A colourful celebration of culture which attracts tens of thousands of visitors to Southampton is to expand in 2025.

Southampton Mela Festival, the largest free festival in the city, will take place over two days for the first time next summer. 

The Art Asia event will see Hoglands Park come alive with vibrant performances, tantalising cuisine, and engaging activities for the whole family.

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A vital date on the city's annual calendar over the years, Southampton Mela Festival celebrates the rich diversity of modern and traditional Asian culture locally and further afield.

The expanded edition promises an even more eclectic experience, featuring world-class music and dance acts across three stages, along with creative workshops, family-friendly activities, and a bustling marketplace of stalls. 

Dahlia Jamil, Chief Executive of Art Asia, told the Daily Echo: "Performances and acts have grown to the point that we want to expand to a two-day festival to accommodate the widest variety of wonderful entertainment and community performances possible.

"We look forward to welcoming everyone to enjoy world music performances, amazing cuisine, and engaging workshops—bringing our vibrant community together once more."

Visitors can expect a stellar line-up of local talent and internationally acclaimed artists with the full line-up due to be revealed in early 2025.

Sunday will be specifically suited to family audiences and community acts, offering a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

(Image: Art Asia) Families can enjoy interactive workshops, fun activities, and engaging performances suitable for all ages across the whole weekend. 

There will also be a diverse array of delicious dishes, showcasing flavours from around the world.

Running for more than two decades, the Southampton Mela Festival now attracts around 30,000 people per year to enjoy a fusion of music, dance and family activities, all of an international flavour from world-class artists.

It's considered a great family day out with entertainment and activities for young and old.

Art Asia is dedicated to promoting and celebrating Asian arts and culture in Southampton through year-round programming, community engagement, and the flagship Mela Festival.

Next year's expanded Mela will run from 12pm – 10pm on Saturday July 12 and 12pm – 5pm on Sunday July 13.