V&A East Museum in Stratford is staying open late on Thursday nights throughout September 2026, with free DJ sets, drinks, exhibitions and evening access to the museum. The programme includes music from Karen Nyame KG, Lo-Low, Zakia, Demae and A.G, alongside The Music is Black: A British Story.
Here are five things to know before you go.
1. V&A East is open until 10pm on Thursdays
V&A East Museum normally opens from 10am, but on Thursdays visitors can stay until 10pm.
The late-night programme runs until the end of September, giving you a chance to explore the museum after work or make it part of an evening out in Stratford.
Location: V&A East Museum, 107 Carpenters Road, Stratford, London E20 2AR.
2. The Upperground DJ nights are free
The museum’s Upperground series runs every Thursday from 6.30pm to 9.30pm and turns the Upper Ground floor into a late-night music space.
The remaining 2026 line-up includes:
- 27 August – Karen Nyame KG
- 3 September – Lo-Low
- 10 September – Zakia
- 17 September – Demae
- 24 September – A.G
Expect everything from UK funky and garage to house, amapiano, techno, jungle, grime and R&B.
3. Gabriel Moses is appearing for one night only
On Thursday 27 August 2026, photographer and filmmaker Gabriel Moses will appear in conversation with V&A East curator Josephine Small.
Moses has worked with names including Dave, Skepta and Little Simz as well as brands such as Louis Vuitton, Burberry and Dior.
The free event is currently fully booked, but the museum says a limited number of walk-up tickets will be available on the night on a first come, first served basis.
Visitors can also see a rare screening of his 2025 film The Last Hour.
4. You can see The Music is Black after dark
Thursday evenings are also a chance to visit The Music is Black: A British Story, V&A East’s major exhibition exploring 125 years of Black music in Britain.
Artists and musicians featured range from Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Joan Armatrading to Craig David, JME, Stormzy and Tems.
The exhibition stays open on Thursdays with last entry at 9pm.
Tickets currently start from £9.50.
Book The Music is Black: A British Story
5. Drinks, food and the rest of V&A East are available too
The evening isn’t limited to the DJ programme.
Visitors can explore the free Why We Make galleries, see contemporary commissions around the museum and visit the top-floor terrace for views across east London.
Café Jikoni remains open until 10pm, with a pop-up bar on the Upper Ground floor serving cocktails, craft beer, alcohol-free drinks and snacks.
V&A East Museum itself is free to enter, making the Thursday late nights an easy option for a low-cost evening out in London.
Find out more and plan your visit:
V&A East Museum