The first International Women’s Day was way back in 1911 and was centred around women’s rights to work, vote and hold public office. We’ve come a long way since then but we’ve still got a long way to go, which is why IWD is still very much a part of modern day culture and why we’re spotlighting female-led stories all year long by making 2026 our Year of the Woman.
Tangible change doesn’t come from just one day a year but it’s a good place to start. The theme for International Women’s Day 2026 is #GiveToGain and here’s how you can get involved in the IWD action in London.
IWD Lunch With Viv Groskop & Mary Portas
The Barbary Notting Hill founder Zoe Paskin is hosting an IWD lunch at the restaurant where Mary Portas will be interviewed by comedian and cultural critic Viv Groskop. As well as hearing Portas reflect on her career as a businesswoman, broadcaster, activist and author, the event includes a welcome drink and a lunch featuring signature dishes from The Barbary. A minimum £20 donation is encouraged for those who want to attend, with the money going to The King’s Trust Change a Girl’s Life campaign.
Weds 4th March 2026, from 12pm
112 Westbourne Grove, London W2 5RU
Disco Sisters
Disco Sisters, the UK’s first women-only early club night founded by Sam Baker and Caz Howgego, is throwing a spesh event at the Star of Kings for IWD. A portion of each ticket sold will be used to fund a Disco Sisters dance session in The Movement Charity’s London safe houses, offering women going through trauma a chance to experience the energy, joy and freedom of the dancefloor in a safe space.
Sat 7th March 2026, 6.30pm – 10pm
126 York Way, London N1 0AX
IWD Lunch at Cavita
Cavita is hosting a collaborative lunch showcasing five extraordinary female chefs on IWD. Adriana Cavita will be joined by Ayesha Kalaji, Keshia Sakarah, Maria Bradford and Sabrina Gidda, women who are all shaping the UK food scene, for a menu that’ll celebrate their global heritage. The chefs will also be taking part in a Q&A hosted by Justine Murphy, and all profits from the event will be donated to Refuge.
Sun 8th March 2026, from 12:30pm
60 Wigmore Street, London W1U 2RZ
AOAP Projects IWD Auction
AOAP Projects (fka Art on a Postcard) is hosting another International Women’s Day auction but this time the traditional postcards have been replaces with 5 x 5-inch plywood works. Curated by women, the line-up of artists are all female-indentifying, with works from the likes of Dominque Fung, Helen Kincaid, Florence Reekie, Anna Blom, Sola Olulode, and Hannah Perry on offer. Money raised from the auction will go to support the work that The Hepatitis C Trust does with women affected by the criminal justice system.
Thurs 5th – Thurs 19th March 2026
Online
Anna Lapwood at the Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall’s official organist Anna Lapwood is putting on an IWD concert featuring some of her fave film soundtracks and the works of female composers. As well as premiering pieces by Olivia Belli and Rachel Portman, Anna will be joined by saxophonist Jess Gillam and singer-songwriter Katie Melua.
Sun 8th March 2026
Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2AP
AllBright Step Forward Summit
AllBright is celebrating International Women’s Day this March with its sixth Step Forward Summit, a day of talks, panels, workshops and wellness sessions. This year, the likes of Jill Scott MBE, Angela Scanlon, Amber Rose Gill, and Anna Whitehouse are set to make an appearance. There’ll be discussions on everything from women’s wealth and financial empowerment to the realities facing working mothers and how confidence evolves at different stages of life.
Fri 6th March 2026
52 Chiswell St, London EC1Y 4SA
EVE Wrestling: Women Behaving Badly
Women’s pro-wrestling meets comedy meets burlesque….that’s one way to celebrate International Women’s Day. Wrestling girl gang EVE is taking over Big Penny Social with its unique mix of action-packed wrestling stunts and neo-burlesque, featuring Session Moth Martina, Miyu Yamashita, Donna Poderosa and Aya L’Storm.
Fri 6th March 2026
1 Priestley Way, London E17 6AL
KERB Francis Road IWD Market
KERB is doing an IWD takeover at its new Leyton market on Francis Road, with an all-female-founded trader line-up. Stop by to grab food from Banzai Kitchen, Hanoi Cà Phê, Mexclub, Utopia Food, and Deeney’s, with produce and goods from the likes of Saff Bakes, Bushwood Bees, Nutty Belly Gal and Sirip also on offer.
Sat 7th March 2026
Francis Road, Leyton, London E10
By-the-Glass Wine Takeover at Sager + Wilde
Sager + Wilde is hosting a one-day, by-the-glass wine takeover spotlighting women shaping the wine and hospo industry. Margaux Aubry (founder of Naughty Piglets) and Ana Candida Ferraz (Higher Ground & Flawd) will be doing rare cellar pours from their private collections, with S+W’s General Manager Laís Aoki doing a by-the-glass list of wines made by female winemakers.
Sun 8th March 2026
193 Hackney Road, London, E2 8JL
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