Norbury residents planning a September culture trip can start checking the Croydon programme for Open House Festival 2026, which runs from Saturday 12 to Sunday 20 September.

Croydon Council says this year’s borough programme will include free events, exhibitions, tours and creative activities focused on local architecture, historic places and community stories. Open City’s festival page says the full programme for ticketed activities is due to open for bookings at midday on Wednesday 19 August.

The main Croydon programme is centred outside Norbury, but it is close enough to be useful for SW16 residents heading towards Croydon by bus, train or tram connections. The confirmed and listed Croydon highlights include civic buildings, arts venues and heritage sites that are not always open to casual visitors.

What is listed for Croydon

Croydon Council says the festival will coincide with Shaping Croydon: Architecture and Ambition, a new exhibition at the Museum of Croydon opening on Saturday 12 September. The council says the exhibition will look at the development of Croydon’s skyline and planning ideas over time.

The council also says South London artist Vic Lee has been commissioned to create a new mural marking the 750th anniversary of Croydon’s Street Market, whose Royal Charter dates to 1276.

Other Croydon sites and activities named by the council include Whitgift Almshouses, Stanley Arts, Fairfield Halls and the Norman Fisher Observatory. Open House programme search results also list Croydon Town Hall, David Lean Cinema tours, Museum of Croydon behind-the-scenes tours and Whitgift Almshouses guided tours.

Why Norbury readers may want to check early

Some Open House events are drop-in, while others need advance booking and can fill quickly. Norbury residents who want a specific tour should check the official programme when bookings open rather than waiting until September.

Before travelling, residents should also check live transport information. TfL has listed August tram closures between Reeves Corner and East Croydon, and later engineering or road changes may affect journeys closer to the festival.

Useful links

Details can change, so readers should use the official Open House programme as the final source for times, booking conditions and access information.