NOVA ESEA

Your guide to the UK's best ESEA (East & Southeast Asian) music, arts, culture & more

Ink Flux Exhibition
Thu 26 Mar
Bluerider ART London·Mayfair
RSVP
Icheon and Beyond: The Space Within Form
Fri 27 Mar
Korean Cultural Centre UK
RSVP
Nhu Xuan Hua: Of Walking on Fire Exhibition
Thu 16 Apr
Autograph
RSVP
Cherry Blossom Project
Tue 28 Apr
Garden Museum
Details
NIGO: From Japan with Love
Fri 01 May
Design Museum
Details
Queer East Festival 2026
Fri 01 May
Various venues, London
Details
The Last Man
Fri 08 May
Southwark Playhouse Elephant
Details
YAMATO The Drummers of Japan – "Hito no Chikara" – The Power of Human Strength
Tue 12 May
Peacock Theatre
Details
Rising Voices: Contemporary Art from Asia, Australia and the Pacific
Sat 16 May
V&A South Kensington — The Porter Galler
Details
Film Screening: The Tale of Zatoichi
Sun 17 May
The Hall, Japan House London
RSVP
Folded Memories — Solo Show by Kazuya Shibagaki
Mon 18 May
Vieforr Valence Gallery
RSVP
Taiwan Travelogue in Conversation
Mon 18 May
SALT, Senate House (Paul Webley Wing)
Details
ART MIXER: ESEA Creatives
Mon 18 May
Soho House
RSVP
Tangram: Divine Intimacies
Tue 19 May
LSO St Luke's (Jerwood Hall)
Details
Northern Ballet: Gentleman Jack
Tue 19 May
Sadler's Wells Theatre
Details
No. 60 by Pichet Klunchun Dance Company
Tue 19 May
The Place, London
Details
Food, Film, Food, Film
Wed 20 May
ESEA Community Centre
Details
TASTE Bristol
Wed 20 May
The Jam Jar
Details
Hannah Peel & Beibei Wang: Stripped Back Performance + Signing
Fri 22 May
Rough Trade Denmark Street
Details
Queer East Festival: Industry Day
Sat 23 May
Chats Palace Arts Centre
RSVP

FEATURE

Best Bánh Mì in London: Vietnamese Sandwich Spots Worth Seeking Out

Bánh mì is one of those sandwiches that shouldn't work on paper — French baguette, Vietnamese pickles, pâté, coriander, chilli — and yet it's one of the most satisfying things you can eat. London's Vietnamese food scene has grown quietly and steadily over the past decade, and the bánh mì options have grown with it. From Hackney to Southbank, here are the spots we think are doing it well. Pho Street Eats ⭐ Our Pick This mother-daughter duo has been at Old Spitalfields Market s

Nha Trang Kitchen: Vietnamese Street Food Stall Built on One Family's Recipes

The Stall Named After Her Mum's Hometown Chau's parents were among the Vietnamese boat people who fled the country after the war. They made it to Hong Kong, met there, and that's where Chau was born. She came to the UK at one year old. The journey that brought her family here was dangerous; everything left behind is the quiet foundation beneath every dish she sells. Her mum's family is from Nha Trang. The stall carries that name. Which means every bánh mì sold at Berwick Stre

Chiharu Shiota & Yin Xiuzhen at Southbank Centre: Threads, Suitcases & the Things We Carry

There's something about visiting two exhibitions in one go that feels indulgent, like ordering two desserts without feeling guilty. We went to the Hayward Gallery to see Chiharu Shiota. Her thread installations had been all over my feed, and I'd been meaning to go for weeks. Yin Xiuzhen was the other name on the ticket, someone I didn't know much about going in. But I left thinking most about her work. Yin Xiuzhen: Cities in Suitcases You walk into Yin Xiuzhen's half first, a

Zao An Collective: The ESEA Community Café That Feels Like Coming Home

What does it feel like to walk into Zao An According to co-founder Rihlan, it's like going to someone's house and having their parents cook for you. Part café, part canteen, part community hub. Zao An is an ESEA diaspora workers' collective built on the belief that the best hospitality happens when everyone has a real stake in it. We sat down with Irene and Rihlan to hear the story behind it all.

Cernamic: Clay, Community and a Small Oasis in London

If you walk into Cernamic on a busy evening, London suddenly feels quieter. Wheels are spinning, hands are deep in clay, and there is that soft concentration that happens when everyone is making something together. It feels less like a strict class and more like a shared studio, a small oasis tucked between train lines and traffic. Cernamic is a pottery studio with three spaces in Stoke Newington, Deptford and Dalston, founded by ceramic artist Nam Tran with co-director Susi

Monica Hsueh on Resilience, Migration and Stand-Up in London

Taiwanese comedian Monica Hsueh went from lockdown banter to a full live hour with How to Be a Strong Woman in One Hour in London, her funny and honest show about resilience, migration and messy life moments.

East & Southeast Asian Food Guide London: Street Food, Restaurants, Supperclubs & Pop-Ups

From Filipino pancit to Japanese karaage, this is your ultimate guide to Asian food in London. We spotlight ESEA-owned stalls, restaurants, supperclubs, and hidden gems with interviews, maps, and monthly updates.

My Kids Are Hungry Asian Food Stall at Southbank Centre Market

My Kids Are Hungry: Vietnamese comfort, made for Southbank weekends

Born in lockdown and run by Vivien, a London mum-of-three, My Kids Are Hungry serves home-cooked Vietnamese comfort food with an easygoing “family kitchen” vibe. The stall grew from sharing recipes online to a full-time spot at Southbank Centre Food Market, and yes, the kids helped choose the menu. What to eat? Two signatures stand out: chicken & prawn bao, pan-fried, juicy, sesame-topped dumplings and a crunchy, classic bánh mì. Everything at the stall is nut-free, which m

East and Southeast Asian Events in London May 2026 - What’s On Guide by NOVA ESEA

Updated 04/05/2026 Looking for East and Southeast Asian events in London this month? This is your hub for ESEA gigs, food markets, supperclubs, exhibitions and theatre across the city. We spotlight everything from underground nights to big festival moments, with new listings added throughout the month. You will also find the occasional ESEA highlight from other UK cities when something special is happening. Bookmark this page or sign up for our newsletter for updates! 4 - 10

ABOUT

NOVA ESEA is dedicated to curating and spotlighting the most vibrant East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) cultural experiences, creating a central hub that makes it effortlessly simple for both enthusiasts and newcomers to discover and engage with music, arts, and cultural showcases. Our aim is to become the definitive online platform, where the richness of ESEA culture is celebrated, shared, and explored, bridging communities and fostering connections through the universal language of art and heritage.