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BUSK Leicester brings live entertainment!

February 25th 2026

Music and street entertainment is coming to the streets of Leicester with a brand new initiative allowing local performers and street entertainers to showcase their talents – BUSK Leicester!

BUSK Leicester will provide four outdoor performance spots in the city centre as part of a new pilot scheme to help boost busking and showcase the fantastic creative talent in the city and across the East Midlands.

How can you get involved?

The four sites will be bookable through a simple online process and will be open to entertainers from all performance backgrounds from beginners through to established artists. This will give people the chance to hone their skills and get prime exposure to the Leicester public.

The four sites will be located at High Street, East Gates, Belgrave Gate and Gallowtree Gate and we will be showcasing the artists who will be performing! Initially, they will be available for booking on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, starting from Wednesday 4 March.

Who is playing?

BUSK Leicester will officially launch with a range of performances, supported by local music organisations including HQ Can, Studio79, CDCA Academy and 2 Funky Arts.

Artists already booked in to perform include Harry Pentony, Matt Bury, Comprehend, Deiah Marie, Lynette, Sean Eliazah, Harri Georgio and Marius Rotari. As well as dance performances from Studio79 and CDCA Academy.

The sites will feature BUSK Leicester graphics to make them easily identifiable with quick links to online booking and more information about music and performance in the city, helping to boost our night-time economy.

Backed by local music leaders

The initiative is supported by musicians and professionals in the city, including Dr Yasin El Ashrafi BEM who is the founder and director of Leicester-based HQ Can (Creative Arts Network), a member of the Leicester Music Board and organiser of the Leicester Music Conference. He said:

“Music belongs in public spaces. Reintroducing busking to Leicester in a structured, bookable way is a really positive move for the city centre. It brings creativity and energy back to our streets while giving emerging artists a legitimate platform to build confidence and connect directly with audiences.

“I see this as part of the bigger picture. Busking has always been a vital entry point into the industry. We’re delighted to showcase some of the city’s best busking talents at Leicester Music Conference, and our proud that Leicester Music Board can support BUSK Leicester and help embed it within a stronger music ecosystem for the city and wider region.”

Leicester Music Board Member Vijay Mistry who also runs the 2Funky Arts Complex said:

“We are proud to be involved with the pilot of Busk Leicester. The initiative will give artists the opportunity to perform to a large audience and potentially generate some income for themselves, without the need to apply for a license. We also believe that having live music in the City Centre is beneficial for the wellbeing of both the artists and the audiences in Leicester.”

BOOK YOUR BUSKING SPOT HERE