Tech. Business. Books. Music. Art. Ideas. We've rounded up some of the best Black History Month events happening across the UK this October.
Black History Month has arrived, and so has the annual avalanche of panels, exhibitions, talks, conferences and celebrations.
There is a lot happening.
So we've done some filtering.
Rather than attempting to catalogue everything taking place in October, we've picked events that caught our attention at Colorintech — particularly where technology, careers, entrepreneurship, culture and Black British creativity intersect.
Whether you want to learn something, grow your network, support Black-owned businesses, discover new artists or simply do something good with your weekend, here's where we'd start.
7–8 October | Edinburgh + online | Free
A two-day hybrid celebration of Black excellence in mathematics and mathematical sciences, bringing together mathematicians, educators, researchers and students — alongside a new youth festival.
14 October | ExCeL London
Part careers fair, part mentoring opportunity and part skills bootcamp. Sessions include how jobs are changing in an AI-driven world, pitching yourself to employers and connecting directly with STEM leaders and hiring teams.
14 October | ExCeL London
An evening bringing Black technologists, founders and industry leaders together to talk AI, innovation and career progression — including what it takes to advance when technology and organisations are changing this quickly.
16 October | ExCeL London
AI, but hopefully with fewer vague predictions about how everything will be completely different by Tuesday.
This UK Black Business Week session focuses on the practical stuff: how AI is affecting industries, careers, regulation and innovation — and how professionals and entrepreneurs can engage with it confidently.
21 October | Kellogg College, Oxford
Landé Belo explores a question that isn't going away: if AI increasingly makes or influences decisions about people, how do race, fairness and inequality show up inside those systems?
One for anyone interested in responsible AI, policy and the social impact of technology.
See Oxford's Black History Month programme →
21 October | UCL, London
Hosted by UCL Computer Science, this afternoon brings together technology, culture and community, with a keynote and Q&A from author Bolu Babalola, spoken word, networking and the premiere of UCL's Living History project.
7 October | Campfield, Manchester
Black founders, entrepreneurs and allies come together for an evening of networking, conversations and business growth, supported by NatWest Accelerator.
10–11 October | Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton
More than 40 Black-owned businesses under one roof spanning fashion, art, books, food, gifts, skincare and more.
Even better: entry is free.
12–17 October | ExCeL London
Six days and a packed programme covering entrepreneurship, careers, finance, technology, property, legal, fashion, media and leadership.
Highlights include the Black Tech Experience, Black STEM Careers Fair, AI Advantage and Black Finance Talks.
Explore UK Black Business Week →
17 October | ExCeL London
UK Black Business Week culminates in its flagship show, bringing together entrepreneurs, professionals, speakers, employers and Black-owned businesses for a full day of ideas, opportunities and connections.
21 October | Saïd Business School, Oxford
Professor Doyin Atewologun leads a Black History Month conversation exploring inclusive leadership, equality and how organisations create environments in which different people can genuinely succeed.
29 October | City of London
A slightly different workplace conversation.
Black Introvert Week explores what it means to navigate work, leadership, boundaries and wellbeing as a Black introvert — and how to build a career without feeling obliged to become the loudest person in every room.
4 October | Barbican Centre, London
Europe's largest celebration of Black literature returns with 80+ authors and cultural figures across more than 35 events.
The line-up includes Candice Carty-Williams, Corinne Bailey Rae, Wretch 32 and Maggie Aderin-Pocock, with conversations spanning literature, music, science, publishing, identity and culture.
10 October | Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham
A celebration of one of Birmingham's most important cultural voices, with poetry, music, dance, workshops and community events inspired by Benjamin Zephaniah's life and work.
And appropriately for a man who spent his career making poetry more accessible, the event is Pay What You Choose.
Throughout October | Outernet London | Free
Some of the biggest screens in London are being handed over to Black artists and stories during October.
The programme includes Vince Fraser's Afro-surrealist Chasing Your Dreams, Caroline Chinakwe's This Is Us, Ian Watts' Notting Hill Carnival photography and a special installation celebrating 30 years of the MOBO Awards and the legacy of Kanya King.
Throughout October | V&A East, London
One of the biggest cultural exhibitions on this list.
The V&A traces 125 years of Black music-making in Britain through more than 120 tracks, objects, fashion, photography and archive material.
From lovers rock and 2 tone to jungle, trip hop, garage and grime, it's ultimately a story about how Black music helped shape British culture itself.
2 October–1 November | Aviva Studios, Manchester | Free
Photographer Cephas Williams documents contemporary Black Britain through a growing archive of portraits that challenges narrow ideas about what Black British identity looks like.
23–25 October | Barbican + Guildhall, London
The first UK edition of George Lewis' Afrodiasporic Incubator project brings together experimental and avant-garde work from composers and musicians of African heritage.
Expect performances, electronic music, installations, improvisation and ideas that sit well outside the usual Black History Month playlist.
29 October | Tobacco Dock, London
Obviously, we couldn't write a list about Black people shaping technology, culture and business without mentioning what we're up to.
BTF returns to London on 29 October, bringing thousands of students, professionals, founders, investors, creators and industry leaders together at Tobacco Dock.
Across the day: big conversations about AI and technology, careers, business and culture; hands-on workshops; brand activations; networking; and plenty of people you'll probably want to meet.
Then we have an afterparty.
Because networking can only remain “networking” for so many hours.
Explore BTF and get your ticket →
This isn't meant to be an exhaustive list — and Black History Month certainly isn't confined to London. For more events and ideas, explore the official Black History Month UK listings, Black History Month Scotland, BHM Greater Manchester, and local listings from Eventbrite and VisitBritain.
If there's a brilliant event, exhibition, talk or community initiative happening near you that deserves more attention, send it our way.
And if this guide helped you find something worth attending, pass it on.
Black history gets stronger when the stories, organisations, businesses and people making it get seen.
Every week, Colorintech Weekly cuts through what's happening across technology, AI, careers, business and culture — and explains the bits we think actually matter.
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