What's On in London
Wednesday 17 June 2026
Wednesday the 17th of June is one of those days that makes you genuinely proud to live in this city. London is splitting itself gloriously in two: half the town is going full Three Lions, with fan zones and watch parties erupting from Brixton to Brick Lane for England's World Cup opener against Croatia, while the other half is slipping into velvet theatre seats for some of the West End's most beloved shows. Whichever camp you fall into — or if you fancy a bit of both — the city has you covered.
Highlights

MORE THAN A SHIRT Football Shirt Exhibition — Before the England nerves kick in this evening, head east to Barking Learning Centre for this brilliant exhibition exploring the cultural weight of the football shirt — those strips of fabric that carry identity, memory, and belonging far beyond the pitch. It opens at 10:00am and is the perfect way to get into the spirit of the day with something genuinely thoughtful. Check the website for ticket details, but this one promises to resonate whether you are a lifelong fan or a curious newcomer.

FANZONE4D x The Steel Yard: England v Croatia World Cup Showdown — When England kick off their World Cup campaign against Croatia, The Steel Yard in the City is going to be absolutely electric. This industrial-chic venue transforms into a roaring fan zone from 5:00pm, with FANZONE4D bringing an immersive, big-screen experience that puts you right in the thick of it. Tickets range from free entry to £30 depending on your package, so there is a way in for everyone — grab yours before they go.

It'sComingHomeZone: England Vs Croatia (Ministry of Sound) — If you want to watch the match somewhere that knows how to make a crowd lose its mind, Ministry of Sound is your answer. The legendary Elephant and Castle club opens its doors from 6:00pm for what promises to be an unforgettable fan zone experience, with tickets from just £0 to £5 — frankly a steal for one of London's most iconic spaces. Whether England triumph or not, the atmosphere here will be one for the stories.

Cabaret — If the football is not your scene, step into the decadent, dangerous world of the Kit Kat Club instead. This West End revival of Kander and Ebb's masterpiece has been wowing audiences at The Playhouse, and the 2:30pm Wednesday matinee is a gorgeous midweek treat. Dazzling, provocative, and utterly alive, Cabaret is the kind of show that sends you out onto the Strand with your pulse racing — check the website for ticket availability.

My Neighbour Totoro — Studio Ghibli's most adored story has been brought to the Gillian Lynne Theatre in a production that has left audiences of all ages genuinely speechless, and tonight's 7:00pm performance is a wonderful option if you want something magical to balance out the football frenzy. The puppetry, the staging, the sheer warmth of it — this is the kind of theatre that reminds you why live performance is irreplaceable. Check the website for pricing and availability.

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind — For something more intimate and deeply moving, Soho Place is staging this extraordinary story of a Malawian boy who builds a wind turbine from scraps to save his village from famine. The 7:30pm performance at this stunning, actor-focused theatre space is the kind of evening that stays with you for weeks. Check the website for ticket details — but do not leave it too long, because word of mouth on this one travels fast.
Full listings
| Event | Venue | Time | Price | Link | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Music | |||||
| Resonances Jam | Folklore | 7:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Nightlife | |||||
| The World Cup Party | Status Bexleyheath | 5:00pm | £10 | Tickets | |
| England VS Croatia - Watch Party | Empire Lounge And Bar | 6:00pm | £10–£15 | Tickets | |
| England VS Croatia - Watch Party | Hayatt Camberwell | 6:00pm | £10–£15 | Tickets | |
| World Cup 2026 Live: England Vs Croatia Fan Zone | 93 Feet East | 6:00pm | £0–£10 | Tickets | |
| England World Cup 2026 Fanzone: England vs Croatia | The Emerald Theatre | 7:00pm | £10–£20 | Tickets | |
| Wednesday Club: House, Tech House, Electro & Hip Hop | Egg London | 10:00pm | £0–£10 | Tickets | |
| Dance Wednesdays at The Roxy | The Roxy, London | 10:00pm | £6 | Tickets | |
| Crazy Wednesday @ Zebranos Every Wednesday | Zebrano Soho | 10:00pm | £6–£8 | Tickets | |
| Comedy | |||||
| The Truth | Apollo Shaftesbury Avenue | 3:00pm | £5 | Tickets | |
| Wednesday Comedy Show - Comedy Freaks | Comedy Freaks | 7:00pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Comedy @ Never For Ever | Never For Ever | 7:00pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| The Laugh Bath | Endeavour Deptford | 7:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| WED 7:30PM: (Includes free drink) | City Comedy CLub | Trapeze Bar | 7:30pm | £5 | Tickets | |
| Theatre | |||||
| Cabaret | The Playhouse | 2:00pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| The Phantom Of The Opera | His Majestys Theatre | 2:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Oliver! | Gielgud Theatre | 2:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Dark Of The Moon | Charing Cross Theatre | 2:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Romeo & Juliet | Harold Pinter Theatre | 2:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Disney's The Lion King | The Lyceum Theatre | 2:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Wicked | Apollo Victoria Theater | 2:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| My Neighbour Totoro | Gillian Lynne Theatre | 7:00pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Stranger Things: The First Shadow | Phoenix Theatre | 7:00pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| James Phelan: Showman | The Soho Revue Bar | 7:00pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Les Misérables | Queen's Theatre | 7:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Sinatra The Musical | Aldwych Theatre | 7:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind | Soho Place London W1D 3BG | 7:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Cyrano De Bergerac | Noel Coward Theatre | 7:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Avenue Q | Shaftesbury Theatre | 7:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Oh, Mary! | Trafalgar Theatre | 7:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Grace Pervades | Theatre Royal Haymarket | 7:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| High Society | Barbican Centre | 7:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Titanique | Criterion Theatre | 7:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Hamilton | Victoria Palace Theatre | 7:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Beetlejuice | Prince Edward Theatre Old Compton St London W1D 4HS | 7:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Moulin Rouge! The Musical | Piccadilly Theatre | 7:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Disney's Hercules | Theatre Royal Drury Lane | 7:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| The Producers | The Garrick Theatre | 7:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Kinky Boots | Coliseum London | 7:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| The Book Of Mormon | Prince Of Wales Theatre | 7:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Mamma Mia! | Novello Theatre | 7:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Sport | |||||
| MORE THAN A SHIRT Football Shirt Exhibition | Barking Learning Center | 10:00am | Check website | Tickets | |
| 3 Game Access Englands Group Games - 17th, 23rd & 27th | ESHER RUGBY CLUB | 4:00pm | £15–£24 | Tickets | |
| 3 Game Access Englands Group Games - 17th, 23rd & 27th | Metropolis London | 4:00pm | £15–£24 | Tickets | |
| 3 Game Access Englands Group Games - 17th, 23rd & 27th | Metropolis Epsom | 4:45pm | £15–£24 | Tickets | |
| FANZONE4D x The Steel Yard: England v Croatia World Cup Showdown | The Steel Yard | 5:00pm | £0–£30 | Tickets | |
| FANZONE4D x Riverside East: England v Croatia World Cup Showdown | Riverside East | 5:00pm | £0–£30 | Tickets | |
| World Cup Showdown: England v Croatia Live Screening | Freight Brixton | 5:00pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| FANZONE 4D x Electric Ballroom: England v Croatia World Cup | Electric Ballroom | 5:00pm | £0–£30 | Tickets | |
| Brick Lane Fan Zone: England vs Croatia (SOLD OUT) | Ely's Yard The Old Truman Brewery | 5:00pm | £1–£90 | Tickets | |
| Eng vs Croatia - Group Game 1 - Wednesday 17th June | ESHER RUGBY CLUB | 5:00pm | £8–£24 | Tickets | |
| Eng vs Croatia - Group Game 1 - Wednesday 17th June | Metropolis Epsom | 5:00pm | £8–£24 | Tickets | |
| Eng vs Croatia - Group Game 1 - Wednesday 17th June | Metropolis London | 5:00pm | £8–£24 | Tickets | |
| England vs Croatia @ Bread & Butter Arch | Bread And Butter Arch | 6:00pm | £8 | Tickets | |
| It'sComingHomeZone: England Vs Croatia (Shoreditch) | 83 Rivington Street | 6:00pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| It'sComingHomeZone: England Vs Croatia (Ministry of Sound) | Ministry Of Sound | 6:00pm | £0–£5 | Tickets | |
| World Cup ’26 Fan Zone Pop Up - Infernos, Clapham | Infernos | 7:30pm | £8 | Tickets | |
| England vs Croatia Fan Zone at Night Tales | Night Tales | 7:30pm | £5–£12 | Tickets | |
| World Cup Watch Along London | England vs Croatia Live at Kiss C | Kiss Camden | 8:00pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Outdoor World Cup Screening: England vs Croatia | Fox And Firkin | 8:00pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Exhibition | |||||
| Endless X London | Cris Contini Contemporary | 10:00am | Check website | Tickets | |
| Tudor Barn Summer Wedding Showcase Evening | Tudor Barn Eltham | 6:00pm | £0 | Tickets | |