What’s on in Hackney this weekend (20–22 Feb 2026)
Dalston • Stoke Newington • London Fields • Mare Street • Haggerston • Cambridge Heath • Hoxton • Clapton • Homerton
Quick picks (if you only do 5 things):
- Fri: Hackney Empire Comedy Corner (free for 16–25), then Soulfuel at Night Tales for dance-floor energy.
- Sat: Broadway Market in the day, then Disco Fiasco at Dalston Superstore or Voices Radio x Colour Factory at night.
- Sun: Junior parkrun (London Fields), StoryPlay at Rich Mix (free), then a Rio Cinema screening.
- Don’t miss: Queer Tour of Dalston (great daytime plan).
- Live music vibe: Oslo Hackney (Toucan Sat / Jonathan Roy Sun).
Friday 20 February 2026
☀️ Morning + daytime (family, community, easy wins)
Stories & Rhymes — Hackney Central Library (Hackney Central)
- Time: 11:00–12:00
- Price: Check booking (often free)
- What to expect: Songs, stories, and a calm start for little ones.
- Notes: Best for under-5s.
- Tags: 👨👩👧👦 Family
Design Your Ultimate Reading Diary! — Shoreditch Library (Hoxton/Shoreditch edge)
- Time: 14:00–15:30
- Price: Check booking
- What to expect: A creative workshop for readers and journal lovers.
- Notes: Great for teens too.
- Tags: 👨👩👧👦 Family
Children’s Classic Storytime — Dalston CLR James Library (Dalston)
- Time: 15:00–16:00
- Price: Check booking (often free)
- What to expect: Classic tales, cosy vibes, and a proper wind-down.
- Tags: 👨👩👧👦 Family
Occlusions of the City Forest — Standpoint Gallery (Hoxton)
- Time: Opens today (see venue for hours)
- Price: Usually free entry
- What to expect: A fresh exhibition launch to start the weekend.
- Notes: Ideal pre-dinner plan in Hoxton.
- Tags: Community
🎭 Theatre & performing arts (your “Cola/Arcola” + more)
Bitch Boxer — Arcola Theatre (Dalston)
- Time: 19:00 (Fri)
- Price: £5–£30
- What to expect: A hard-hitting solo show about boxing, resilience, and identity.
- Notes: Book ahead.
- Tags: Inclusive, thoughtful
Monstering the Rocketman — Arcola Theatre (Dalston)
- Time: 19:30 (Fri listing)
- Price: Check tickets
- What to expect: A new play with a bold edge and strong storytelling.
- Notes: Limited run.
- Tags: 🎭
Comedy Corner — Hackney Empire (Mare Street, Hackney Central)
- Time: 14:00–20:00
- Price: Free (ages 16–25)
- What to expect: A friendly, low-pressure space to try comedy and meet people.
- Notes: It’s participation-focused, not a headline show.
- Tags: Community, accessible
🎶 Live music + DJ sets (warm-up into the night)
Andy Smith (DJ set) — Mare Street Market (Mare Street, Hackney Central)
- Time: 18:00
- Price: Free
- What to expect: Upbeat selectors in a stylish space.
- Notes: Great pre-club meet-up spot.
- Tags: 🍸 Trendy bar
Nadia Ksaiba + Donna Gibson — Brilliant Corners (Dalston)
- Time: Evening (see venue on the night)
- Price: Usually walk-in / dining-led
- What to expect: A listening-bar style night with proper music curation.
- Notes: Pair it with dinner for the full experience.
- Tags: Date night, music lovers
Waiting to Exhale (Black in Season Film Club) — Rich Mix (Shoreditch)
- Time: 19:00
- Price: £7
- What to expect: Big-screen classic with a strong crowd vibe.
- Notes: Book ahead if you can.
- Tags: Community
😂 Comedy
Bitches in Stitches (All-femme comedy night) — Hoxton Cabin (Hoxton)
- Time: 20:30–22:30
- Price: Check tickets
- What to expect: Stand-up with a love-letter energy for “girls, gays, theys, and allies”.
- Notes: Arrive early for seats.
- Tags: 🌈 LGBTQ+ friendly
🌙 Nightlife & clubs (late-night, dance, proper weekend kick-off)
Soulfuel — Night Tales (Hackney Central)
- Time: 18:00–02:30
- Price: From £7
- What to expect: House-forward club energy with a friendly crowd.
- Notes: 18+. Bring ID.
- Tags: Night out
Waxless 7: Bitvert + S⊎G⊝ + now — The Old Blue Last (Shoreditch/Hoxton edge)
- Time: 23:00–03:00
- Price: Free
- What to expect: Late-night underground sounds in an iconic small room.
- Notes: Expect queues.
- Tags: Late night
Saturday 21 February 2026
🥐 Morning + daytime (markets, walks, half-term friendly)
Broadway Market — London Fields (Hackney)
- Time: 09:00–17:00
- Price: Free entry (pay for food)
- What to expect: Peak Hackney weekend energy. Street food, bakers, makers.
- Notes: Go early for the best stalls.
- Tags: 👨👩👧👦 Family, 🐶 Dog-friendly (on lead)
Netil Market — London Fields (Hackney)
- Time: Weekends 11:00–16:00
- Price: Free entry
- What to expect: Smaller, relaxed market energy near Netil House.
- Notes: Great with a rooftop stop after.
- Tags: Food market
Stories & Rhymes — Dalston CLR James Library (Dalston)
- Time: 11:00–12:00
- Price: Check booking (often free)
- What to expect: Another under-5s slot for half-term families.
- Tags: 👨👩👧👦 Family
Netil360 Rooftop — London Fields
- Time: 12:00–23:00 (winter hours)
- Price: Free entry
- What to expect: A rooftop viewpoint without leaving Hackney.
- Notes: Wrap up warm. It’s breezy.
- Tags: Rooftop bar
🌈 LGBTQ+ daytime highlight
Queer Tour of Dalston (Part 1 of 2) — starts at Rio Cinema (Dalston)
- Time: 12:00–13:30
- Price: Ticketed (see booking)
- What to expect: A smart, local-history walk through Dalston’s queer culture.
- Notes: Great for locals and visitors.
- Tags: 🌈 LGBTQ+
🎭 Theatre & performing arts
Bitch Boxer — Arcola Theatre (Dalston)
- Time: Evening performance (check exact slot)
- Price: £5–£30
- What to expect: Still one of the strongest theatre picks this weekend.
- Notes: Book ahead.
- Tags: 🎭
🎶 Live music (gigs + listening-bar energy)
Toucan — Oslo Hackney (Hackney Central)
- Time: 19:00–22:00
- Price: £20
- What to expect: A proper Saturday gig in a great room.
- Notes: 14+ / U16s with adult (check venue policy).
- Tags: 🎶 Live music
A Slow Jams Day Party — Village Underground (Shoreditch/Hoxton edge)
- Time: 17:00–23:00
- Price: £33 (shown on listing)
- What to expect: R&B slow jams and singalong energy, but still stylish.
- Notes: This one sells well.
- Tags: Date night, groups
Paul Day (DJ set) — Mare Street Market (Hackney Central)
- Time: 14:00
- Price: Free
- What to expect: Daytime DJs for a “late lunch becomes evening” plan.
- Tags: 🍸 Trendy bar
Louis Walshe (DJ set) — Mare Street Market (Hackney Central)
- Time: 18:00
- Price: Free
- What to expect: Saturday night warm-up without a ticket.
- Tags: 🍸
Claude Doussett — Brilliant Corners (Dalston)
- Time: Evening (see venue)
- Price: Dining-led
- What to expect: A proper “music-first” night with excellent sound.
- Tags: Date night
🌙 Nightlife & clubs (pick your lane)
Drag Brunch — Dalston Superstore (Dalston)
- Time: 12:00–17:00
- Price: Ticketed (see listing)
- What to expect: Loud, joyful, and very Dalston.
- Notes: Book if you want a table.
- Tags: 🌈 LGBTQ+, 👨👩👧👦 (daytime)
Voices Radio x Colour Factory (Club Friendly Free Party) — Colour Factory (Hackney Wick-ish / E9)
- Time: 22:00–04:00
- Price: Free until midnight, then £8 advance / £10 on the door
- What to expect: UKG, grime, bass, breaks. High energy.
- Notes: 18+. Card only for OTD.
- Tags: Late night
DISCO FIASCO — Dalston Superstore (Dalston)
- Time: 22:00–04:00
- Price: £10
- What to expect: Proper sweaty pop + disco chaos in the best way.
- Notes: 18+. Arrive early if you hate queues.
- Tags: 🌈 LGBTQ+
MiNNA (House + Disco) — Night Tales (Hackney Central)
- Time: 17:00–02:30
- Price: From £7
- What to expect: Disco-leaning house, friendly crowd, big Saturday energy.
- Notes: 18+.
- Tags: Night out
Scared To Dance (Guest DJs: Lime Garden) — The Shacklewell Arms (Dalston)
- Time: 23:00–03:00
- Price: From ~£11
- What to expect: Indie-dance classics with guest DJs from Lime Garden.
- Notes: 18+. Bring photo ID.
- Tags: Late night
Sunday 22 February 2026
🏃♀️ Morning (wellbeing + half-term friendly)
London Fields Junior parkrun — London Fields
- Time: 09:00
- Price: Free (register once)
- What to expect: A 2k run for juniors. Great weekend routine.
- Notes: Arrive early for the briefing.
- Tags: 👨👩👧👦 Family, wellbeing
StoryPlay (Family Sunday workshop) — Rich Mix (Shoreditch)
- Time: 10:30
- Price: Free
- What to expect: Storytelling + creative play for ages 2–5.
- Notes: Book a slot online.
- Tags: 👨👩👧👦 Family
Hackney City Farm — (Hackney / E2 edge)
- Time: 10:00–16:00
- Price: Free entry (donations welcome)
- What to expect: A brilliant half-term-friendly visit. Animals, calm vibes, fresh air.
- Notes: Check for timed activities.
- Tags: 👨👩👧👦 Family, wellbeing
🌈 LGBTQ+ + culture
Drag Brunch — Dalston Superstore (Dalston)
- Time: 12:00–17:00
- Price: Ticketed (see listing)
- What to expect: Sunday fun with big characters and bigger energy.
- Notes: Book for groups.
- Tags: 🌈 LGBTQ+
One Queer Day in Hackney (screening) — Rio Cinema (Dalston)
- Time: 13:00–14:30
- Price: Ticketed (see venue)
- What to expect: A local, community-led queer cinema moment.
- Notes: Great post-brunch plan.
- Tags: 🌈 LGBTQ+
🎬 Cinema (cosy Sunday plans)
Wuthering Heights — Rio Cinema (Dalston)
- Time: Multiple showings (see times)
- Price: ~£14 standard (shown on booking page)
- What to expect: A classic on a screen that locals love.
- Notes: Book ahead for good seats.
- Tags: Date night, indoors
🎶 Live music (Sunday reset)
Jonathan Roy — Oslo Hackney (Hackney Central)
- Time: 19:00–22:30
- Price: From £20
- What to expect: A strong Sunday gig that still feels like a night out.
- Notes: Seated/standing mix depending on show.
- Tags: 🎶
Dj Mysteiro — Brilliant Corners (Dalston)
- Time: Evening (see venue)
- Price: Dining-led
- What to expect: A softer Sunday soundtrack, still with taste.
- Tags: Music lovers
Food, drink, and “make a whole day of it” ideas (Hackney + nearby)
Best brunch areas (easy to roam)
- Broadway Market + London Fields: brunch → market → canal walk.
- Dalston: brunch at Dalston Superstore if you want it loud.
- Mare Street: start with a relaxed lunch, then DJs at Mare Street Market.
Sunday roast energy (cosy pub zones)
- Clapton / Hackney Central: go for a proper pub with fireside vibes.
- Haggerston canal-side: roast, then a towpath walk.
(Roast menus change weekly, so check bookings early on Sundays.)
Michelin Guide “treat yourself” (local favourite)
Café Cecilia — near London Fields
- Why go: One of the most talked-about tables in the area.
- Best for: Date nights and big celebrations.
- Notes: Booking is essential.
Vegan + budget-friendly eats (quick shortlist)
- Dalston + Hackney: loads of quick bowls, pizza slices, and plant-based comfort food.
- Broadway Market: great value if you share dishes and snack as you go.
Dog-friendly weekend plans 🐶
Best easy route: Broadway Market → Regent’s Canal → Haggerston
- You get water, cafés, and plenty of stopping points.
- Add a cosy pub finish in Dalston or Hackney Central.
(Most markets welcome dogs on leads, but keep it tight when it’s busy.)
Places to stay (good bases for Hackney weekends)
- The Hoxton, Shoreditch (walkable to Hoxton, Shoreditch, and Hackney edges).
- Mama Shelter London Shoreditch (fun, social, easy for nights out).
- One Hundred Shoreditch (solid “everything nearby” base).
- Aethos London Shoreditch (rebrand of the former Nobu hotel).
Local extras (shops, galleries, cinemas)
- Cinemas: Rio Cinema (Dalston) is a must for locals.
- Galleries: start with Standpoint Gallery (Hoxton) this weekend.
- Vintage + East London classics: finish your market day with a wander and a warm bite.
Mini-planner tip (so it’s not overwhelming)
Pick one daytime anchor (Broadway Market / StoryPlay / Queer Tour).
Then pick one night anchor (Night Tales / Dalston Superstore / Colour Factory).
Everything else becomes optional.
Curated for locals and visitors — crafted by Islington Local Guide.
