Pause, breathe and celebrate at a joyful evening of honest conversation, playful activities, music and shared experiences created by the Black community, for the Black community.
Curated by The Sitdown UK for Black History Month, The Black Joy Experience 2026 invites people of African, Caribbean and mixed heritage to step away from the pressures of everyday life and reconnect with the things that bring them joy.
The evening explores what Black Joy looks like, sounds like and feels like in 2026, creating a welcoming space for conversation, laughter, reflection and celebration.
The programme includes:
- Honest panel conversations exploring joy, happiness, identity and community
- A live audience question-and-answer session
- Black Joy Show & Tell
- An interactive Permission Play workshop with Dionne Reid
- A short film celebrating Black creativity and happiness
- Music, dancing and after-vibes
The Permission Play workshop invites participants to rediscover something many people lose as they grow older: the freedom to play. Through accessible and interactive activities, the session encourages guests to relax, connect and experience joy together.
The evening will conclude with music and an opportunity to dance, meet people and continue the conversation.
The Sitdown UK has produced more than 80 shows over seven years, creating real-life conversations with guests including Mo Gilligan, Lisa Maffia, Dean Forbes and Paul C. Brunson.
Capacity is limited, and advance booking is required.
For enquiries, contact thesitdownuk@gmail.com.
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