Havering, Redbridge Top 40th London Parade Borough Winners

Key Points

• Four London boroughs—Havering, Redbridge, Lewisham, and Sutton—were praised for their “remarkable” achievements at the 40th Anniversary London Parade on New Year’s Day.​
• Havering topped the London Borough competition with first place and a £15,000 prize for its entry “Once Upon a Panto,” praised for creativity and community involvement.
• Redbridge secured second place and £10,000, reflecting the borough’s ‘Clean and Green’ mission, led by Mayor Cllr Beverley Brewer and Deputy Mayor Cllr Joe Hehir.​
• Lewisham earned third place with £5,000 for an entry celebrated for energy, culture, and diversity, featuring street artist Nathan Bowen and Dende Nation, the 2025 Notting Hill Carnival Samba Group of the Year.​
• Sutton received a special prize of £4,000.​
• Other participating boroughs—Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Merton, and the City of Westminster—each got £2,000.​
• The parade, the “biggest and best” in its 40-year history, drew over 500,000 spectators and reached a global audience via more than 1,000 TV stations.​
• Joe Bone, executive director of London Parade, stated: “We are thrilled to see such an incredible display of community spirit and imagination from all participating boroughs. Congratulations to Havering, Redbridge, Lewisham and Sutton for their remarkable achievements. Their entries truly embodied the essence of the London Parade. We asked participants to ‘give the World a smile’ – and boy, they did just that.”.​
• The event raised more than £3 million for mayoral charities over 40 years and celebrated creativity, inclusion, and London pride.​
• Havering’s entry involved 94 performers from Rainham’s Lightnin Drama, Thunder Productions, and MCA Trust children; Mayor Sue Ospreay dressed as Dick Whittington.

London (London Times) January 1, 2026 – Four standout London boroughs captured the spotlight at the 40th anniversary London New Year’s Day Parade, earning awards and cash prizes for their inventive entries amid huge crowds in the West End. Havering led with its triumphant “Once Upon a Panto” float, securing £15,000, while Redbridge, Lewisham, and Sutton followed with notable accolades in the fiercely contested borough competition. Organisers hailed the event as the “biggest and best” yet, broadcast to a worldwide audience.

Which Boroughs Stood Out at the London Parade?

Havering, Redbridge, Lewisham, and Sutton emerged as the top performers in the London Borough competition at the 40th London Parade. As reported across multiple sources including the official London Parade site, these boroughs were singled out for their exceptional displays that embodied community spirit and creativity.

Joe Bone, executive director of the London Parade, praised the winners, saying:

“We are thrilled to see such an incredible display of community spirit and imagination from all participating boroughs. Congratulations to Havering, Redbridge, Lewisham and Sutton for their remarkable achievements. Their entries truly embodied the essence of the London Parade. We asked participants to ‘give the World a smile’ – and boy, they did just that.”.

The competition, a highlight of the parade, shares a £50,000 prize pot among entrants to support local mayoral charities.

What Made Havering’s Victory Special?

Havering clinched first place and a £15,000 prize for “Once Upon a Panto,” a vibrant float blending characters from The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, Peter Pan, and Sleeping Beauty. As detailed by Katy Hill of The Havering Daily, the entry featured 94 performers from Rainham’s Lightnin Drama, Thunder Productions, and children from the MCA Trust, who support kids with cancer—Mayor Sue Ospreay’s chosen charity.

Mayor Councillor Sue Ospreay led the float dressed as Dick Whittington, London’s first mayor, with her mayoress as the Cat and husband as King Rat. In The Havering Daily, Ospreay stated:

“It was such a fantastic day and one I will treasure forever. To see our community come together in this way, with our young people at the heart of it, made me incredibly proud. What started as a simple idea on a piece of paper became something truly magical. Everyone involved gave their all, and Havering shone.”.

A later article by the same outlet reported Havering dominating with over 100 more votes than rivals, with Deputy Mayor Councillor Barry Mugglestone alongside, and thanks to Lord Mayor Dame Susan Langley DBE. Judges lauded the creativity and involvement, watched by an estimated 750,000 spectators.

How Did Havering Prepare Its Entry?

Preparation involved teamwork from performers, volunteers, sponsors, and students, braving cold conditions on New Year’s Day. The float radiated joy, proving community power, as per The Havering Daily coverage.

How Did Redbridge Perform in the Competition?

Redbridge took second place with £10,000 for an entry showcasing its “Clean and Green” mission to combat climate change. The official London Parade site notes Mayor Cllr Beverley Brewer and Deputy Mayor Cllr Joe Hehir led the borough at the parade.

This environmental theme aligned with borough priorities, earning praise for innovation amid the friendly rivalry. Participants paraded along the two-mile route from Piccadilly to Westminster, entertaining crowds.​

What Was Lewisham’s Winning Entry?

Lewisham secured third place and £5,000 for a high-energy display focused on culture and diversity. Street artist Nathan Bowen brought a journey-themed concept to life, featuring Dende Nation, the 2025 Notting Hill Carnival Samba Group of the Year.​

The entry highlighted inclusion, resonating with the parade’s theme of giving the world a smile. It contributed to the event’s vibrant mix of bands, dancers, and floats.

Why Did Sutton Receive a Special Award?

Sutton was awarded a special £4,000 prize for its standout contribution. Sources confirm this recognition alongside the top three, emphasising its unique flair.​

The award underscores the competition’s aim to reward diverse talents, with all non-winners like Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Merton, and the City of Westminster receiving £2,000 each for their efforts.

What Was the Scale of This Year’s Parade?

The 40th anniversary parade drew over 500,000 spectators lining the streets, with millions more via over 1,000 TV stations worldwide, including PBS. More than 8,000 performers battled weather for a showcase of music, inflatables, Latin dancers, and dhol drummers.

Organisers described it as a celebration of creativity, inclusion, and London pride, kicking off 2026 spectacularly. The route spanned two miles through Piccadilly, Regent Street, Pall Mall, Whitehall, to Westminster.

Who Organises the London Parade?

Joe Bone serves as executive director, with Destination Events handling logistics. The event has become London’s premier New Year’s Day street spectacle over 40 years.

Mayoral messages, like from Sadiq Khan and Sir Kenneth Olisa, praised the diversity and vibrancy.​

How Has the Parade Benefited Charities?

Over 40 years, it raised more than £3 million for mayoral charities, with this year’s £50,000 pot distributed via the borough competition. Each entry supports local causes, fostering rivalry and talent showcase.

Prizes directly aid charities, as with Havering’s MCA Trust focus.​

What Do Leaders Say About the Event?

Beyond Bone’s comments, Mayor Sue Ospreay of Havering called it “magical,” treasuring the community unity. Coverage from The Havering Daily emphasised pride in dominating votes.

Redbridge’s leaders Brewer and Hehir embodied the green mission on the route. The parade inspires annually, uniting boroughs in celebration.

Why Is the Borough Competition a Highlight?

It inspires friendly rivalry, giving communities a platform to shine globally. All boroughs benefit with funding, ensuring broad impact.

Entries like Havering’s pantomime and Redbridge’s eco-theme wow judges and crowds, perpetuating the tradition since 1987.