On 7 March 2026, residents and visitors in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, will celebrate the local community during the city-wide City Day event. Southend-on-Sea City Council is organising the festival to mark the fourth anniversary of the borough receiving city status (the letters patent were granted on 1 March 2022).
The day will feature live music performances and family activities across the seafront, the city centre and local venues. Families can find entertainment along the Western Esplanade and Marine Parade, as well as events at The Forum (the city’s central library) and Southend Pier.
Local students are taking part in the City Day Secondary Schools Portrait Competition, with each year-group winner receiving a £50 Lawrence Matthews voucher and £250 for their school or college’s art department (a total of £300). The artwork and activities linked to the competition will be staged at The Royals Shopping Centre as part of the council’s Pride of Southend campaign to celebrate local talent.
The council’s 2026/27 budget includes increased funding for cultural events and an allocated 50,000 ‘Civic Pride’ street-scene improvement fund, alongside additional event funding that supports City Day. People travelling to the seafront or city centre should check the council’s Special Events/road-closure notices for information on busy areas and any temporary route changes.
City status was granted in March 2022 following a long campaign by the late Sir David Amess MP and is widely described as a posthumous tribute to him. Cllr Daniel Cowan, Leader of Southend-on-Sea City Council, said the event is a chance to “showcase everything great about our city” and to help residents feel proud of where they live.
