What’s on this week Islington(mon-12-jan-sun-18-jan-2026)

A week of ballet brilliance, indie discovery nights, big rock/metal bills, and proper after-hours across Islington, Hackney, Shoreditch, King’s Cross, Clerkenwell/Farringdon and beyond.

Monday 12 January 2026

🎭 Theatre & Performing Arts

• The Red Shoes (Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures) — Sadler’s Wells (Clerkenwell/Angel)

  19:30 | From £25
  Dark fairytale ballet with Bourne’s cinematic storytelling and big ensemble energy. Don’t miss if you love dance theatre.

• Already Perfect — King’s Head Theatre (Angel/Islington)

  19:30 | Tickets from ~£13+ (varies by performance/offer)
  A sharp, modern, character-led play with heart — great “weeknight theatre” choice near Upper Street.

🎶 Live Music

• Five Day Forecast 2026 — Day One (Silver Gore + guests) — The Lexington (King’s Cross)

  19:00 | Paid (see ticketing)
  The Line of Best Fit’s annual “new music radar” week lands at The Lex — brilliant for discovering your next favourite artist.

🍻 Pubs & Bars

• Lexington Pop Quiz with Paul Guided Missile — The Lexington (King’s Cross)

  20:00 | Paid/booking via listing
  A classic Monday social — go early if you want a good table.

☕ Coffee shop to work from (daytime)

• Rosslyn (Queen Victoria St) or WatchHouse (Spitalfields/Hoxton-ish reach) — solid laptop vibes, good espresso. (Walk in, weekdays best.)

Tuesday 13 January 2026

🎭 Theatre & Performing Arts

• The Red Shoes — Sadler’s Wells

  19:30 | From £25

• Already Perfect — King’s Head Theatre

  19:30 | From ~£13+

🎶 Classical / Concert

• LSO “Makropulos” (Concert Performance) — Sir Simon Rattle — Barbican Hall (Barbican/Farringdon)

  19:00 | £25–£109
  Big-ticket cultural moment for opera/orchestral fans (Janáček, LSO, Rattle).

🌙 Nightlife & Clubs

• SNEAK RAVE (Every Tuesday: House/Tech) — XOYO (Shoreditch)

  23:00–late | Tickets from £4.50
  Budget-friendly midweek dance if you want energy without waiting for Friday.

🍽️ Date-night idea (easy win)

• Pre-theatre ramen / small plates in King’s Cross → then Lexington or walk Granary Square after.

Wednesday 14 January 2026

🎭 Theatre & Performing Arts

• Already Perfect (Matinee) — King’s Head Theatre (Angel)

  14:30 | From ~£13+

• The Red Shoes — Sadler’s Wells
  19:30 | From £25 (Post-show talk tonight)

🎶 Live Music

• Midnight Til Morning + aleksiah — O2 Academy Islington (Angel/Islington)

  19:00 (doors 19:00) | Paid (see ticketing)
  Pop/alt bill in a proper venue — good “go big on a Wednesday” plan.

🌙 Nightlife & Clubs

• TeamUCL Sports Night — Scala (King’s Cross)

  23:00–05:00 | From ~£3 early bird (limited)
  Student-heavy, loud, fun — expect queues after midnight.

Thursday 15 January 2026

🎭 Theatre & Performing Arts

• The Red Shoes — Sadler’s Wells

  19:30 | From £25

• Already Perfect — King’s Head Theatre

  19:30 | From ~£13+

🎶 Live Music

• Annisokay (ABYSS PT. II Tour) + supports — The Garage (Highbury Corner)

  19:00 | £23.50
  Heavy, high-intensity night for metalcore/post-hardcore fans.

😂 Comedy

• Gaza Sunbirds Festival of Comedy — Union Chapel (Angel/Islington)

  18:30 | £15–£20
  Stand-up night supporting a powerful cause, in one of London’s most atmospheric rooms.

Friday 16 January 2026

🎶 Live Music

• Five Day Forecast 2026 (final nights across 12–16 Jan) — The Lexington (King’s Cross)

  Evening | Paid
  If you only do one “new music” thing this month, make it one of these Lexington nights.

🌙 Nightlife & Clubs

• fabric x Origins: BCCO (future.666, ÜBERKIKZ, SHDW) — fabric (Farringdon/Clerkenwell)

  23:00–05:00 | From £13.50
  Proper underground techno/club night at a London institution.

• RIPOSTE — Electrowerkz (Angel/Islington)

  21:00–06:00 | Paid (see ticketing)
  Queer-forward late-night energy in a legendary warehouse-style club.

• Fresh Kicks — Basing House (Shoreditch)

  22:00–04:00 | Paid (see ticketing)
  House music flavours in an intimate Shoreditch room.

• The Cross (King’s Cross) — Closed for a private event

  18:00–03:00 (Fri–Sat)

🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ pick

• Electrowerkz (Riposte) is the obvious “go where the atmosphere is guaranteed” choice tonight.

🍽️ Date night (Friday edition)

• Angel → Clerkenwell: dinner on Upper Street, then Sadler’s Wells bar or fabric depending on your mood.

Saturday 17 January 2026

🎭 Theatre & Performing Arts

• The Red Shoes — Sadler’s Wells

  14:30 & 19:30 | From £25

• Already Perfect — King’s Head Theatre

  14:30 & 19:30 | From ~£13+

• Almeida Theatre Tour — Almeida (Islington)

  Typically Saturdays 14:30 | Paid
  Great for architecture/history lovers (and a lovely pre-brunch plan around Upper Street).

🎶 Live Music

• The Highstool Prophets — O2 Academy Islington (Angel)

  19:00 (doors 19:00) | Sold out
  Irish folk/country energy — worth checking resale/returns if you’re keen.

🌙 Nightlife & Clubs

• fabric: Craig Richards & Nicolas Lutz (All Night Long) — fabric (Farringdon)

  23:00–06:00 | Paid (see ticketing)
  A deep, rolling marathon session for proper club heads.

• Egg LDN Pres: SUBVRS (Tech House / Deep Tech) — Egg London (Holloway/Islington border)

  22:00–07:00 | Paid (see ticketing)
  Big late one in N7 — expect a younger, high-energy crowd.

• SLIMELIGHT — Electrowerkz (Angel)

  22:00–06:00 | Paid (members often get deals/free entry offers)
  Iconic alt/industrial/goth-adjacent night — inclusive, dress-up friendly, very “London”.

• Fusion meets High Voltage (Trance / Progressive) — Basing House (Shoreditch)

  14:00–04:00 (last entry 02:00) | Tickets from £12.50
  Day-to-night rave arc (main event + afterparty format).

🐶 Dog-friendly

• Park stroll + pub combo (daytime): Clissold Park (Stoke Newington) or Highbury Fields → then a dog-friendly pub garden (book if it’s busy).

🍳 Brunch (Saturday)

• King’s Cross / Coal Drops Yard for easy “wander + brunch + shopping” energy; Stoke Newington Church Street for cosy cafés + indie browsing.

Sunday 18 January 2026

🎭 Theatre & Performing Arts

• The Red Shoes (final day) — Sadler’s Wells

  14:00 | From £25 (Last chance this run)

• Already Perfect — King’s Head Theatre (Angel)
  15:00 | From ~£13+

🎶 Live Music

• Born of Osiris + Ingested + The Voynich Code + Entheos — Islington Assembly Hall (Islington)

  Doors 18:30 | £30.25 | 14+ (u16s with adult)
  Heavy night: technical metalcore/deathcore bill in a gorgeous old hall.

🎶 Classical / Concert

• LSO — Sir Simon Rattle — Barbican Hall (Barbican/Farringdon)

  19:00 | £25–£109
  “Make-a-night-of-it” Sunday culture plan (pre-drinks around Barbican/Farringdon).

🌙 Nightlife & Clubs

• CAYA by fabric: Unity Sound 3rd Birthday — fabric (Farringdon)

  23:00–04:00 | Paid / some events include limited free allocations
  If you like your Sundays late, this is your reset.

• Fabric London

🍽️ Sunday Roasts (quick hit list)

• Islington/Angel: The Pig & Butcher, The Drapers Arms (book early)
• Clerkenwell/Farringdon: The Eagle (classic), The Fox & Anchor (proper winter vibes)
• Stoke Newington: The Prince, The Clarence Tavern (check roast hours/booking)

Handy “This Week” Picks by Vibe (fast planning)

• Don’t-miss dance/theatre: The Red Shoes (Sadler’s Wells, multiple nights + weekend mats).
• Indie discovery week: Five Day Forecast at The Lexington (12–16 Jan).
• Big club weekend: fabric Fri/Sat/Sun run (Origins night → All Night Long → Sunday CAYA).
• Queer nightlife: Electrowerkz (Riposte Fri, Slimelight Sat).
• Heavy gigs: Annisokay (Garage Thu) + Born of Osiris (Assembly Hall Sun).

King’s Cross (N1C) / Coal Drops Yard / Granary Square / Canopy Market — 12–18 Jan 2026

coal drops yard

 Markets + Community

• Canopy Market (weekly market) — King’s Cross, N1C
  Wed 12:00–19:00 • Thu 12:00–19:00 (street-food focus) • Fri 12:00–20:00 • Sat–Sun 11:00–18:00 | Free entry
  Covered market with rotating street food + small producers—perfect daytime plan between King’s Cross and Granary Square.

 Winter pop-up activity (Coal Drops Yard)

• Club Curling — Coal Drops Yard (King’s Cross, N1C)
  Mon 12th – Sat 17th (and beyond): 12:00–21:00 | From £9 pp (accompanied children under 12 free)
  A super fun winter activity with synthetic curling lanes + après-style lounge vibes—great for mates, dates, or families. Booking recommended.

 Wellness festival (King’s Cross Central)

• The Equanimity Festival (wellness + reset programme) — King’s Cross Central
  From Thu 15 Jan onwards | From ~£12 for some sessions (booking varies)
  Think saunas + cold plunges + workshops and “reset” style programming across the district (Lewis Cubitt Square is a key hub).

 Walks + Outdoors (Granary Square)

• Guided Walk: Regent’s Canal, King’s Cross, Granary Square & Camden — Meet King’s Cross Station
  Sun 18 Jan • 14:00–16:00 | £20 / £15 seniors+students / kids options (incl. free under 8 with adult)
  A proper Sunday “London in winter” walk—canal views, architecture, and local stories. Pre-book strongly recommended.
• KINGS CROSS