The Mount Street Neighbourhood Arts Festival opens in Mayfair today, Monday 12 October 2026, and runs until Saturday 17 October across Mount Street, South Audley Street and Carlos Place, timed to coincide with Frieze London and PAD London. This year's edition is built around photography, with British photographer Miles Aldridge turning a shopfront into a working Polaroid studio, The WP Times reports.
Presented by the Grosvenor estate, the festival mixes a publisher's pop-up, talks, a live performance in Grosvenor Chapel and events hosted by the street's shops and restaurants. The hub is 62 South Audley Street, a short walk from Bond Street and Green Park stations.
Mount Street Arts Festival 2026 at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Dates | Monday 12 to Saturday 17 October 2026 |
| Area | Mount Street, South Audley Street, Carlos Place, Mayfair W1 |
| Hub | 62 South Audley Street, London W1K 2QR |
| Theme | Photography |
| Lead artist | Miles Aldridge |
| Presented by | Grosvenor |
| Programme | mountstreetneighbourhood.com |
Miles Aldridge's Polaroid studio
The centrepiece is Miles Aldridge's 15 Minutes portrait project at 62 South Audley Street. Sitters pose against an orange backdrop for a quarter-hour session that produces a single unique Polaroid. The idea grew out of his 2024 TIME Icon of the Year shoot with Elton John. Aldridge, known for his saturated, cinematic fashion images for Vogue Italia, has run similar marathon Polaroid sessions at Sotheby's; slots are limited and should be checked on the festival website before travelling.
What else is on during the week
- Hauser and Wirth Publishers pop-up at 62 South Audley Street, with new releases and limited signed copies;
- The Fabric of Us, a performance by actor and writer Omari Douglas combining dance, spoken word, music, painting and clothing, at Grosvenor Chapel on Tuesday 13 October;
- an art pub quiz at The Audley Public House;
- breakfast conversations on the art of rituals hosted by A Vibe Called Tech with Hauser and Wirth Publishers, Lyndsey Ingram, FoundRae and APPARATUS;
- events from Mount Street tenants including Farm Shop, The Connaught, Scott's, Simone Rocha, The Row, Dr. Barbara Sturm and Jessica McCormack.
Full timings, booking requirements and prices are published on the festival website; many talks are expected to require advance registration.
How it fits into Frieze week
Frieze London and Frieze Masters open in Regent's Park on 14 October, PAD London takes over Berkeley Square from 13 October, and Mayfair's commercial galleries run late openings through the week. Mount Street sits between Berkeley Square and Hyde Park, so the festival is an easy add-on to a PAD visit: the walk from Berkeley Square to South Audley Street takes about five minutes.
| Event | Where | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Street Arts Festival | Mount Street, Mayfair | 12–17 October |
| PAD London | Berkeley Square | 13–18 October (public from 15 October) |
| Frieze London and Frieze Masters | Regent's Park | 14–18 October (public from 15 October) |
| Affordable Art Fair | Battersea Park | 14–18 October |
How to get there
The nearest stations are Bond Street (Central, Jubilee and Elizabeth lines), about eight minutes on foot, and Green Park (Victoria, Piccadilly and Jubilee lines), about ten minutes. From Pimlico, take the Victoria line two stops to Green Park and walk up through Berkeley Square. Bus routes along Park Lane, including the 2, 36 and 436, stop at Grosvenor Square and Brook Gate.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Mount Street Arts Festival 2026?
From 12 to 17 October 2026, during Frieze week.
Where can I get a Miles Aldridge Polaroid portrait?
At 62 South Audley Street, where Aldridge runs his 15-minute Polaroid sessions. Places are limited.
Is the festival free?
Visiting the street and the pop-up is free; individual talks and events may need booking. Check the festival website.
Read also:
Sources used: Wallpaper, Mount Street Neighbourhood, Country and Town House, Express and Star, Lyndsey Ingram
