Live music, film screenings and literary events will come together for a three-day celebration.
Rough Trade is heading to London’s Southbank Centre this summer for a milestone celebration that feels fitting for a brand built on discovery, disruption and cultural staying power. Running from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 July 2026, Rough Trade 50 will take over the venue with a programme that spans music, film, live performance and the written word, marking 50 years since the original Rough Trade shop first opened its doors on Kensington Park Road in West London.
For music fans, the biggest draw is likely to be Pulp, who headline on Saturday 18 July 2026 at the Royal Festival Hall. The band will perform More in full, their 2025 album and first in 24 years, alongside material from a catalogue that includes defining British tracks such as “Common People” and “Disco 2000”. Elsewhere on the same day, Scritti Politti will take over Queen Elizabeth Hall.
The line-up goes beyond concerts. On Friday, 17 July, An Evening with Rough Trade Books opens the celebrations in Queen Elizabeth Hall. On Saturday, award-winning playwright and screenwriter Hannah Patterson brings Ungone to the Purcell Room, with a live performance from Ana da Silva of The Raincoats. Then on Sunday, Ken Loach’s 1969 classic Kes will be screened with a live soundtrack by Elysian Collective and an introduction by Jarvis Cocker.
The event also feels like a reminder of Rough Trade’s wider legacy. Founded in West London in 1976, the company has grown from a community-minded record shop into a globally recognised independent music brand, while retaining the DIY spirit that made it so influential in the first place. Its 50th anniversary programme stretches beyond this Southbank Centre takeover, but this weekend looks set to be one of the centrepieces.
Geoff Travis, founder of Rough Trade Records, said: “This year means it’s 50 years since the day the first shop opened its doors on Kensington Park Road. The Rough Trade shop which became a distributor and then a Record label which has helped to bring into the world some of the very best music. Come and celebrate with us.”
Tickets for most events went on sale to Southbank Centre Members on 15 April, with general sale from 16 April, while Pulp follows a separate on-sale timeline. For the latest availability and booking details, check the Southbank Centre event listing.
Where: The Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX
When: Friday 17 to Sunday 19 July 2026
Contact: www.southbankcentre.co.uk