Mighty Hoopla is 2 days of gay pop fun, taking place in London's Brockwell Park every June. It is the UK's largest pop festival and one of the best LGBTQ+ events we've ever attended. Think epic pop acts, a fabulous inclusive atmosphere and a bubble of queer joy!
When Seby and I first decided to check out Mighty Hoopla, we expected a fun day of music and sunshine. What we didn't anticipate was stepping into London's ultimate playground of pop nostalgia and glitter-fueled joy.
Imagine thousands of cheerful LGBTQ+ folks belting out Britney classics, sharing laughs with newfound friends, and enthusiastically spilling drinks while dancing to every throwback hit imaginable.
Within minutes, we were swept up in the fun, singing loudly with total strangers who quickly became festival besties (and our allies in locating missing sunglasses). At one point, Seby vanished entirely, only to reappear an hour later deep in conversation (and questionable choreography) with a group of drag queens near one of the stages.
Mighty Hoopla isn’t just another London event. It's a playful celebration of pop culture, queer joy, and community spirit. Whether you’re a Hoopla veteran or brand-new like we were, you’ll find yourself smiling, dancing, and making memories you didn’t even know you needed.
Trust me, this festival leaves you buzzing, slightly glittered, and definitely planning next year’s return before you've even left.
What is Mighty Hoopla?
Mighty Hoopla began in 2016, starting life as a wild pop-fuelled weekend by the team behind the iconic East London ‘Sink the Pink' club night. After a stint at Butlins and then Victoria Park, it’s now firmly rooted in Brockwell Park, South London.
The festival has grown into a two-day queer extravaganza every June, drawing around 25,000 people each day. Most of them in varying states of glitter and nostalgia.
The name “Hoopla” sums it up perfectly: a joyful, colourful, slightly chaotic celebration of pop culture, queer community, and absolute freedom to be yourself.
We’ve watched the likes of Chaka Khan, TLC, En Vogue, Sugababes, Kesha, and Jessie Ware headline here, with drag shows, dance tents, and plenty of ‘90s throwbacks.
What makes it special for us? It’s a festival that’s as much about the crowd as the acts. Everyone is here for a good time, whether you’re front row for your pop idol or deep in the crowd making new mates. For two glorious days, Brockwell Park transforms into London’s most welcoming, vibrant playground. And trust me, you won’t want to leave.
When is Mighty Hoopla London?
Mighty Hoopla is a 2-day festival that takes place every year in late May / early June.
The next Mighty Hoopla will take place on: Saturday 30 May and Sunday 31 May, 2026.
Where does Mighty Hoopla London take place?
Mighty Hoopla takes place at Brockwell Park in South London.
The nearest tube is Brixton (Victoria Line), which is a 10-minute walk from the park. The nearest train station is Herne Hill, which is a 2-minute walk away.
How can I get tickets for Mighty Hoopla?
The best place to get tickets is directly on the Mighty Hoopla website. Kaboodle is the ticketing service for Mighty Hoopla. Upon payment, they will send you an email confirmation. The actual ticket QR code will be emailed to you (by Kaboodle – so check your Junk folder) within 2 days of the festival.
If tickets run out, you can still buy resale tickets on sites like Tixel. I did this for one of the days at Mighty Hoopla, and it's perfectly legit.
The Mighty Hoopla vibe: what to expect?
The minute you step into Mighty Hoopla, it feels like stumbling into the best pop party London’s ever thrown. There’s one massive main stage where the headline acts take over…think pop divas, throwback icons, and the kind of show-stopping performances that make you lose your voice from singing along.
Off to the side, you’ll find a smaller stage with up-and-coming artists and cult favourites.
And then there are the tents, each with its own flavour, from high-energy techno and dance beats to cheeky cabaret and drag shows that never take themselves too seriously.
Every corner of the park buzzes with colour and mischief. It’s a festival where you can be as extra as you like, make friends in the toilet queue, and dance like no one’s watching 🙂
Where to eat and hydrate at Mighty Hoopla?
Don’t worry about going hungry, Mighty Hoopla has you covered with a parade of food trucks scattered all around the park. Everything from burgers and wood-fired pizzas to vegan delights and street food classics.
There are also plenty of drink stalls, everything from cocktails to iced coffees. Just be prepared for long queues at peak times. My tip is to go when an act is performing to avoid long queues because most wait for an act to finish before going to buy food/refreshments. Also, keep your water bottle handy as they have drinking water stations in the toilets.
What's the toilet situation like at Mighty Hoopla?
Mighty Hoopla sets up large, well-organized toilet zones complete with regular cubicles, urinals, and plenty of spacious portaloos, so even at the festival’s peak, waiting times are reasonable. The areas are cleaned throughout the day (thankfully), and the staff make sure there’s always a steady supply of loo roll.
My only tip? As with food and drinks, queues are longest when an act has finished, as everyone rushes to the toilet in large numbers. The best time to go is midway through an act.
What would we do differently?
We love it, but the one thing we perhaps regret is not geeking up on the artists. You'll probably not immediately recognise a lot of them, but if you listen to some of their hits, you'll realise you know more than you think. I wish I had sat down beforehand and done some more groundwork on this on my Spotify.
Where to stay and where to slay near Mighty Hoopla?
London is expensive. My best advice is to check on BookingCom for what is closest to the park but is within your budget. We stayed at the Chelsea Guest House in Wandsworth. It was basic, but fine for a couple of nights, and only a bus ride away from the park.
The advantage of basing yourself close to the park is that you're also quite close to the south London gay scene in and around Vauxhall and Brixton. The unofficial Mighty Hoopla after party will likely take place in one of the clubs there. Read our guide to the gay scene of London for more. We also have a useful guide to the best gay clubs and parties in London.
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For more inspiration
- Use our London sightseeing guide to plan your trip in the capital
- Read all about the best gay theatres in London
- Check out our guide to the best gay drag clubs in London
- Our guide to London Pride in July's got your back
- Heading north? Use our Scotland gay guide to plan your trip