Covent Garden May Fayre 2026 — Puppeteers, Parades & Mr Punch's Birthday

Every year, Covent Garden comes alive for the May Fayre — the UK's biggest celebration of puppetry and the birthday of Mr Punch himself. In 2026, I was there for all of it. Join me as I take you inside one of London's most beloved puppet festivals, from the opening parade through St Paul's Church to the spectacular puppet shows and performances on the piazza. I chat with some of the UK's most talented puppeteers, witness a stunning puppet parade, and soak up the incredible atmosphere of this historic annual gathering. Mr Punch made his first recorded appearance in London on 9th May 1662 — making this his 364th birthday. The May Fayre is the official celebration, and it remains one of the most important dates in the calendar for anyone passionate about puppetry and street performance. Whether you're a fan of traditional Punch & Judy, contemporary puppet theatre, or just love seeing incredible live performance, this event is unmissable — and I've brought you along for the whole day. Every year on the second Sunday in May, puppeteers and puppetry folk flock to Covent Garden to celebrate Mr. Punch's birthday, watch incredible shows, and come together as a community. This year I was lucky enough to be part of it all — from an embarrassingly early arrival to a very accidental trip to the Lego store. 🧱 In this video you'll see: The parade led by a brass band featuring puppets and Morris dancers The British Puppet Guild President's Plate Award ceremony Multiple punch and judy shows from talented professors A visit to Pock's incredible puppet store And why, after 51 years, the Mayfair is still the heart of the UK puppetry world ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction 0:51 The Mayfair Begins 1:50 What Is the Mayfair? 2:22 The Parade 2:48 Mr. Punch's Birthday & History 4:16 The Church Service 4:42 Exploring Covent Garden 6:25 British Puppet Guild President's Plate Award 8:34 Punch & Judy Shows 10:31 The Day Winds Down 11:11 What the Mayfair Is Really About If you enjoyed this video, please like, subscribe and hit the bell 🔔 so you never miss a new upload. New puppetry content every week! 🎭 Lee Thompson — Award-Winning UK Puppeteer All videos created, performed, and edited by Lee Thompson. This year was the first under new producers Small Pond Theatre (James Arnott and David Wilde), and the atmosphere was incredible. I'll walk you through my whole day — from setting up to performing to catching up with fellow professors. 📸 Instagram:   / leethompsonpuppeteer   🌐 www.leethompsonpuppeteer.com #MayFayre2026 #PunchAndJudy #CoventGarden #PuppetFestival #Puppeteer #Puppetry #MrPunch #LondonEvents #StreetTheatre #puppetshow #streetperformance