festival

The Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance 2026 was hosted by Clive Myrie

BBC viewers were left divided on Saturday night by singer Alfie Boe’s performance.

The singer took to the stage at London’s Royal Albert Hall, where senior members of the Royal Family joined veterans, serving personnel and their families.

The BBC event, hosted by Clive Myrie, also left viewers in tears following performances by Alfie Boe, James Emmanuel, Mica Paris, Rita Wilson, and Tom Odell, alongside stirring sets from The Band of The Royal Air Force Regiment and The Bands of HM Royal Marines Portsmouth and Collingwood.

However, just minutes into Alfie’s rendition of Run, BBC viewers were left divided, and while some were moved, others felt the original version was better.

“Alfie Boe never fails to deliver exceptional,” one fan praised, as another agreed, “Alfie Boe is phenomenal. I don’t know a voice like his. That Run performance was beautiful. My favourite singer.”

Someone else added, “I was already struggling to hold back the tears, and then Alfie Boe sang Run. What a voice, what a performance. We are all united in thinking of those who never made it home and the families they left behind.”

However, not all viewers shared the same views, as one said, “No need to shout Alfie Boe.”

Another commented, “I like Alfie Boe…. But only Snow Patrol can sing this song sorry,” as another fan echoed, “Agreed 100%.”

The BBC will also continue its coverage on Sunday as Sophie Raworth and Petroc Trelawny present live coverage from London as members of the Royal Family lead the Remembrance Sunday commemorations at the Cenotaph.

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Senior members of the Royal Family will be joined on Whitehall by leading UK politicians, alongside representatives of the armed forces, the Commonwealth, and faith communities, for the two-minute silence at 11 o’clock and the National Service of Remembrance.

This is followed by the annual wreath-laying and the historic march past of 10 000 veterans as the nation remembers all those who have died serving their country.

The BBC’s Festival of Remembrance is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

The Festival of Remembrance was hosted by BBC presenter Clive Myrie.

BBC viewers said the same thing minutes into Saturday night’s Festival of Remembrance.

The Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance 2026 saw senior members of the Royal Family join veterans, serving personnel and their families at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

The BBC event was hosted by Clive Myrie, and featured performances from Alfie Boe, James Emmanuel, Mica Paris, Rita Wilson and Tom Odell, alongside stirring performances from The Band of The Royal Air Force Regiment and The Bands of HM Royal Marines Portsmouth and Collingwood.

However, just minutes into the event, BBC viewers were left feeling rather emotional. One said on X, “Less than 5 minutes into the #FestivalOfRemembrance, @CliveMyrieBBC is already proving he’s the perfect man to present it. “

Another commented, “The one thing the BBC does correctly. The remembrance service at the Albert Hall.”

“Always very emotional, always very important, always vital to remember…,” someone else wrote as another added, “It’s that emotional time of the year again.”

Another said, “I reach for the hankies earlier each year,” while one viewer shared, “10 minutes in and I’m already in tears. (especially at Tom O’Dell’s When I Close My Eyes).”

Through powerful personal stories, the Festival reflected on the experiences of those whose lives have been shaped by conflict. In a year marking significant anniversaries of operations in Bosnia, the end of the Gulf War and the Iraq War, viewers heard from those who served, those who lost loved ones and the families who continue to live with the impact of military service.

This year’s Festival shone a light on Places of Remembrance, exploring how the places we associate with those we have lost can hold profound personal meaning.

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From national memorials and familiar landmarks to gardens, football pitches and quiet corners of everyday life, people from across the UK share the places where they remember and feel close to loved ones who are no longer with them.

As the Festival drew to a close, the Royal Albert Hall observed a two-minute silence, as poppies fell in a moving tribute to all those who have served and sacrificed

The BBC’s Festival of Remembrance is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

THE Pussycat Dolls are in advanced talks to headline their first ever British festival.

Insiders said Nicole Scherzinger, Ashley Roberts and Kimberly Wyatt had been approached to perform at Mighty Hoopla next summer.

It comes off the back of their PCD Forever tour, which ended last night with a huge show in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

A source said: “Hoopla bosses have approached The Pussycat Dolls about headlining Hoopla and talks are ongoing.

“Everyone is hopeful they can make the deal work as it would be huge to have them performing.

“Their comeback tour went down a storm in the UK and the festival bosses would love to have them come back to play again.

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“It would be the first time the group will have headlined a festival stage too so it would be a massive coup for Hoopla if they can pull it off.

“As ever, there are always so many moving parts when festivals are booking major acts but everyone is hoping The Pussycat Dolls will agree.”

Nicole, 48, Ashley, 45, and Kimberly, 44, finished up their run of seven UK shows at London’s O2 Arena on October 13.

The Sun first revealed the group were reuniting for a tour back in February.

It came 21 years after they first burst onto the music scene with their hit single Don’t Cha.

They had a subsequent seven Top Ten tunes including Stickwitu, Beep, Buttons, When I Grow Up and Jai Ho, followed by another Top 40 hit with React in 2019.

Mighty Hoopla is taking place at London’s Brockwell Park across June 5 and 6 next year.

Lily Allen and Scissor Sisters headlined this summer’s event, with acts including Cheryl Tweedy, Kelly Rowland, Ciara, Jade and Nelly Furtado all performing previously.

I STOOD on a dark street as hundreds of ghostly figures dressed all in white walked quietly past me, each with a single flame illuminating their skull-painted face.

For a moment things felt spooky, even sombre — but then came the crackle of a sound system, the pop of a tequila bottle and deafening laughter.

You may be familiar with the Mexican tradition of Day of the Dead from that opening James Bond scene in Spectre, from the kid’s film Coco or from the ‘sugar skull’ makeup craze that became a Halloween trend.

Mexico City draws thousands of tourists annually with its impressive skeleton-themed parades around November 2, but the underrated city of Mérida also comes alive for the celebrations as well.

Set in the Yucatán peninsula — a patch of land more known for hotspots like Cancún and Tulum — Maya heritage is strong in Mérida, and it shows.

Day of the Dead is known here as Hanal Pixan (pronounced han-al pish-an), meaning ‘food for the souls’ in Mayan, and sees families and friends gather to celebrate departed loved ones, honouring them with a home-made altar often covered in pictures and their favourite foods.

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I visited Mérida as its days-long fiesta kicked off with the ‘parade of the souls’.

The candlelit procession from the cemetery into town made for an eerie sight, but this soon changed when they scattered and cleared the way for a huge street party along Calle 64.

This long avenue was decorated with giant skeleton structures and millions of orange marigold flowers while the pavements were lined with shrines set up by different families, each blasting reggaeton or ranchera music from speakers.

It’s a great place to tuck into some authentic Mexican street food, because as well as leaving the deceased’s favourite meal as an offering, the families make it in bulk to sell to passersby.

Try Yucatán’s specialty, cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork), some pan de muerto (a sweet bread made for the event) or a marquesita (if you’ve ever wondered whether Nutella and cheese taste good together).

Even beyond the festivities this city is a foodie’s dream.

You can keep things cheap by eating tacos al pastor on virtually every street corner for as little as MX$10 (40p) each, or lunching at the sensational Taquería De La Unión.

The Museum of Yucatecan Gastronomy offers a fancier atmosphere, serving up traditional dishes in a gorgeous courtyard with a jungle-like tree canopy.

And no trip to Mexico is complete without a plate of chilaquiles for breakfast or brunch; Mérida’s best can be found at Marmalade 47.

It’s worth having pesos to hand everywhere in Mérida. Most bars and restaurants will take card, but you’ll need cash for food stands.

On the day of the main parade, people line the streets early to get a good spot.

I was glad we did the same, or we would have only caught sight of the skeleton stilt walkers and missed the ever-changing flow of mariachi bands, traditional dancers and even pets in costume.

The Catrinas — people dressed as elegant, sombrero-wearing skeletal women — were the most stunning aspect of the evening, each donning their own unique outfits and elaborate face paint.

Unlike so many Halloween extravaganzas happening elsewhere in the world, this display was free of gore and jump-scares, making it extremely kid-friendly.

It wasn’t all about the parades, though.

Smaller-scale events were scattered across the city for almost a week surrounding Day of the Dead, from concerts in squares to shamans performing ancient Maya rituals on street corners.

Plus, the end of the fiesta didn’t mean the end of the fun; we tracked down a speakeasy called Malahat tucked away behind one of the plazas, where what looked like a fridge door led to a haven of mezcal-based cocktails. 

Mérida is a picturesque and walkable city that’s easy to explore.

Its grand colonial architecture is splashed with colour as crumbling palatial buildings at every turn are painted pink, yellow or blue, and if you get tired of walking, you have the option of winding through its kaleidoscopic streets in a horse and carriage.

It’s a great base from which to explore the marvels of the Yucatán peninsula, too. 

The region is covered in hundreds of cenotes (natural sinkholes) that make for magical swimming spots, and if you still need your beach fix, the white sands of Puerto Progreso are just 40 minutes away.

Also close by is Chichén Itzá, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and the site of some of the planet’s most breathtaking Maya ruins.

Its fame too often eclipses Mérida in this part of the world, and the busloads of tourists you’ll meet there are usually heading back to the bustle and beach clubs of Cancún.

But if you linger in Mérida, you’ll find a city with its own pulse — and it beats strongest around during this famous, beautiful event.

WITH Halloween fast approaching, our Spotlight on column focuses on Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

The city is home to Europe’s biggest Halloween festival – now in its 40th year.

To celebrate, the city is launching a year-round Derry Samhain Experience and a permanent Halloween mural.

Here are some other top tips from us, including where to stay and some hidden gems.

MUST SEE/DO

From October 28 to November 1, The Awakening The Walled City Trail fills the city centre with light installations, street theatre, fire performers and live music, while the Little Horrors programme keeps younger children busy.

On Halloween night the Carnival Parade sets off at 7pm, followed by fireworks over the River Foyle.

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Pack a costume, as locals take dressing up seriously.

The trail, parade and fireworks are all free, but if you plan to visit make sure you book a bed as soon as possible.

BEST VIEW

Derry‘s 17th-century walls, built between 1613 and 1618 to protect English and Scottish settlers, are the only fully preserved city walls in Ireland.

They have never been breached, not even during the 105-day siege of 1689.

The mile-long loop takes you past seven gates and 24 restored cannons, including Roaring Meg, stamped “Fishmongers, London, 1642” after the livery company that paid for it.

From the ramparts you can look down over the Bogside, where murals and Free Derry Corner tell the story of the Troubles.

HIDDEN GEM

The Dickensian-style Derry Craft Village in the heart of the city is a reconstruction of an 18th-century street and 19th-century square, home to more than 70 local makers.

It was built by the Inner City Trust, a charity set up in 1976 to rebuild the city centre during the Troubles. Its cafes are good for a coffee or a bite.

Derry Girls fans should then pop next door to the Tower Museum, home of the Derry Girls Experience.

RATED RESTAURANT

Browns Bonds Hill, on the east bank of the River Foyle, serves modern dishes made with local, seasonal produce.

Opened in 2009 by chef patron Ian Orr, Michelin‘s inspectors single it out for its good value.

For something more casual, sister restaurant Browns in Town is across the river on Strand Road and serves classic burgers, steak sandwiches and pasta.

BEST BAR

Peadar O’Donnell’s on Waterloo Street has live traditional Irish music every night, in a pub done up like an old-fashioned grocer’s and hung with flags.

It’s a top spot to pull up a stool and sink a pint of Guinness. If it’s too busy, try the Gweedore Bar, under the same roof with an equally buzzy atmosphere.

HOTEL PICK

The Walled City Hotel opened last autumn with 40 rooms in a 1920s former Bank of Ireland building on Strand Road, a two-minute walk from the Guildhall.

Its vaulted ceilings now look down on a bar and restaurant. Rooms cost from £102 per night. See walledcityhotel.com.