The Lord Mayor's Show 2026

The Lord Mayor's Show returns to the City of London on Saturday 14 November, running from 11am to 2.30pm. It's free to watch, and the procession starts at Mansion House, following a route via Cheapside, St Paul's Cathedral, Bank Junction and Ludgate Hill to the Royal Courts of Justice, before heading back again.

This year, Lord Mayor Bronek Masojada leads the way on the ceremonial barge 'Jubilant'. He's joined by the US Navy Band and Colour Guard, a live performance from the West End hit The Lion King outside Mansion House, Guildhall School's drum and bass band, Sir Peter Blake's Art Bus and a 'Dad's Army' van. It's a long line of floats and music, and the whole thing is free to watch from the street.

There's a bit of history to it, too. The Show dates back to 1215, when King John allowed the City to elect its own mayor on the condition that each new mayor travel to Westminster to swear loyalty to the crown. The journey was originally made by barge along the Thames, and later became a grand city procession from Mansion House to the Royal Courts of Justice, where the new Lord or Lady Mayor still swears an oath of allegiance. These days it's part street parade, part historical spectacle and part family festival, gathering around 7,000 participants, 250 horses and more than 50 decorated floats. The golden State Coach, in use since 1757, is the oldest ceremonial vehicle in regular use in the world.

2026 is a bit of a milestone for the event: it's the centenary of the BBC's coverage, which first went out on radio in 1926 and on screen in 1937. The Show is broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, so if you can't make it in person, you can still catch it. On the day, Guildhall and the Guildhall Art Gallery are open for free exhibitions and tours. The parade runs from 11am to 2.30pm, and it costs nothing to watch.