Portsmouth is marking a massive milestone this year, celebrating exactly a century since it was officially granted city status back in 1926. To honour this centenary, Portsmouth City Council and various local organisations have teamed up to put together a year-long programme of cultural events, art, music, and community activities. While the grand celebrations kicked off on New Year's Day with fireworks and drumming at Castle Field, and we saw the lively Guildhall Squared festival take over the city centre back in May, there is still plenty of action happening across the city as we head through the summer.
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If you are looking for things to do this weekend, the popular Love Southsea Markets are currently running in the Palmerston Road precinct. Operating on the first and third weekend of every month, these markets have been a staple for supporting local makers, artists, and traders since 2008. You can head down today, Saturday 18 July, from 9:00am to 5:00pm, or tomorrow, Sunday 19 July, between 9:00am and 4:00pm to browse the stalls and support local independent businesses.
Beyond the weekend markets, the centenary celebrations continue with the '100 Things To See and Do' initiative, which highlights activities you can get involved with throughout the year. This includes family workshops at Aspex Portsmouth, hands-on history at the Mary Rose Museum, and interactive trails like the Pride of Portsmouth Lion Trail. You can also take in the views from the Spinnaker Tower, explore local history at The D-Day Story, or check out the green-fingered Portsmouth100 in Bloom projects. There is a wide mix of civic events, live music, and arts workshops scheduled at the Portsmouth Guildhall to keep the centenary momentum going.
Published Date
18 July 2026
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