About

This Is Croydon

A big, bold, and cross-cultural celebration

Welcome to Croydon, London Borough of Culture 2023.

This is Croydon will celebrate the borough’s unique culture and communities through a year-long series of events, activities, projects, and creative commissions, between April 2023 and March 2024. 

Here, we will showcase Croydon’s extraordinary diversity. Featuring world-leading artists together with Croydon’s rising stars. Whether it’s music, dance, spoken word, theatre, street art, exhibitions, fashion shows, interactive installations, workshops, debates, food festivals, carnivals, or a new combination – expect an array of vibrant, dynamic, and varied cultural moments and events. 

After all, Croydon’s extraordinary diversity – of ages, races, cultures, abilities, and religions – has given rise to a creative scene defined by its variety. Created, directed, and presented by local people, this grassroots programme will showcase the very best of Croydon. It will explore the borough’s unique identity, communities, heritage, culture and creativity. 

There will be large-scale interdisciplinary events, dozens of cultural activities, and hundreds of community-led ‘join in’ events. Young people will take part in and lead new projects. A heritage programme will explore the stories of Croydon residents (past and present), historic sites and iconic buildings. 

We invite communities from Croydon and beyond to meet, have new experiences, exchange ideas, and learn new skills. With events taking place across the borough, This is Croydon will be inclusive and accessible. 

Every Croydonian, every Londoner, and the world is invited. This is Croydon… and you’re welcome!