Lord Mayor's Show 2026: what is on across the City

The 698th Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Bronek Masojada, will take part in the Show on Saturday 14 November 2026. The free procession starts from Mansion House at 11am, passes through the Square Mile to the Royal Courts of Justice, then returns along the Thames in the early afternoon. This is a civic procession for the Lord Mayor of the City of London, not the Mayor of London. See the event page for the date, map and official source.

The procession route

The outward route runs from Mansion House via Cheapside, St Paul's Cathedral and Fleet Street to the Royal Courts of Justice at Aldwych. The return starts from Temple Place at about 1.10pm, follows the Embankment and Queen Victoria Street, and brings the Lord Mayor back to Mansion House at about 2.30pm.

Where to watch

For the full morning spectacle, the organisers recommend the stretch between Bank and St Paul's as the outward procession passes from about 11am to noon. It is the busiest part of the route. For more space, go to the return leg along the Embankment between Temple and Blackfriars, from around 1.15pm; the pavements are wider and the crowd is lighter. The procession takes well over an hour to pass any one point. Once it is moving, you cannot cross the route at street level; use the underpasses at Bank, City Thameslink, Mansion House or Blackfriars.

Getting there on Show day

Do not plan to drive into the City. Roads around the route close, buses divert and nearby parking bays are suspended. Bank and St Paul's stations are closest to the outward route but get very busy. Farringdon and City Thameslink are useful alternatives; Temple and Blackfriars are well placed for the return. The City Corporation and TfL publish the final road and bus arrangements nearer the date.

Make a full day of it: what else is on

The procession is the main event, but there are two confirmed ways to spend the afternoon nearby. Guildhall Art Gallery is open 11am–5pm with free entry; its paintings trace London across more than 350 years, and the gallery has also shown portraits of past Lady Mayors. It is at Guildhall Yard, a short walk north of Bank.

From 3pm to 3.45pm, free guided walks of the City's historic streets leave at regular intervals from No. 1 Poultry, Bucklersbury Passage. Each walk lasts about an hour; the route is described as wheelchair friendly, though some street surfaces are uneven. Donations to the Lord Mayor's Charity Appeal are welcome. Before or after the procession, the City Information Centre beside St Paul's Cathedral can help with visitor information and the City Visitor Trail.

A practical order is: choose a morning viewing point for the procession; visit Guildhall Art Gallery while the crowd thins; then join a 3pm walking tour. The gallery and tours are separate City activities, so check the City Corporation's listing for any changes before travelling.

What is confirmed so far

The Lord Mayor Elect is Alderman Bronek Masojada, who takes office at the Silent Ceremony on Friday 13 November. The procession commemorates the journey the newly appointed Lord Mayor has made to Westminster to swear allegiance to the Crown since the early 13th century. The 2025 procession had more than 7,000 participants and stretched for over three miles when lined up. The organisers have not yet published the 2026 processional order, so a final list of bands, companies and floats is still to come.

Cost and access

Watching is free and does not require a ticket. The official souvenir programme, which carries the running order, costs £5 from Scout and Guide volunteers on the day, cash only. The organisers publish separate access guidance for wheelchair users and visitors who want to avoid the densest crowds. Check the official viewing advice and timetable on the Lord Mayor's Show website before setting out.