In less than two weeks’ time, a brand new festival opens across London. Our assistant marketing manager Amy Taylor has been finding out more. 

What are your plans for Friday 27 or Saturday 28 September? Whatever they are, cancel them. That is, cancel them if you’ve ever wanted to rave in the National History Museum or drink gin on top of Wellington Arch. The opportunity to do just that is coming.

Across the two days, over 40 iconic venues in 11 London boroughs are opening their doors to a special programme of late-night events. Apsley House, the Design Museum and Dulwich Picture Gallery are just three big-name venues also taking part. These revered institutions are the stage set for an ambitious series of gigs and installations with performances from rising young singers and comedians. Billed as “Night at the Museum meets Glastonbury,” the Emerge Festival is being talked about by everyone from Time Out and Elle magazines to the Observer. And it’s all accessible from just £15.

Emerge’s eclectic range of events include neo-soul star Ady Suleiman performing from the Horniman Museum and Gardens’ bandstand, a life-size game of Operation taking place at the Old Operating Theatre Museum, Strawberry Hill’s grounds being brought to life as a gothic pleasure garden and – perhaps most remarkably - a silent disco on the high-level walkway of Tower Bridge.

All this has been co-ordinated by the team at Culture24, the Brighton-based charity which supports arts and heritage organisations connect with new audiences. The concept developed from the charity’s three-part study into museum lates and the contribution they bring to the night-time economy, published in 2018. Its launch also follows in the footsteps of Culture24’s successful annual Museums at Night festival, which this year is taking place from 31 October everywhere except London.

The brand-new Emerge Festival is squarely aimed at reaching young adults, hoping to inspire a whole new generation to visit museums. If the line-up for this first year is anything to go by, it will quickly become our favourite multi-venue event in the cultural calendar. We’ll see you at the gin bar.

Tickets cost £15-£40 for either or both nights, with the cheapest tickets available for 18-30 year olds. We’ve secured a special promo code exclusively for YPIA members, giving up to 33% off tickets purchased through either Dice or See Tickets. Simply enter EMERGEPITA2019 at the checkout.