‘I need people to look up and be present’: London celebrates bicentennial in 2026

As London prepares to mark it’s 200th anniversary in 2026, how is the city celebrating its rich heritage? CTV’s Bryan Bicknell finds out.

Daphne Bice, who lives in a heritage home in London’s Blackfriars neigbourhood, said her family has been in London – or what preceded London, for more than 200 years.

In fact, she said the Carmichaels on her mother’s side arrived from Scotland to London’s forks of the Thames in 1818.

As someone with deep roots of her own, she said London has a lot to appreciate for both residents and visitors.

“They’re in awe of our neighbourhoods, our old houses. Woodfield, Blackfriars, Wortley. This doesn’t exist in other places. So, it’s a celebration. Our city is a celebration,” Bice said.

London is marking a major milestone in 2026, celebrating 200 years.

The city’s Manager of Culture Services, Robin Armistead, said much is being planned for the bicentennial.

“We kicked off with New Year’s Eve in the park, and Eldon House new year’s levee. We’re planning our Bicentennial Trivia night, and it’s sold out. And we’re going to be lighting up city hall and RBC Place and flying the forks of the Thames bicentennial local flag for January 30^th,” said Armistead.

Armistead said events are planned for throughout 2026, with a full list on the Bicentennial website.

The birthday bash is not happening without some confusion.

Amber Lloydlangston, Museum London curator of history and contemporary culture, explained that Simcoe arrived in 1793, making 1993 a bicentennial year, which was celebrated at that time.

However, London became a legal entity and administrative centre in 1826.

That’s why the centennial was celebrated in 1926 and the bicentennial in 2026.

However, London did not become an official city until 1855 when it had a population of more than 10,000 – that made 1955 the 100th anniversary, and 2005 the 150th anniversary, both of which were celebrated.

But with all that, Lloydlangston said from here on in, 2026 will be officially recognized as the bicentennial year.

Or at least, that’s the story and we’re sticking to it.

“It wasn’t until 1826 when they needed a new administrative centre that, looking around, at Delaware, at St. Thomas, those didn’t work out. So, they said, ‘Okay, well we already have this place here. This dot. This place that we’ve already got, we can use. It’s called London, London, London, yeah London. Okay, so let’s build here. We can get the land. We have the land. It’s going to be easy for us. Let’s proceed.’ And the rest is history,” she explained.

As it happens, London has also been named the Forest Capital of Canada for 2026.

Armistead said the two achievements will be celebrated together.

“So, you will see a number of garden and environmental and tree-planting events throughout London for 2026 led by our parks and forestry division,” said Armistead.

Meanwhile, as a direct descendant of London of the ‘olde,’ Daphne Bice’s advice for both longtime residents and newcomers alike is to look up and take it all in.

“But people are so much looking down at their hand and their phones, they won’t know when they get razed to the ground and something new gets up. They won’t know. So, I need people to look up and be present,” said Bice.