Chelsea’s inaugural Arts Festival is set to bring a new cultural charge to SW3. Over three days, Rupert Everett, Stephen Fry, Zandra Rhodes, William Boyd, Matt Haig, Elizabeth Day and more will take to stages across Cadogan Hall, Saatchi Gallery and beyond. From ballet with Spanish fire to conversations on creativity, resilience and self-expression, these are the ten moments worth booking now.
THURSDAY 18 SEPTEMBER
Rupert Everett with Hannah MacInnes
BEST FOR: Theatrical gossip and literary flair
Actor, writer and director Rupert Everett joins broadcaster Hannah MacInnes to chart his extraordinary career—from breakthrough screen roles to his latest book, The American No. Expect candid reflections, sharp humour and a fascinating glimpse into the worlds of performance and prose.
12:00 pm, Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, SW1X 9DQ
Tickets: £12.50 to £32.50
Rupert Everett and Hannah MacInnes with 'The American No'
FRIDAY 19 SEPTEMBER
Stephen Fry on stage for Blue Plaques Talk Back Live
BEST FOR: Local legends reimagined
Sir Stephen Fry, Lyse Doucet OBE and Dennis Morris headline this theatrical tribute to Chelsea’s cultural icons. Expect dramatic retellings and lively discussion of the lives behind the plaques—from Bob Marley to Oscar Wilde, George Eliot to Martha Gellhorn.
10:30 am, Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, SW1X 9DQ
Tickets: From £12.50
In Conversation with William Boyd
BEST FOR: Lovers of spy thrillers
The acclaimed novelist discusses his upcoming book The Predicament, a taut espionage tale of intrigue, betrayal and passion. In conversation with poet, writer and cultural commentator, Olivia Cole, Boyd will also offer a glimpse into the creative process that brought us Any Human Heart and Restless.
1:30 pm, Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, SW1X 9DQ
Tickets: £12.50 – £32.50
Sheila Nortley with Davina Forbes-Williamson
BEST FOR: Screen culture and representation
Hosted by Davina Forbes-Williamson, screenwriter and producer Sheila Nortley (Stay Close, BAFTA-nominated Supacell) reflects on her path from first ideas to Netflix hits. Expect an honest look at representation, the UK industry, and the collaborative grind behind the scenes—where stories, voices and vision collide to shift culture forward.
2:45 pm, Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, SW3 4RY
Tickets: £12.50
William Boyd and 'The Predicament'
SATURDAY 20 SEPTEMBER
El Cid with English National Ballet School
BEST FOR: Family-friendly ballet
The English National Ballet School’s rising stars take the stage with a morning of classical highlights, closing with El Cid. Lynne Charles’s choreography, set to Jules Massenet’s score, fuses elegance with Spanish fire—precision meets passion in a showcase of young talent poised to carry ballet’s future en pointe.
11:00 am, Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, SW1X 9DQ
Tickets: £12.50 – £32.50
David Shrigley with Kate Bryan
BEST FOR: An irreverent look at the art world
The Turner Prize-nominated artist, known for his satirical drawings, joins curator Kate Bryan to launch their book How to Art, written by Bryan. Together, they cut through art-world pretensions with wit, irreverence and sharp insight.
1:30 pm, Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, SW1X 9DQ
Tickets: £12.50 – £32.50
Express Yourself with Zandra Rhodes and Daniel Lismore
BEST FOR: Maximalist style icons
Fashion pioneer Dame Zandra Rhodes and artist Daniel Lismore (dubbed by Vogue as ‘England’s Most Eccentric Dresser’) explore identity, self-expression and the liberating, transformative power of clothes. A vivid conversation about colour, rebellion and creativity, hosted by Kate Hutchinson of the Last Bohemians podcast.
2:00 pm, Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, SW3 4RY
Tickets: £12.50
Chelsea Arts Festival Comedy Gala
BEST FOR: Saturday night LOLs
Clear your Saturday night: the Chelsea Arts Festival Comedy Gala lands at Cadogan Hall with Sindhu Vee, Daniel Foxx, Michael Odewale, Lloyd Griffith and more. Expect razor-sharp sets, riotous energy, and a cause worth backing—raising funds for Nucleo, the music project that empowers young people through collective creativity and community.
7:45 pm, Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, SW1X 9DQ
Tickets: £12.50 – £32.50
Kate Bryan and David Shrigley and 'How To Art'
SUNDAY 21 SEPTEMBER
Beyond the Page: Matt Haig, Jordan Stephens and Annie Macmanus
BEST FOR: Conversations on creativity and mental health
Bestselling author Matt Haig (The Midnight Library, The Life Impossible) joins Jordan Stephens of Rizzle Kicks for a candid conversation with broadcaster Annie Mac. Together they’ll explore creativity, mental health and resilience—offering powerful insight into how vulnerability and art can shape lives, and why these dialogues matter more than ever.
11:00 am, Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, SW1X 9DQ
Tickets: £12.50 – £32.50
An Afternoon with Elizabeth Day
BEST FOR: Fans of How to Fail
Elizabeth Day, the bestselling author of Magpie and Friendaholic and host of the wildly popular How To Fail podcast, unveils her latest novel, One of Us, in conversation with fellow block-buster author Marian Keyes. Expect family secrets, sharp humour and Day’s candid take on how failure fuels creativity—and why reality TV definitely counts as research. Every ticket includes a copy of One of Us.
2:00 pm, Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, SW1X 9DQ
Tickets: £34.99 – £46.99
Elizabeth Day and 'One of Us'
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