Croydon's Black History Month has 13 events left, from a free Pegasus Opera concert on 8 October to Croydon Roots weekend. Dates, venues, what is free.
Croydon’s Black History Month programme has 13 events in the borough still to come this October, and at least five are free. This week brings a free evening of opera at Braithwaite Hall on Thursday.
The programme is run by the Croydon BME Forum and its partners under the theme “Honouring Our Communities” (Croydon BME Forum: Black History Month 2026). It opened with a launch event on 1 October.
The forum has also published a booklet celebrating 20 people and organisations who have made “a positive and lasting contribution to Croydon and our communities”. Staff from its partner organisations nominated them (Honouring Our Communities booklet, PDF).
Every Croydon event still to come
All details below are from the forum’s own programme page. Times are as listed there.
| Date | Event | Time | Venue | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 8 Oct | Legacy and Hope Concert, Pegasus Opera Company | 7.30pm to 9.30pm | Braithwaite Hall, Croydon Clocktower, Katharine Street, CR0 1NX | Free |
| Thu 8 Oct | Sip and Paint, with Croydon Talking Therapies | 11am to 1pm | The Wellness Centre, first floor, Whitgift Centre, CR0 1LP | Not stated |
| Wed 14 Oct | EMHIP Mental Health Conference, “Roots of Resilience” | Noon to 5pm | St Mary’s Church, CR0 2AR | Free, hot meal included |
| Sat 17 Oct | Michael (film screening) | 2pm | David Lean Cinema | Ticketed |
| Sun 18 Oct | Women’s Health and Wellbeing, for Black and ethnic minority women aged 40 to 55 | 1pm to 3pm | The Wellness Centre, Whitgift Centre | Free health checks |
| Tue 20 Oct | Cotton Queen (film screening) | 2.30pm and 7.30pm | David Lean Cinema | Ticketed |
| Wed 21 Oct | Intergenerational Care Event | 10am to 2.30pm | John Ruskin College, Selsdon Park Road, CR2 8JJ | Free treatments |
| Thu 22 to Sun 25 Oct | The Front Room Experience (immersive theatre) | 8pm Thu to Sat, 5pm Sun | The Front Room, 37 to 39 St Georges Walk, CR0 1YL | £25 |
| Fri 23 to Sun 25 Oct | Croydon Roots | Across the weekend | 62 George Street, CR0 1PD | Not stated |
| Sat 24 Oct | Sickle Cell community event | 3.30pm | Braithwaite Hall, Katharine Street | Not stated |
| Sun 25 Oct | Same Street: New Skwod (dance workshop and video shoot) | Noon to 5pm | Surrey Street Market archway, by Scarbrook Road | Free |
| Mon 26 Oct | Whisk and Wellbeing (cooking session) | 4pm to 6.30pm | The Cherry Hub, 171 St James Road, CR0 2BY | Not stated |
| Thu 29 Oct | With Love, From South | 6pm to 11pm | The Village Table, 40 Park Lane, CR0 1GX | Not stated |
Where the forum lists no price, check with the organiser before you go. The forum points to its Eventbrite page for bookings.
The programme also includes Talawa ICONIC on Tuesday 13 October. That one is at the Hackney Empire in east London, more than ten miles from central Croydon, not in the borough.
The ones to know about
The free opera night. Pegasus Opera Company is marking 30 years with a concert of opera, musical theatre and songs inspired by the Black diaspora. The Croydon Harmony Choir joins its professional singers. It is free and runs from 7.30pm on Thursday at Braithwaite Hall.
Croydon Roots. This is a three-day celebration of the borough’s Black heritage at 62 George Street, from 23 to 25 October. The forum lists live performances, heritage workshops, film screenings and intergenerational activities.
Skwod, ten years on. Nadia Rose’s track Skwod was filmed on Surrey Street Market. On Sunday 25 October, young people can join a dance workshop at noon and a music video shoot at 1.30pm under the market archway. Scanners Inc. presents it as part of the council’s Amplifying Surrey Street project.
Croydon’s music history. With Love, From South, on 29 October at The Village Table, covers Croydon’s Black music communities. Croydon Music City and Soul Culture are presenting it. The forum’s listing names sound-system roots, jazz, soul, reggae and the basslines of Big Apple Records.
Health sessions. Three events are aimed at wellbeing:
- the EMHIP mental health conference on 14 October, with speakers, workshops and a free hot meal
- the women’s midlife health session on 18 October, covering heart health, blood pressure, sleep and stress
- the sickle cell workshop on 24 October for people living with the condition and their families, with Dr Lewis Thomas, a retired GP and founder of Sickleverse
What it means for you
- Five are listed as free. The opera concert, the mental health conference, the women’s health session, the intergenerational care day and the Skwod workshop.
- Book the paid ones early. The Front Room Experience is £25 and the two films at the David Lean Cinema are ticketed.
- The intergenerational event asked for registration by 1 October. If you missed that, the forum gives Johnbie@bmeforum.org as the contact.
- Two events are in the Clocktower. Braithwaite Hall hosts both the opera on 8 October and the sickle cell event on 24 October.
For everything else on in the borough this month, see what’s on in Croydon. Half term starts on 26 October, and our Croydon Halloween page lists the family events.
Frequently asked questions
Who runs Black History Month in Croydon?
The Croydon BME Forum coordinates the programme with partner organisations. Its 2026 theme is “Honouring Our Communities”.
Is the Pegasus Opera concert free?
Yes. The Legacy and Hope Concert at Braithwaite Hall on Thursday 8 October, 7.30pm to 9.30pm, is listed as a free evening.
When is Croydon Roots?
Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2026, at 62 George Street in the town centre.
The Croydon BME Forum is at 56a Mitcham Road and can be reached on 020 8684 3719 or info@bmeforum.org.
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