as Underbelly Festival puts on a range of shows and activities specially designed for children and families.

Be mesmerised by a spectacular mix of contemporary dance and physical theatre with Metta’s Little Mermaid - The Circus Sensation (24 Jul-12 Aug), or by The Amazing Bubble Man's fascinating show of bubble tricks (21-22 Apr and 26-29 May).

Other unmissable family shows include time-travelling magicians Morgan & West (7, 8 and 28 Jul, 27 Aug), as well as hilarious and interactive performances with Dick & Dom (9-10 Jun), Funz and Gamez (8 July) and Monski Mouse’s Baby Disco Dancehall (various dates 6 May-30 Sep).

More Underbelly Festival shows

You can also belt out hits with Massaoke Club La La (4 May), dance the night away at The Silent Disco Show (5 May, 2 Jun and 31 Aug), and enjoy some late-night disco fun with Club Briefs (25 and 28 Jul) in the Underbelly Spiegeltent.