Top Events in Southampton You Won’t Want to Miss
Southampton is a bustling town on the south coast of England. There’s plenty to see and fun things to do in Southampton and the surrounding areas, from walks in the New Forest, a trip to the Engine Rooms for the next-up-and-coming band, or maybe you want to head over to St Mary’s to watch the football team in action. There are also plenty of events in Southampton taking place throughout the year, something to keep you excited at all times of the year. Many of the events listed below take place on Guildhall Square, as this is the focal point for much of what is good in Southampton, an easy space for communal joy.
This is a guide to some of the top events in Southampton that you won’t want to miss.
Freshers
Trilogy Nightclub
18th September 2025 – 10:00pm – 4:00am
Let’s start with one of the most important events for students in Southampton. For one of the best student nights in Southampton, Trilogy Nightclub will have an opening night to remember. On the 18th of September get on down to the club from 10pm (with last entry at 2:30am to find out what Freshers Thursday Glam is all about.
Over two floors, this is an event that runs every week, from 10-4. Up-front tickets help you to avoid the queues. There are thousands of glow sticks, UV batons for raving, LED finger lights, bubble guns, a laser and light show, and a fun time in the glam event that will live long in the memory. The DJ in room one plays the best in modern dance music, D&B, and RnB, and in room two you’ll find a DJ spinning the cheesiest of party hits and the latest chart smashes. Free food all night makes Glam even tastier, along with some of the cheapest drinks deals around.
Southampton Vegan Market
Guildhall Square
8th and 9th November 2025 — 10:30am-4:00pm
Since 2022 over on Guildhall Square, Southampton Vegan Market celebrates the best of vegan street food vendors and associated vendors and artists across two great days in November. As you wander round the market you’ll come into contact with plenty of incredible independent traders.
Alongside the vegan street food, there are artisan bakers offers sumptuous vegan pastries and sweet treats, local artists, jewellers who operate ethically, sustainable chandlers (which is apt when living in an important maritime city like Southampton). Environmental charities and waste champions are on hand to discuss and teach about how the vegan world and the future of the planet are intertwined.
Southampton Pride
Guildhall Square
23rd and 24th August 2025
The Big Pride Weekend is one of the biggest and most colourful events in Southampton all year! Keep your eyes peeled for the full lineup but it promises to be an outstanding weekend of celebration. Pride is vital for the solidarity and visibility of the LGBTQ+ community.
It began to commemorate and celebrate the historical struggles of the community, with the Stonewall Riots a pivotal moment in the struggle. It’s about celebration, education, resilience, and acceptance. The Pride march will begin at Queens Park at 11am, moving through Briton Street, the Bargate (for a photo pause), Above Bar Street and past Civic Centre Road.
Music in the City
Multiple venues
13th and 14th September 2025.
Music in the City is the premier music event in Southampton. It celebrates a range of diverse music talents from up-and-coming local bands and artists to touring bands. It’s also a fantastic way to showcase some of the unique and interesting venues in the city that might not normally be in the spotlight.
It makes you think about community, the power of music, and how the lifeblood and history of a city is important as you move through the genres of indie and punk to jazz and funk, experimental country, and heavy metal. Music in the City is an exploration and celebration of everything that’s great about music in Southampton.
Oktoberfest
Guildhall Square
Friday 24th October and Saturday 25th October
Lederhosen, wurst, and Bavarian beer. What is there not to love about that! Oktoberfest in Southampton has fast become one of the most anticipated events of the year. The unforgettable Bavarian fun is back, with live music from oompah band The Bavarian Strollers, and the Oktoberfest DJs spinning all the classics to keep the dancing going all weekend.
The food and drink are the biggest selling point of Oktoberfest of course, so get a big stein of beer, cider, prosecco, soft drinks, and a range of pretzel, sausages. If you’re looking for some star treatment there are even some VIP tickets available for an even more special weekend.
Southampton Christmas Market
Bargate & Guildhall Square
13th November 2025 – 4th January 2026
Bring the festive joy into your life from the end of November right through until the new year. Christmas rides, food, drink, and shopping, it’s a fantastic family-friendly atmosphere that makes the perfect excuse for a group night out with your friends before the Christmas break from university.
Set in the heart of the city around Bargate and Guildhall Square, enjoy the spirit of Christmas, stop for a drink, some sweet treats, and food. There’s even the tallest Ferris Wheel in the UK on site, riding up into the sky.
Enjoy Some Great Events
For students in this great city on the south coast, we hope you find the best events in Southampton to explore this year. It’s a bustling city that students love and becomes a home for many people after they complete their studies at university. With so many events happening each year, from cultural to music, arts, sport, and the annual Christmas market, Southampton is also just a stone’s throw from the gorgeous southwest of the country, and only a couple of hours direct to London on the train.
It’s got everything you need as a student looking for that balance of studies and an exciting life. Let us know what events in Southampton you’ve got pencilled in for the rest of 2025, and if we’ve missed anything we need to shout about.