Discovering the news regarding the theme "Belonging" of the London Festival of Architecture (LFA) and the festival’s programme, written by architect Emina Čamdžić who has participated at the LFA programme and is the World Architecture Country Reporter. The reporting is covering development of events surrounding the LFA festival, explores the many elements of the LFA, highlighting the importance of architecture events, activities, commissions and projects that reflect the profound theme.

Image of the Art Park launch in London, the LFA2025 festival. Image © Nathan Piccio via the LFA

The London Festival of Architecture 2026 (LFA2026) theme

The London Festival of Architecture from the 1st to the 30st June 2026 will explore this year’s theme "Belonging" with public events, commissions, the LFA partner projects and activities focusing on this theme, as mentioned by the LFA.

While the full LFA programme is going to be announced in May 2026, the LFA2026 wants to advance conversations about the meaning to belong in London, London’s streets, then neighbourhoods, buildings, and the collective future.

The LFA2026 programme theme aspires conversations and discussions of all involved within the built environment.

Image of the Clapham Junction tour and workshop in London, the LFA2025 festival. Image © Jane Lam via the LFA

From London’s layered history of migration, collaboration and reinvention, the LFA2026 will showcase the various collectives who demonstrate how belonging can be created and sustained through the active processes of collective collaboration.

Image of the Voices of Wolves Lane Centre activity in London, the LFA2025 festival. Image © Nathan Piccio via the LFA

"Through conversations, mapping, interventions, performances, and community-led projects, the festival will encourage Londoners to co-imagine how our city might embody deeper connection, dignity, and equity," is mentioned by the LFA.

"We look for a theme that can spark critical conversations while also inviting optimism and imagination. This year’s theme 'Belonging', responds to the pressures facing London’s communities, from displacement and inequality to shrinking public space, and positions the festival as a platform for hope, collective acts of care, and action," is further addressed by the LFA.

While the curation panel of the LFA considers the following: "It draws attention to how we build not just structures, but the conditions for people to feel rooted, recognised, and included. In this moment of accelerating development, climate crisis, algorithmic design, cultural dislocation, and systemic inequities, the theme of ‘Belonging’ is urgent." 

The curation panel further mentions that when progress is without belonging then too often destroys humanity, while as mentioned when integrating equity, and presence also compassion into the blueprint of places then reframes success, because not of what is built, moreover by who feels belongs within those places.

Image of the Fruity Walk around South London, the LFA2025 festival. Image © Spencer Lu via the LFA

Image of the London's South Asian History in Seven Sites, the LFA2025 festival. Image © Nathan Piccio via the LFA

More about the London Festival of Architecture

As expressed by the London Festival of Architecture, the LFA is a festivity of architecture and city-making, taking place across London, bringing together the public and the built environment professionals then seeks to inspire visitors to participate in the programme.

The top image in the article: the LFA2025 festival activity Whispers. Image © Luke O'Donovan via the LFA.

architecture event Belonging LFA LFA2026