This year's St Patrick's festival has been cancelled as key performers and parade participants are no longer able to take part due to the ongoing threat of coronavirus.

London’s Irish community makes a huge contribution to our great city, and this will be extremely disappointing news for so many Londoners and visitors to our capital.

For regularly updated health information and advice visit the NHS website.

Now in it’s 18th year, the Mayor of London’s St. Patrick’s festival is the largest celebration of Irish culture and community in London. It has been built upon a robust foundation of tradition, inclusivity and diversity and a sincere appreciation for the perspectives of different generations. It is a pinnacle event in London's cultural calendar that showcases the best of Irish arts, performance, culture, food, and music from both Britain and Ireland.

The best of Irish arts, culture, food and music will be available from Friday 13 March to Sunday 15 March as Londoners and visitors join together to celebrate the significant contribution Irish people have made to the city.

Women in sport will be the theme of this year’s festival in support of the Federation of Irish Sports 20x20 campaign to improve coverage of women’s sport. The Grand Marshall for the world-renowned parade on Sunday will be Dublin camogie player Laura Twomey.

The Festival culminates on Sunday 15 March in the annual parade which attracts more than 50,000 people for a colourful procession of Irish marching bands from the UK, US and Ireland, dance troupes and pageantry, including the Garda band from Dublin and the return of the popular Giant St Patrick. It starts at Hyde Park Corner, then travels through Piccadilly, St James’s Street, Pall Mall, Cockspur Street and Whitehall.

At Trafalgar Square there will be a world-class line-up of Irish culture and music, in partnership with the London Irish Centre, compered by Derry Girls actor Siobhan McSweeney. There will be family concerts, storytelling, children’s films and youth performances, as well as community choirs, schools, dance troops and collectives. There will also be performances by Imelda May, KILA and a singalong finale.

Alongside the main stage, there will be food demonstrations from International Chef of the Year 2019, Anna Haugh, a replica Irish cottage, children’s workshops featuring camogie games, medal making and face painting, and a great selection of food and drinks stalls.

Across the capital, there will be a further series of events throughout the weekend, including a takeover of Camden Market, busking on the Underground, free walking tours and a three-day film festival by Irish Film London.