- Covent Garden launches Now Playing, a summer-long celebration of screenings, sport, performance and entertainment across the West End
- From 20th June to mid-July, the Piazza becomes the ultimate summer playground, with a packed programme of unmissable experiences from day to night
- Summer on the Big Screen returns from 20th June, with more than 230 hours of free open-air entertainment from Wimbledon and West End LIVE to blockbuster summertime movies, hit musicals and live entertainment
- As an official screening partner of musical extravaganza West End LIVE, performances will be broadcast live from Trafalgar Square to the Piazza throughout the weekend event
- The Royal Ballet School marks its centenary with a six-day Covent Garden takeover from 22nd June featuring free public ballet classes, performance screenings and a major aerial artwork suspended within the historic Market Building
- Celebrate English Wine Week in Covent Garden with Chapel Down serving English sparkling wines alongside seasonal bites from Courtyard Wine Cellars in an exclusive Piazza pop-up
- London Transport Museum celebrates 70 years of the iconic Routemaster RM1 bus with an appearance on the Piazza, alongside events and experiences marking 120 years of the Piccadilly line
- Watch the Wimbledon Championships on Covent Garden’s Big Screen, toasting the tournament with brand-new drinks partner and official Wimbledon Champagne Partner Champagne Lanson
- Throughout the summer a selection of pubs, terraces and bars will screen the FIFA World Cup 2026™
- Bringing a touch of old Hollywood glamour, Piper-Heidsieck opens a Marilyn Monroe-inspired champagne pop-up on the Piazza celebrating the screen icon’s centenary, coinciding with new National Portrait Gallery exhibition, Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait
- Whether it’s long lunches alfresco or late-night cocktails, Covent Garden offers a range of dining options designed to keep visitors playing long after sunset, including Neal’s Yard new opening Buvette
Where Summer Takes Centre Stage
This June, Covent Garden unveils Now Playing, a season-long programme of screenings, sport, performance and entertainment transforming the neighbourhood into the West End’s ultimate playground.
Long known as London’s home of theatre, creativity and culture, the spirit of play runs through every corner of Covent Garden. Now, that energy takes centre stage. From big screen moments and live performances, to al fresco dining and late-night cocktails, Covent Garden will come alive with an unmissable line-up of experiences.
Whether it’s watching Wimbledon from a deckchair on the Piazza, catching live West End performances under the summer sky, participating in a free ballet class or lounging with cocktails long after sunset, Now Playing in Covent Garden invites London to play all summer long.
Covent Garden Presents: Summer on the Big Screen
At the heart of the celebrations, Summer on the Big Screen returns to the iconic East Piazza from 20th June to mid-July. Complete with a giant screen, deckchairs and food & drink pop-ups, the Piazza will transform into an open-air hub for free to attend showings of sport, culture and entertainment throughout the season.
Things kick off with a West End takeover as Covent Garden becomes an Official Screening Partner of West End LIVE on 20th and 21st June. Live performances will be broadcast direct from Trafalgar Square to the Piazza throughout the celebratory weekend, bringing theatre fans closer to the action than ever before. For those headed to the IRL event, bring along your programme or ticket to make the most of Covent Garden’s exclusive ‘Showtime Specials’ to unlock experiences and offers across the neighbourhood, from drinks on the house at Cora Pearl, The Oystermen and Sticks’n’Sushi to pre- and post-event discounts at AWAY, Penhaligon’s, Strathberry and many more.
From 22nd to 27th June, the screen will showcase a curated programme of ballet, film and cultural moments as part of The Royal Ballet School centenary takeover, before shifting into back-to-back movie mode on 28th June with feel-good summertime screenings of Encanto, Grease, Mama Mia! and Dirty Dancing.
Then, from 29th June to 12th July, it’s game, set, match as The Wimbledon Championships returns to the big screen, bringing daily live screenings and Centre Court atmosphere to the heart of Covent Garden.
A Summer Celebration with The Royal Ballet School
From 22nd to 27th June, The Royal Ballet School takes over Covent Garden as part of its landmark centenary celebrations, transforming the Piazza into an immersive celebration of ballet, creativity and performance.
The six-day programme will feature free public screenings of full-length ballet classes, performance excerpts, choreography showcases and dance-inspired films including Billy Elliot the Musical, Center Stage and Step Up, providing an exclusive backstage pass to the iconic institution and bringing audiences closer to the world of ballet than ever before.
A spectacular aerial installation suspended within the historic Market Building and a sculpture by former English National Ballet dancer and artist Amber Hunt will transform the neighbourhood throughout the celebrations, alongside ballet-inspired pop-ups and Piazza experiences.
The takeover also celebrates Covent Garden’s long-standing connection to dance and performance, inviting visitors to explore the neighbourhood through its ballet heritage, from The Young Dancer statue on Broad Court to the iconic Bridge of Aspiration linking The Royal Ballet School to Royal Ballet and Opera above Floral Street.
English Wine Week in the West End
Celebrating English Wine Week from 20th to 28th June, Chapel Down take over as the Piazza drinks partner, creating a relaxed picnic-style setting for visitors to stay, sip and soak up the summer.
Served alongside a curated menu from Courtyard Wine Cellars featuring charcuterie and afternoon tea-style bites expertly paired with Chapel Down wines, the Piazza becomes the perfect destination for long afternoons in the sunshine and spontaneous post-work drinks.
Beyond the Piazza, Covent Garden offers plenty of spots for wine lovers to continue the evening, from the hidden cellar setting of Courtyard Wine Cellars to intimate pours al fresco at La Compagnie in Neal’s Yard.
Elsewhere explore the vast variety of wines available at 10 Cases, or find the perfect pairing at Plume Wine Bar, choosing from over 70 wines to enjoy in the summer sun.
Next Stop: The Piazza
Adding to the summer celebrations, London Transport Museum will bring the iconic AEC Routemaster RM1 to Covent Garden’s Piazza on 25th June for one day only, celebrating 70 years since the beloved Routemaster first entered passenger service in London.
Throughout the summer, London Transport Museum will celebrate 120 years of the Piccadilly line with a programme of public events, talks, workshops and Hidden London tours exploring the history, architecture and cultural impact of one of London’s most iconic Underground lines.
Summer Sport Takes the Stage
From 29th June to 12th July, screening of The Wimbledon Championships will bring Centre Court atmosphere to Covent Garden, with visitors invited to take a seat, sip champagne and watch every serve, rally and shot live.
In a major new partnership for summer 2026, Champagne Lanson, Official Champagne Supplier to The Championships since 2001, will bring its Wimbledon partnership to Covent Garden for the first time, with a dedicated Piazza takeover. Branded deckchairs and champagne moments with light summer bites will transform the space into London’s ultimate Wimbledon watching destination.
Across the neighbourhood, limited-edition menus, seasonal serves and tennis-inspired moment abound: savour a strawberry & elderflower iced Matcha latte at Jenki, served with fresh British strawberries. Elsewhere, Sunspel will serve Pimm’s in-store across Wimbledon weekends, a summer of sport collection launches at Kapten & Son and tennis-inspired treats can be found at Mariage Frères and The Ivy Market Grill.
Pubs, terraces and bars across Covent Garden will keep the sporting atmosphere going with FIFA World Cup 2026™ screenings from afternoon kick-offs through to late-night celebrations. Visitors can catch every match at a variety of venues across the neighbourhood, including Bat & Ball, Punch & Judy, Bow Street Tavern, The Crown, The Two Brewers, Lamb & Flag, The Maple Leaf and The Marquess of Anglesey.
For a more immersive viewing experience, Courtyard Wine Cellars will host a multi-room World Cup screening experience across its historic underground vaults, with six vaults and six screens combining football, and wine.
Alfresco Afternoons & Summer After Dark
From long lunches to late-night cocktails, Covent Garden comes alive throughout the summer with alfresco dining, immersive pop-ups and experiences. From 2nd – 19th June, Piper-Heidsieck will bring a touch of old Hollywood glamour with a Marilyn Monroe-inspired champagne pop-up celebrating the screen icon’s centenary through immersive installations, exclusive serves and playful photo moments.
A limited edition cuvée will also be available, which celebrates 100 years of Marilyn Monroe, coinciding with the launch of a new exhibition at The National Portrait Gallery. Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait launches on 4th June, exploring the life, career and legacy of Marilyn Monroe through portraits created by some of the greatest photographers and artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Looking for the ideal al fresco dining spot? For unbeatable views of Covent Garden’s iconic Piazza try Nana Café, Ladurée or VyTA, for a rooftop experience explore SUSHISAMBA’s balcony and Bar Cicoria at the Royal Opera House. New openings include Buvette serving all-day dining and Parisian-inspired dishes in the vibrant al fresco setting of Neal’s Yard and Burro, nestled within Floral Court, serving handmade pasta, charcoaled grilled meats and produce-led Italian dishes.
Play On in Covent Garden
From screenings and sport to shopping, dining and theatre, Now Playing in Covent Garden brings together everything that makes summer in London unforgettable, inviting visitors to watch, discover, celebrate and play all season long. Discover the unmissable lineup here.
For more information on Now Playing in Covent Garden, visit the official Covent Garden website or email coventgarden@thebeaconuk.com
#CoventGarden
Notes to Editors
About Shaftesbury Capital
Shaftesbury Capital PLC ("Shaftesbury Capital") is the leading central London mixed-use REIT and is a constituent of the FTSE-250 Index. Our property portfolio under management, valued at £5.4 billion, extends to 2.8 million square feet of lettable space across the most vibrant areas of London's West End. With a diverse mix of shops, restaurants, cafés, bars, residential apartments and offices, our destinations include the high footfall, thriving neighbourhoods of Covent Garden, Carnaby, Soho and Chinatown. Our properties are close to the main West End Underground stations and transport hubs for the Elizabeth Line.
In April 2025, Shaftesbury Capital and Norges Bank Investment Management (“NBIM”) formed a long-term partnership, in respect of the Covent Garden estate. Shaftesbury Capital retains 75 per cent ownership and management control over the estate. The partnership brings together two long-term investors with a shared confidence in and ambitions for the growth prospects of the Covent Garden estate and the West End.
Shaftesbury Capital shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange ("LSE") (primary) and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange ("JSE") (secondary) and the A2X (secondary).
Our purpose
Investing to create thriving destinations in London’s West End where people enjoy visiting, working, and living.
Our values
We have a set of values that are fundamental to our behaviour, decision making and the delivery both of our purpose and strategy: Act with integrity; Take a creative approach; Listen and collaborate; Take a responsible, long-term view; and Make a difference.
About Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a world-class global destination in the heart of the West End, including the iconic Piazza, Market Building and surrounding streets, together with Seven Dials. The portfolio is home to over 200 retail stores including global flagships, British and independent brands as well as 200 restaurants, bars and cafes.