Mark your calendars! The 2026 Grand National is set for Saturday, April 11th, at 4pm.

Taking place at Aintree Racecourse and sponsored by Randox Health, this historic race spans 4 miles and 514 yards. The course is punctuated by 30 thrilling jumps that both horse and jockey must expertly navigate.

It's Europe's most lucrative jumps race, with a prize pool of £1 million. Join a global audience of 600 million from 140 countries and a crowd of over 70,000 spectators at Aintree to witness this spectacle.

The stakes are high as 34 of the finest horses and jockeys gear up for what's often called the ultimate challenge in British horse racing. The brave horses and jockeys will have to face and overcome legendary fences like The Chair, Canal Turn, and Becher’s Brook in their quest for Aintree glory.

🕺 Join us for another Next Generation drinks on Tuesday, 7th April! 💃

​This month, we are thrilled to be joined by Gawain Towler, a titan of British political communications and the strategist who helped reshape the UK’s constitutional landscape.

​Gawain has been the man behind the curtain for over two decades. From his early days as the Chief Press Officer for UKIP in Brussels and London (2004–2017) to serving as the Director of Communications for the Brexit Party in 2019, he has lived through the most disruptive era of modern British politics. Having served as Head of Press and now sitting on the Reform UK Party Board, Gawain remains a permanent fixture in the contact books of lobby journalists and broadcasters alike.

​Whether you’ve seen him sparring on Sky News or reading his columns in the national press, Gawain is a master of the "insurgent" narrative. He’ll be sharing his insights on the evolution of the Right, the secrets of the Westminster lobby, and what it takes to win when the establishment is against you.

The main purpose of International Conference on Urban Policy, Poverty, and Economic Growth is to bring industry professionals, experts, academicians, and scholars to discuss their expertise for better collaboration in the field

5 Seconds of Summer returns to The O2 on Thursday 2 April 2026 for their Everyone’s A Star! World Tour.

Join us on the 2nd April at 10am for our next Dods Research webinar to understand the importance of Private Members’ Bills.

With the next King’s Speech and Private Members’ Bill (PMB) ballot approaching, this Dods Research webinar offers timely, practical insight into how the PMB process really works.

Joined by Max Wilkinson MP, who was drawn second in the 2024 Private Members’ Bill ballot, the session will explore what a top ballot position genuinely enables, how MPs choose and develop PMBs, and where Bills most often succeed or stall. Max will also share reflections on engaging with stakeholders and the realities of balancing parliamentary time.

The main purpose of International Conference on Food Security, Globalization, and Poverty is to bring industry professionals, experts, academicians, and scholars to discuss their expertise for better collaboration in the field

Josh Groban will be heading to The O2 on Wednesday 1 April 2026 for his Gems World Tour.

Gunna has announced his upcoming Wun World Tour, which will be heading to The O2 on Wednesday 25 and Tuesday 31 March 2026.

The Wun World Tour supports Gunna’s sixth studio album, The Last Wun, which was released August 8, 2025 via YSL Records and 300 Entertainment. It has quickly proven itself as a major cultural and commercial moment, making an explosive debut at #1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #3 on the Billboard 200, while maintaining remarkable staying power with six consecutive weeks in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 and five straight weeks at #1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart.

Prue Leith joins The Spectator’s restaurant critic Tanya Gold to discuss wonderful moments from her life and her new book.

Join us for an evening with Prue Leith, pioneering restaurateur, novelist, national treasure and beloved Spectator contributor. We’ll be discussing her journey to the pinnacle of Britain’s culinary world, her decision to step back from The Great British Bake Off, and her latest book, Being Old… And Learning to Love It!.

Prue will share her reflections on her bountiful career in food, including opening award-winning restaurant Leith’s and dazzling millions of TV viewers in Great British Menu and The Great British Bake Off. With 12 cookery books, eight novels and countless articles in The Spectator to her name, Prue has had as impressive a writing career. We’ll discuss her new book, Being Old… And Learning to Love It!, a candid, funny and thoughtful reflection on the surprises of ageing. From finding love again in her seventies to confronting the realities of mortality, Prue writes with characteristic candour about the trials, tribulations and unexpected joys of growing older. With her trademark zest for life and fierce belief in personal autonomy, she’ll also share her views on life and death – and the meaning that lies between them.

Guests with tickets that include a signed copy of Prue’s book, RRP £20, will be able to collect it on the night. If you cannot make it on the day, your book will be available for collection from The Spectator offices for up to two months after the event.

With Dr Jack Clayton

For much of President Donald Trump’s presidency, (both during his first term, and now his second) commentators and analysts have struggled to definitively define his foreign policy and its place in US history. 

This presentation will shed light on his worldview, which has been articulated most clearly by his 2025 National Security Strategy, dubbed as the ‘Donroe Doctrine’. Trump’s hostility towards cooperation and multilateralism and ‘America First’ slogan has mistakenly been called isolationist. 

Instead, his foreign policy can be best understood as unilateralist, whereby the United States’ has the unfettered ability to act in the world, unconstrained. It is rooted in American exceptionalism, the foundational belief that the United States has a unique global role with a mission to change and ‘save’ the world and make it into a vision of its own making. 

However, the ‘Donroe Doctrine’ departs from the idealistic democracy promotion, and resembles nineteenth century exceptionalism, based on nativist cultural and civilisational supremacy.

Bio

Dr Jack Clayton is a US foreign policy academic and analyst who researches
American exceptionalism and the role of domestic public opinion in US military
intervention.

International Conference on Globalization, Human Rights, and Economic Policy is a global organization that is completely dedicated to advancing science, engineering, and technology. It has initiated a technical revolution through its innovative approach and strategy. The Research Plus forum consists of leading researchers, global leaders, and scientists who drive technological advancements. With such a strong forum, it tries to make a significant impact by using science to solve the issues that are a global threat.

Join us at a new venue, Porsche West London on 26th March 2026, for an evening (from 6.30pm) networking event and the official launch of the West London Chambers Business Awards 2026.

Hear from a Porsche specialist as they talk through the latest models, including exciting EV options. Connect with fellow guests over canapés, wine, and refreshments throughout the evening.

Join us at a new venue, Porsche West London on 26th March 2026, for an evening (from 6.30pm) networking event. Hear from a Porsche specialist as they talk through the latest models, including exciting EV options. Connect with fellow guests over canapés, wine, and refreshments throughout the evening.

About the Discussion

The talk is about a very successful, highly instructive free market in money episode, with the silver-backed "Mark Banco" serving as a sound unit of account for around 250 years.

About the Speaker

​Dr Thorsten Polleit is Honorary Professor of Economics at the University of Bayreuth, Germany. He worked as an economist for more than 15 years in the international investment banking industry. From 2012 to 2023 he was chief economist and board member of Europe’s largest precious metal trading house. Thorsten is Adjunct Scholar of the Ludwig von Mises Institute, Auburn, US Alabama, and founder and President of the Ludwig von Mises Institut Deutschland, Germany. He is publisher of Dr. Polleit's BOOM & BUST REPORT.

About the Series

This will be the next instalment in our monthly Food for Thought series, hosted in partnership with the Vinson Centre at the University of Buckingham. The purpose of this series is to foster high-level academic discussion on themes within the classical liberal tradition, touching on economics, philosophy, history, law, and related disciplines. In turn, we hope to form a community of academics, policymakers, professionals, and students united by the exchange of ideas and life-long learning.

Join us on the 26th for training with Ben from the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU), working through a live food fraud incident, with bespoke examples relevant for retailers.

Explore the legacy of one of our best loved novelists, Jane Austen.

Join Sunday Times bestselling author, Gill Hornby in conversation about all things Austen including the inspiration behind her Jane Austen trilogy of books, and the important role of Cassandra Austen in Jane’s life and legacy.

This in-conversation event will take place at The National Archives in Kew. The event will last approximately one hour and will be followed by a book signing and a chance to visit our Love Letters exhibition featuring the will of Jane Austen. A pop-up bar will be open for visitors to purchase drinks and snacks before the talk starts.

Discover more about our free exhibition, Love Letters, open until Sunday 12 April 2026.

Gill Hornby is the author of The Hive and All Together Now, as well as The Story of Jane Austen, a biography of Austen for younger readers.

Her subsequent novels, Miss Austen and Godmersham Park were Sunday Times bestsellers, and Miss Austen is a four-part BBC adaptation starring Keely Hawes as Cassandra Austen. She is also the President of the Jane Austen Society.

Gunna has announced his upcoming Wun World Tour, which will be heading to The O2 on Wednesday 25 and Tuesday 31 March 2026.

The Wun World Tour supports Gunna’s sixth studio album, The Last Wun, which was released August 8, 2025 via YSL Records and 300 Entertainment. It has quickly proven itself as a major cultural and commercial moment, making an explosive debut at #1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #3 on the Billboard 200, while maintaining remarkable staying power with six consecutive weeks in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 and five straight weeks at #1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart.

This house believes we should abolish the licence fee.

Motion: This house believes we should abolish the licence fee.

FOR: Charles Moore and Allison Pearson

AGAINST: Michael Gove and Jon Sopel

Moderated by: Isabel Hardman

Editorial errors, ideological bias and partisan presenters – what has happened to the BBC? Once considered a national treasure and a bastion of pioneering journalism around the world, ‘Auntie’ is now just as likely to make the headlines as to report them. Is it time to defund – or defend – this once great institution?

Recent controversies have shaken trust in the Corporation and provoked fierce controversy, from allegations of editorial bias (Gaza, net zero, trans rights) and poor judgment (Bob Vylan’s appearance at Glastonbury, that edited Donald Trump speech) to high-profile resignations (Richard Sharp, Tim Davie, Deborah Turness) and sexual scandals (Jimmy Savile, Huw Edwards, Rolf Harris).

The BBC’s traditional funding model, centred on the licence fee, is also increasingly under strain as the wider media landscape shifts. Audiences are fragmenting across global streaming platforms and social media, while rising production costs and intense competition from commercial giants are all hitting the Corporation hard. Licence-fee evaders and refuseniks now cost the BBC £1 billion a year in lost revenue, putting its public service remit even further at risk.

So is the BBC still a vital public service that ‘educates, informs, and entertains’ the nation – or a relic from the past? Watch The Spectator’s Charles Moore, who was fined after refusing to pay his licence fee, and the Telegraph’s Allison Pearson go up against Spectator editor and former BBC journalist Michael Gove and former BBC America editor Jon Sopel at this very special event.

With Ideja Bajra

We’re living through the first moment in history where intelligence isn’t confined to the human mind. AI isn’t replacing how we think; it’s slipping into the thinking process itself!

In this talk, we’ll explore this new era of co-intelligence, where the real breakthroughs are coming from humans and machines working together. We’ll look at how tools have always reshaped how we think - writing, maps, calculators - and then focus on what actually makes AI different.

We’ll also get into the messy reality of how our brains work: the shortcuts we take, the stories we spin, the illusions of certainty we hang onto. Then we’ll explore how AI plays with those patterns, sometimes cranking up our biases, sometimes cutting through them.

Ultimately, attendees will leave seeing that the future was never a simple either/or. The next era is already here: humans plus AI.
Bio

Ideja Bajra is the founder of Edvance AI, an award-winning consultancy helping organisations to get AI adoption right. A British-Kosovar changemaker and recognised AI thought leader, she has been named a Top 5 UK AI Innovator (AI100), Founder of the Year, and Highly Commended in AI at Women of the Future.

She is a sought-after keynote speaker and content creator, delivering talks at AI & Big Data Expo, Salesforce, and TikTok. Ideja specialises in making AI accessible to non-technical audiences, with a focus on organisational readiness, digital literacy, and the human side of AI transformation.

Supporters Guide

Please check back nearer the time for important information regarding stadium access, security and prohibited items at Wembley Stadium. 

Ticketing

Please note that tickets for this years final will be sold via the relevant competing clubs, once they are decided.

Please note that under 2's are not permitted in to the stadium.

Level 5 has a steep gradient & may not be suitable for sufferers of vertigo

Hospitality

 Experiences by Wembley Stadium is offering fans the ultimate matchday experience for the Carabao Cup Final and the world's must-see fixtures. With an Experiences by Wembley Stadium membership, you can enjoy a range of exclusive benefits, including priority access to tickets for major events such as Concerts, NFL and Boxing. The luxurious suites, restaurants, and bars at Wembley Stadium make it the UK's most exclusive Stadium hospitality.
 
Members also get the chance to attend exclusive member-only events throughout the year, including attending England open training sessions, luxury spa and golf days and invites to non-Wembley events around the world.

Accessible ticketing information

Any guest with an access requirement can find all the information on purchasing accessible tickets via the two competing club websites. Wembley Stadium will not be selling accessible tickets for this event. This also includes any Sensory Room requests.

Wembley Stadium Restricted Bag Policy

To help provide a safer environment for our fans, Wembley Stadium has a strict restricted bag policy for all events.

All ticket holders will be prohibited from bringing any bag into the stadium unless it meets the Wembley Stadium regulations. Any bag that does not meet these requirements will be refused entry.

Full details can be found here.

National Express

Wembley Express services drop you direct to the Stadium from over 50 locations across the UK. Brought to you by National Express, the Official Coach Supplier to Wembley Stadium connected by EE, it’s the easiest and most convenient way to travel to the best sporting and music events.

To book a Wembley Express for this fixture, visit the National Express website.

Come get cosy with us! We want to connect filmmakers to film lovers, sisters to brothers.

Community is at the heart of Sunday Shorts. We want to connect filmmakers to film lovers, sisters to brothers. Expect some groovy new films and a little (totally platonic) speed networking. If you need a partner in crime for a project, bring along an idea and write it on our opportunities board. We’ll connect you up with anyone who wants to hear more. (Projects can be ANYTHING, not just film).

Then we'll be showcasing our latest official selections from around the world, with some director introductions, and taking your votes for the monthly audience award.

The multi-platinum rapper, singer-songwriter and producer Badshah has announced a show at London’s on Sunday 22 March, with Badshah being the first Indian Rapper to headline at the world-famous venue.

Badshah is one of India’s most prolific, boundary-pushing music powerhouses, with 18+ chart-topping hits each with 300million+ YouTube plays across an enormous catalogue of 5 billion+ streams. He has a massive global fanbase and has collaborated with superstars from Shah Rukh Khan and Arijit Singh to Sean Paul, Diplo, J Balvin, Davido and Tiësto.

The show follows his surprise appearance at The O2 during Diljit Dosanjh’s Dil-Luminati Tour and performed ‘Naina’.  That night, before tens of thousands of fans, Badshah shared his dream of returning to headline The O2 - a dream that will now be realised next March. It will be a landmark moment for Indian hip hop on the global stage, signalling the genre’s fast-growing international footprint and command of the world’s biggest stages.

Badshah states, “Headlining The O2 is more than a milestone — it’s a dream I’ve carried for years. Desi hip hop belongs on the global stage, and this show is our declaration. London, we’re about to make history together — louder, prouder and bigger than ever. 22nd March 2026 will be a night we remember forever.”

Join us for all the action of 2026 Carabao Cup FINAL!

We'll be showing the final LIVE at BOXPARK Croydon, all surrounded by fantastic street food offerings and our bars.

4:30PM KICK OFF

SEATING IS UNRESERVED

All bouts are live and subject to change.

UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organisation, has announced its highly anticipated return to London The O2 on Saturday 21 March 2026, with No. 1 ranked featherweight Movsar Evloev set to take on No. 4 featherweight Manchester’s Lerone Murphy.

Movsar Evloev (19-0-0, fighting out of Sunzha, Ingushetia, Russia) has earned nine straight victories inside the Octagon. Known for his dominant, grappling-heavy style, the undefeated standout holds wins over former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, Arnold Allen and Diego Lopes.

Lerone Murphy, (17-0-1, fighting out of Manchester, England) tops the marquee in London for the first time. Unbeaten across 11 UFC appearances, “The Miracle” is coming off a Knockout of the Year performance against Aaron Pico at UFC 319 in August that extended his winning streak to 10 and established him as a legitimate threat in the featherweight division.

Meanwhile, Luke Riley (12-0-0, fighting out of Liverpool, England) is back in action after an impressive UFC debut in Qatar, where he produced an emphatic KO finish against Bogdan Grad. Riley is known for his confidence, composure and finishing instinct, he’s entering this next fight with momentum and the intent to announce himself as a serious presence in the featherweight division.

Michael Aswell Jr. (11-3-0, fighting out of Houston, Texas), returns to the Octagon® following his round one win against Lucas Almeida. Aswell Jr. brings a relentless pace and a well-rounded skill set that makes him a dangerous matchup for Liverpool’s Riley.

Our beginner’s stand up course is for people who have never done stand up comedy, as well as people with a little bit of experience who want to sharpen up their act. These classes will cover the very basics of stand up, from learning how to write a “pull back and reveal” joke to applying for gigs on the London circuit. The course culminates in your own gig at Angel Comedy!

This is a 5 week course, running on Saturdays from the 21st of February to the 21st of March. The course includes a final showcase at The Bill Murray in Islington in addition to the five class dates.
This is week 5 of the course

About the tutor:
Nick Elleray is an award-winning stand-up comic, who performs regularly at Angel Comedy and other clubs in London and the South-East.

Shortlisted three times for the BBC New Comedy Award, he has been a finalist in such major competitions as The NATYs; Up The Creek One To Watch; Leicester Square New Act of the Year; and Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year.

Nick has been taking stand-up comedy shows to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival since 2012, garnering great reviews - particularly for 2019's Big Nick Energy, with praise focusing on his 'savvy writing' (Chortle) and 'cracking good jokes' (Three Weeks). He also works privately on show development and joke-writing with other acts.

International Conference on HIV/AIDS, Policy Innovation, and Global Development is a multidisciplinary research and development association. It has a group of scientists and researchers from around the world who work together to solve problems using science and technology and ensure sustainable development. They help companies, universities, and governments find solutions to challenges related to scientific progress by conducting conferences, workshops and collaborations.

Our original free shows return! No tickets or reservations, turn up early to get a spot!

Award-winning comedy from "a comedy institution" (Time Out), putting on free world-class shows every night.

Arrive early to ensure you gain entry. Once it's full, it's full.

Chat to our person at the bottom of the stairs and ask for a stamp when you arrive.

Presented by Angel Comedy

The Mountbatten Festival of Music returns, featuring the Massed Bands of His Majesty’s Royal Marines, performing over two nights at the Royal Albert Hall including a Saturday matinee performance.

These concerts display the outstanding versatility of some of the world’s finest military musicians and are given the “West End” treatment with spectacular lighting effects.

The Festival sees the Royal Marines showcase their incredible musicianship and pageantry and features a wide range of musical styles, including music from the big screen and superb solo items, as well as the traditional marches and overtures that have proved such a hit with audiences over the years.

Raising funds for Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charities.