13.04.2026 Urban Elephant Festival 2026
Residents, visitors and local artists gathered in their hundreds as Elephant and Castle was host to the fifth annual Urban Elephant Festival.
This year’s event marked a major milestone with the official unveiling of the new public square within The Elephant, which was formally revealed as Belfield Clarke Square, named after Dr Cecil Belfield Clarke, celebrating one of the area’s most impactful and often overlooked figures.
Dr. Clarke practised from his surgery on the site at 112 Newington Causeway, a site now associated with London South Bank University’s Perry Library, for more than 45 years, serving generations of local residents.
The unveiling formed the centrepiece of this year’s festival, which returned for its fifth year with its most ambitious programme yet. Streets and public spaces across Elephant and Castle were brought to life with music, dance and street performances from a diverse lineup of local artists.
Festival-goers were treated to entertainment across Sayer Street, Walworth Square and Castle Square, creating a vibrant, carnivallike atmosphere that celebrated Elephant & Castle’s rich cultural diversity.
For many attendees, the day was not just about the launch of a new square, but about seeing Elephant and Castle’s transformation take shape – bringing together long-time residents, new neighbours and visitors in a shared celebration of community and change
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