2025 Summer of Festivals – The Brentford Canal Festival

Brentford Canal Festival; Ingrid Remisova

Free family-friendly event, Saturday 21 June, from 12-6pm, returning with an expanded programme of events

The Brentford Canal Festival is back, celebrating its fourth year with an expanded programme of events throughout the day on Saturday 21 June.

Last year the Canal Festival attracted 5,000-6,000 visitors to Brentford’s historic waterways. This year’s festival will bring a packed schedule of live music from bands including The Lockpickers and Republic of Brentford on six stages; international dance, boat trips, paddleboarding and kayaking.

Among the activities on offer are live music on five different stages, Morris dancing, arts and crafts workshops and street entertainers.

“It’s a fantastic day out for the family”, said Cllr Salman Shaheen, Cabinet Member for Culture at Hounslow Council, who have supported the festival:

“The Canal Festival is a vital part of Brentford’s emerging, vibrant cultural scene, bringing residents together for a wonderful celebration of Brentford’s rich heritage and its exciting future.

“It’s a fantastic day out for the family, with tons of acts and activities, and has really helped put Brentford on the map.”

Brentford Canal Festival Floating Market, where traders sell directly from their boats; photograph Ingrid Remisova

Floating Market

The ‘Floating Market’ returns to the Grand Union Canal at Brentford Lock, with traders selling jewellery, crafts and stationery from their boats, and visitors will also have the chance to experience life on a narrowboat, with free boat trips running all day.

There will also be a Kids Zone, where children can try their hand at chalk carving, drawing, competing to keep the giant Jenga tower standing, or playing boules or petanques at the square in the Butts.

Activities take place in various locations across Brentford: The Grand Union Canal, River Brent and River Thames, in Brentford Market Place, The Gauging Lock, Brentford Lock Piazza, The Grand Union Canal Walkway, Workhouse Dock and Brentford Lock West.

Live music, dance and street entertainment will take place all day; Eric Baker

Cultivating a community

Bringing together businesses, local creatives, and residents has helped create a community in a part of West London that is constantly regenerating.

Richard Pearce, Senior Manager at The Brentford Project’s property developer Ballymore, said that the festival has been central to the making of Brentford:

“The waterways are central to our project and to celebrate them through this fantastic cultural event has played a key role in the place making of Brentford—a town that only Brentford can be.”

A full schedule of events can be found here.