51st Annual Covent Garden May Fayre

Held annually in the garden of St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden, the Annual May Fayre & Puppet Festival is the country’s longest running puppet festival and a joyful celebration of puppetry’s past, present, and future.

On the 9th of May 1662, diarist Samuel Pepys recorded seeing “an Italian puppet play” in Covent Garden. The May Fayre was established in 1976 to honour Mr Punch’s birthday and this year the May Fayre will be held on Sunday the 10th of May 2026. The festival welcomes performers from across Britain, Europe, and beyond, and continues to be a highlight of London’s cultural calendar.

Admission is free and all are welcome! The full programme is available here. We hope you are able to join the fun and celebrations, and the enduring magic of puppetry.