April in E20: The Month We Get a Museum

This is the month East Village gets a world-class museum. V&A East opens on 18 April, two weeks from now, right on the edge of the park. It's the biggest thing to happen to E20 since the buildings went up.

But that's not the only reason April matters. Elections are coming, the circus is literally in town, and there's a lot going on at the stadium. Here's the full picture.

V&A East Museum opens 18 April

V&A East Museum opens Saturday 18 April in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, on Carpenters Road. It's free to enter.

The museum has two permanent galleries with over 500 objects from the V&A's collections, covering art, architecture, design, fashion and performance. The galleries were co-designed with east London youth groups and designer JA Projects, and span two floors across ten themes.

The opening exhibition is The Music Is Black: A British Story, which traces the influence of Black British music from 1900 to the present day. Weekday tickets for the exhibition cost £22.50, rising to £24.50 on weekends. The permanent galleries are free.

There's also a new cafe from Jikoni, and a programme of creative commissions featuring new artworks by eight artists and designers. A monumental sculpture by Thomas J Price will greet visitors at the entrance.

This is not a pop-up or a temporary attraction. It's a permanent museum, five storeys, designed by O'Donnell + Tuomey, and it's just minutes away from most E20 front doors. If you haven't been to the V&A Storehouse over by Here East, that's already open and also free. Both are worth a visit over the opening weekend.

The Music Is Black Festival runs alongside the exhibition across East Bank throughout spring and summer, with programming from the BBC, Sadler's Wells East, London College of Fashion and UCL.

Revel Puck Circus at the park, 2-12 April

The Revel Puck Circus is an award-winning contemporary circus company founded in east London. Their new show, A Glimmer Daze Gambit, is pitched up on Hopkins Field from 2-12 April. It overlaps with the Easter holidays, which makes it a good option for families.

The run launches the company's first large-scale touring season, so this is the premiere. A limited number of community tickets are available for £2 for local schools and community groups. Email boxoffice@revelpucks.com to request them. Full-price tickets at revelpuckcircus.com.

Giant London Flea Market, 12 April

The Giant London Flea Market returns to the Olympic Park Multi-Storey Car Park on Sunday 12 April, 10am to 5pm. Over 100 traders selling vintage furniture, homeware, oddities and preloved bargains. £2 entry. Next to Here East, so you can wander the canalside afterwards.

Aquatics GB Swimming Championships, 14-19 April

The Aquatics GB Swimming Championships take place at the London Aquatics Centre from 14-19 April, and this isn’t just any swimming event. It’ll play a key role in selecting both swimming and para-swimming teams for the European Championships and the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. If you've ever wanted to watch elite swimming from the same pool built for the 2012 Olympics, this is your chance.

West Ham at home

Three home fixtures at the London Stadium this month:

Sunday 5 April, 4:30pm: FA Cup quarter-final, West Ham v Leeds United.

Friday 10 April, 8pm: West Ham v Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Saturday 25 April, 3pm: West Ham v Everton.

The usual matchday crowd and road closures apply. If you're not going, you'll hear it.

ABBA Voyage still going

ABBA Voyage is playing at the ABBA Arena until at least late June 2026. The purpose-built venue on Pudding Mill Lane has been running since May 2022 and keeps extending. If you still haven't been, it's on your doorstep.

Flea London moves to Hackney Bridge

Flea London, the vintage market, is moving to Hackney Bridge from 11 April and will run every Saturday and Sunday.

Expect vintage fashion, vinyl, books, jewellery, homeware and artisan food traders. A new weekly fixture for E20.

Elections: register by 20 April

Newham council elections take place on Thursday 7 May. All 66 council seats are up, plus the Mayor of Newham. For E20 residents, that means Stratford Olympic Park ward.

You must register to vote by midnight on Monday 20 April. Do it at gov.uk/register-to-vote. Postal vote applications close at 5pm on Tuesday 21 April. You'll need photo ID to vote in person. If you don't have any, apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate by 5pm on Tuesday 28 April. Newham Council

In Stratford Olympic Park ward, the Green Party has confirmed Nate Higgins and Joe Hudson-Small as their candidates. Nate has been our ward councillor since 2022. We'll publish more on all confirmed candidates once the full list is available after 9 April.

If any of this matters to you, register now. The deadline is 20 April and it takes two minutes.

Looking ahead

Soccer Aid for UNICEF is at the London Stadium on Sunday 31 May. And the V&A East exhibition runs until January 2027, so there's no rush on that front. But the circus leaves on 12 April and the Giant London Flea Market is a one-day thing.