City festival with comedy and line dancing arrives in Square Mile

Line dancing, comedy and a panel discussion entitled “Shit I’m in my 30’s: What’s the plan for retirement?” are some of the events taking place at the Leadenhall Building this summer, as the annual Leadenhall Live festival returns.

Running 23 June – 16 July, the festival programmes more than 30 events over the course of three weeks, the line-up spanning music, comedy, Q+As, workshops, wine tasting and dancing.

The full line-up is available at the Leadenhall Live website and all events are free to attend.

Some of the highlights across the three week festival include a conversation about responsible adoption of AI on Tuesday 30 June, a queer line dancing party on 1 July, an evening of live comedy on 2 July, a Sofar Sounds music takeover on 25 June and a talk on leadership and inclusion on 1 July.

There’s also a hackathon in partnership with AI-powered software company Bolt.new.

More events are being added as the festival gets underway.

The festival is also uploading podcasts – filmed live from the various events – onto their YouTube page so those that can’t make it can watch at home.

It comes as Leadenhall Market, a two-minute walk away, rolls out a series of weekend events throughout the summer. This coming weekend there is live music from 5.30pm onwards.

Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman at Canada Corporation, said: “From creative workshops and free performances to great food, drinks and music, the programme will help bring extra energy and footfall into the area while supporting the businesses that make Leadenhall Market and the Canada such a special destination.”

The Leadenhall Building is more famously known as The Cheesegrater, the City skyscraper with 610,000 square feet of office space across 51 floors. Owners C C Land and building management firm Savills have curated the festival alongside the creative agency Ch!lled.