Royal venue to host Open Iftar at Banqueting House for first time

Banqueting House in Whitehall will welcome hundreds from different backgrounds to break their fast for the first time in over 400 years as part of the Ramadan Tent Project’s Open Iftar 2026 programme, which brings people together across eight UK cities.

Banqueting House in Whitehall will open its doors to hundreds of people from across backgrounds to break their fast for the first time in over 400 years. The event is part of the Ramadan Tent Project’s Open Iftar 2026 programme, now in its thirteenth year. The programme brings people of all faiths and none to share a meal, reflect, and connect during Ramadan. Other events and activities form part of a wider Ramadan Festival across the UK. Event details: - The Banqueting House event is described as the first occasion in more than 400 years when people will break their fast in that space. - The gathering is part of Open Iftar 2026, the Ramadan Tent Project’s thirteenth year of the programme. - Justine Locker, head of Banqueting House, is reported as saying the venue is honoured to host Open Iftar and noted the site’s long national and cultural history. - Omar Salha, founder and CEO of the Ramadan Tent Project, is reported as saying Ramadan is part of Britain’s cultural ecology. - Other participating venues named include Silverstone Circuit, Soho Theatre Walthamstow, King’s College Cambridge, Bradford Live, and The Glass Marquee by MyLahore. - The broader Ramadan Festival 2026 includes initiatives such as Fast A Day (now in its third year) and the returning Ramadan Run Club. Summary: The Banqueting House event places a Ramadan gathering in a prominent historic royal setting and is presented as an occasion for reflection and togetherness. Open Iftar events will take place across eight UK cities alongside festival activities like Fast A Day and the Ramadan Run Club. Organisers describe the programme as highlighting Ramadan’s place within Britain’s cultural life.