London never stands still. From cutting‑edge restaurants and late‑night bars to blockbuster exhibitions and thought‑provoking festivals, there is a raft of fresh experiences arriving in the capital next month.
Below is our curated guide to the most exciting openings and events taking place in January 2026, arranged in an easy‑to‑read format without any tables.
New Restaurants & Food Spaces
DakaDaka
Opens 15 January 2026 in Mayfair (10 Heddon Street). The team behind Seabird and Eggbreak are transforming a former restaurant incubator into a modern Georgian restaurant with open‑fire cooking and natural wine. Expect dishes like khachapuri served hot from the grill and a list of low‑intervention Georgian wines when this small but ambitious eatery opens mid‑month.
MA/NA
Opening in January 2026 at 30 Upper Grosvenor Street, Mayfair. The Los Mochis group is moving into high‑end Japanese cooking. MA/NA focuses on “craft” with dishes such as tiger‑shrimp tempura, robata‑seared avocado, spicy tuna crispy rice and A5 Wagyu beef. A resident DJ and a cocktail bar specialising in rare Japanese spirits add a lively after‑dark element.
Claridge's Bakery
Due in January 2026 on Brook Street, Mayfair. Claridge’s is opening a bakery just off its hotel lobby. Headed by former Tartine baker Richard Hart, the counter will serve British classics like bloomers, granary loaves, sourdough, iced fingers and jam tarts to eat in or take away.
99 Sushi
Arriving in January 2026 at 22 Park Lane, Mayfair. Spanish haute‑sushi chain 99 Sushi opens its first UK outpost at the London Hilton on Park Lane. The dramatic design features black marble, emerald limestone and moss walls, while the menu showcases sustainable Atlantic bluefin tuna in sashimi, nigiri and robata‑grilled skewers. There will also be a sushi counter, a stylish bar and a terrace.
Brother Marcus Victoria
Opening January 2026 in Victoria. East‑Mediterranean restaurant Brother Marcus celebrates its tenth anniversary by opening a new site in Victoria. The menu offers mezze‑style sharing plates and inventive brunch dishes, paired with cocktails and Greek wines.
Hoppers Shoreditch
Launching in January 2026 at the Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High Street. The fourth branch of the beloved Sri Lankan group explores South‑Indian regions such as Chettinad, Madurai, Bangalore, Kochi and Chennai. Alongside signature hoppers and dosas there will be new regional dishes and a bar programme inspired by South‑Indian café culture. The interiors reimagine palaces and traditional homes through a contemporary Shoreditch lens.
The Azuki Room
Recently opened (late 2025) at Rolls Passage, Holborn. Dotori founder Alan Tse’s second restaurant blends fine Japanese cuisine with the atmosphere of a Tokyo back‑street izakaya. The two‑floor space serves a set lunch and evening tasting menu before transforming into a binchotan‑fuelled izakaya lounge with a 2 am licence.
Esmeralda's Mayfair
Public bookings open from January 2026 at the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair. This late‑night live‑music lounge is inspired by New York’s golden‑age clubs. Guests can expect a six‑piece band playing soul, funk and disco, cocktails that riff on classics and indulgent bar snacks such as caviar‑topped chicken nuggets, Wagyu sliders and lobster rolls. Hotel guests get exclusive access in December, with public reservations opening in January.
Exhibitions & Museum Highlights
Even as colder weather settles in, London’s cultural institutions remain on fire. Several blockbuster exhibitions continue into January or open early in the year:
Wes Anderson: The Archives – at the Design Museum until 26 July 2026. This retrospective of filmmaker Wes Anderson features more than 700 objects from his personal archive, including models of the Grand Budapest Hotel, vending machines from Asteroid City and puppets from Fantastic Mr Fox. It offers a rare glimpse into his world of storyboards, costumes and sets.
Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World – at the National Portrait Gallery until 11 January 2026. The first exhibition devoted solely to Cecil Beaton’s contributions to fashion and portrait photography displays over 200 photographs, letters, sketches and costumes, with portraits of Marilyn Monroe and Queen Elizabeth II. Catch it before it closes in mid‑January.
Wayne Thiebaud: American Still Life – at the Courtauld Gallery until 18 January 2026. The Griffin Catalyst exhibition presents the UK’s first museum show of US artist Wayne Thiebaud, focusing on his colourful still‑life paintings of cakes, pies and gumball machines, loaned from major US museums. Thiebaud’s works elevate everyday American consumer culture into vibrant fine art.
Marie Antoinette Style – at the V&A South Kensington until 22 March 2026. Explore the influence of the fashionable queen through over 250 years of design, fashion and art, including gowns, jewellery and paintings. Workshops and talks run alongside the show, and an accompanying book is available from the V&A shop.
David Hockney: Some Very, Very, Very New Paintings – at Annely Juda Fine Art until 28 February 2026. Hockney debuts a series of new works at the gallery’s new Hanover Square space, presenting colourful interiors that challenge linear perspective. The exhibition reopens on 6 January after a brief festive closure.
Theatre & Performance
January also sees several notable performances on London stages:
Twelfth Night – playing at the Barbican until 17 January 2026. The Royal Shakespeare Company’s revival of Shakespeare’s comedy features original music by singer‑songwriter Matt Maltese and has been described as “inspired and spellbinding.”
High Noon – at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 17 December 2025 to 7 March 2026. Eric Roth and Thea Sharrock’s world‑premiere adaptation of the 1952 Western classic explores courage and cowardice, starring Billy Crudup and Denise Gough. It opened just before Christmas and runs through early spring.
Woman in Mind – at the Duke of York’s Theatre from 9 December 2025 to 28 February 2026. Sheridan Smith and Romesh Ranganathan lead Alan Ayckbourn’s dark comedy about a woman whose reality splits between mundane life and a seductive imaginary family.
Festivals & Major Events
London’s January calendar is packed with festivals and trade shows. Here are the highlights:
Winter Lights Festival – 20–31 January 2026 at Canary Wharf. Celebrating its 10th edition, this free light‑art trail transforms the business district with the theme “Dreamscape.” Expect surreal and interactive installations, and make time to skate on the Canada Square ice rink while you’re there.
London Art Fair – 21–25 January 2026 at the Business Design Centre, Islington. The 38th edition of the fair brings modern and contemporary galleries from the UK and abroad. Highlights include a partnership with the National Trust showcasing surrealist and post‑war abstract works, “Platform: The Unexpected” curated by historian Dr Ferren Gipson and the Encounters section introducing emerging international galleries.
Adventure Travel Show & Gravel & Adventure Bike Expo – 10–11 January 2026 at the Business Design Centre. Over 100 adventure‑travel specialists, explorers and journalists offer talks, workshops and show deals. A new bike expo focuses on gravel and adventure bikes, and tickets include entry to both shows.
Bett UK – 21–23 January 2026 at ExCeL London. The world’s leading EdTech event welcomes more than 30 000 educators from over 120 countries. Expect free CPD sessions, hands‑on technology demos, inspirational keynotes and a structured networking programme called Connect @ Bett.
EAG Expo – 13–15 January 2026 at ExCeL London. The UK’s premier entertainment attractions and gaming trade show showcases the latest immersive experiences, arcade games and casino technology.
Festival of Genomics & Biodata – 28–29 January 2026 at ExCeL London. The UK’s largest life‑sciences gathering brings together more than 8 300 registrants, 360+ speakers and 180 exhibitors to explore topics including artificial intelligence, cancer diagnostics, drug discovery and proteomics.
London Short Film Festival (LSFF) – 23 January to 1 February 2026 at cinemas across London. A BAFTA‑ and BIFA‑qualifying festival showcasing 250–500 British and international shorts across ten days. LSFF champions under‑represented voices and includes talks, panels and live events.
January Blues Festival – 2–31 January 2026 at 229 Great Portland Street. London’s premier blues festival runs throughout January with different headline acts each night. Performances include The Animals with Geno Washington (3 Jan), Band of Friends celebrating Rory Gallagher (4 Jan), blues guitarist Eric Bibb (5–6 Jan) and many more. Tickets for all shows or individual dates are available.
Plan Your January Adventures
January may be cold, but London is buzzing with fresh openings. Whether you’re eager to sample Georgian dishes by an open fire, dance to a live soul band in an intimate Mayfair lounge or wander through an immersive light‑art trail, there’s something new to explore every week. Be sure to book ahead for restaurants and ticketed events, as many of these openings will be in high demand.
