Highlights
- South Asian Sounds returns to the Southbank Centre for its third edition in July 2026
- Raghu Dixit will headline the opening night at Queen Elizabeth Hall
- Talvin Singh will lead a special tribute to the late Zakir Hussain
- Asian Arts Agency and Southbank Centre continue their long-running partnership
Raghu Dixit to headline opening night
The South Asian Sounds series will return to the Southbank Centre this July, marking the third consecutive year of collaboration between the Southbank Centre and Asian Arts Agency.
Leading the programme is acclaimed Indian singer-songwriter Raghu Dixit, who will perform at Queen Elizabeth Hall on 3 July. Known for blending Indian folk traditions with contemporary sounds, Dixit has built an international reputation through performances at major events and venues, including Glastonbury and Later... with Jools Holland.
Speaking ahead of the concert, Dixit said he was looking forward to returning to London, a city that embraced his music early in his career. He also revealed that audiences can expect songs from his upcoming album, alongside new independent releases and familiar favourites.
Talvin Singh leads tribute to Zakir Hussain
The festival's second headline event will see Talvin Singh present Shradhanjali, a special homage to the late tabla maestro Zakir Hussain on 4 July.
The concert honours Hussain's legacy as a pioneering musician who brought together leading percussionists from around the world through his celebrated Masters of Percussion project.
Joining Singh on stage will be Marcus Gilmore on drums, Ananthan R Krishnan on mridangam, Satin Singh on multi-percussion and Tom Rogerson on piano. The performance promises an evening of improvisation, collaboration and musical exchange, continuing the spirit of innovation championed by Hussain throughout his career.
Partnership continues to champion South Asian music
Jaswinder Singh, Director of Asian Arts Agency, said the latest edition reflects the organisation's commitment to broadening artistic horizons across the UK through high-profile performances and cultural programming.
Southbank Centre's Head of Contemporary Music, Jane Beese, also praised the partnership, describing Asian Arts Agency as a key contributor to the festival's growth since its launch in 2024.
Founded in Bristol in 2006, Asian Arts Agency has played a significant role in promoting South Asian music and artists across Britain and internationally. The 2026 edition of South Asian Sounds continues that mission, bringing together celebrated performers and audiences for a weekend of music and cultural exchange in London.
Agatha Christie boarding the EET Salon at lunchtime on the train from Bulawayo to the Cape. In 1922 Agatha Christie set sail on a 10-month voyage around the world. Her husband Archie had been invited to join a trade mission to promote the British Empire Exhibition and Agatha was determined to go with him The Christie Archive Trust
Agatha Christie under a tree on Honolulu beach after surfing, 1922. Agatha and her husband Archie were permitted to take a short holiday away from the 1922 trade mission and chose Honolulu where they learnt how to surf on longboards. Here Agatha purchased a surf suit in the local style, better suited to the demands of surfing than her swim attire for bathing in Torquay. The Christie Archive Trust
Agatha Christie relaxing during a sightseeing tour, Tajoura, Libya, 1955. Agatha and her second husband, archaeologist Max Mallowan had invited Agatha's daughter Rosalind and grandson Mathew to join them on a tour of the ancient sites of Leptis Magna and Sabratah during December 1955. The Christie Archive Trust
Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in Murder on the Orient Express, 201720th Century Studios
Still from Murder on the Orient Express, 201720th Century Studios
Still from And Then There Were None, 2015, BBC Agatha Christie Limited
Still from And Then There Were None, 2015, BBCAgatha Christie Limited
Still from And Then There Were None, 2015, BBCAgatha Christie Limited
Agatha Christie’s Remington typewriter from 1937 The Christie Archive Trust
Agatha Christie’s Remington typewriter from 1937The Christie Archive Trust
Agatha Christie’s study notes for her pharmaceutical exam taken in 1917The Christie Archive Trust
Letter from Agatha Christie to her second husband Max Mallowan, in December 1930. Agatha writes to Max describing her return home from their honeymoon, on the Orient Express. Documenting how the train had been halted by floods and her fellow travellers' reactions, this event would inspire her to write Murder on the Orient Express a few years later.The Christie Archive Trust
Cover of typescript ofHouse of Beauty, Agatha Christie’s first short story written when she was just a teenager.The Christie Archive Trust
Box for Tabloid Veronal tablets,1910-1940 Science Museum Group
Chemical storage bottle and glass stopper, labelled ‘POISON phosphorus P’,1907-1912Science Museum Group
Empty poison bottle for aconite, iodine and chloretone solution,1925-1960Science Museum Group
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