Thanks to the visitors, volunteers, participants and organisers, City Day 2026 was a day to remember.
On Saturday 7 March, thousands of you gathered to celebrate the second annual Southend City Day. If we could bottle the feeling of the day, it would fizz with colour, community and that unmistakable Southend spirit.
City Day in numbers
- thousands attended across all City Day hubs
- 500+ people joined the City Jam street‑art workshop
- 3,000 City Day guides handed out
- 25 young artists competed live in the portrait challenge
- 50,000+ views of Sonny Green's poem
- 192,000+ views across our social media channels
And behind every number was a moment that was colourful, moving, nostalgic or simply unforgettable.
The moment the celebrations began
From the High Street to the seafront, from Leigh to Shoeburyness, the day felt like a living festival. Drummers, dancers, choirs, majorettes, musicians and beloved character performers drew crowds from the very start.
Visitors enjoyed the day. One visitor said, "City Day? What a great idea!"
Another said, "There's so much going on; this brings the community together."
But equally, it was wonderful to hear shopkeepers explaining the origins of Southend becoming a city, and Arriva buses clad with this same message.
A moment of colour
More than 500 people joined the City Jam workshop under the railway bridge, spray cans shaking and walls transforming into kaleidoscopic murals. Even the Council Leader Cllr Daniel Cowan jumped in, adding his palm print and colours to the growing artwork.
He later said: "City Day showed Southend at its finest. Everywhere I went, I saw families, volunteers and local groups celebrating everything that our city great, and how we are all building a city to be proud of, together. It was an incredible and joyous day to be part of."
Moments that made us smile
Moments of joy filled the day: people dancing with street performers, children laughing as colourful characters played along, stallholders swapping stories with visitors, and strangers sharing recommendations as volunteers chatted with families grateful for the atmosphere.
Most nostalgic moment
When KITT, the iconic Knight Rider car, arrived, no one wanted to miss their moment with a TV legend. Children stood wide-eyed as the lights blinked and the familiar voice chimed in with cheeky British one-liners, while adults grinned at the perfect 80s throwback.
Heartwarming moments
The Music Man Project
The Music Man Project brought pure joy to The Royals Shopping Centre. Their performers, talented musicians with learning disabilities, brought heart, confidence and warmth to every note, and the crowds were joyously singing, swaying and clapping to the performers' infectious energy.
Additional Needs Ambassadors
Nearby at The Victoria Shopping Centre, the Additional Needs Ambassadors invited residents to write why they love Southend on a beautiful board of colour, kindness and belonging. One of the volunteers summed it up perfectly: "We are Southend-on-Sea. We are ONE."
The moment that took our breath away
In The Royals, crowds gathered to watch 25 young artists aged 10 to 16 sketch and paint live sitters with beautiful concentration, imagination and talent.
Parents spoke with pride:
"It pushed the artists out of their comfort zone; great for building resilience."
"Thank you again for this fantastic opportunity, we all loved the whole thing, it was absolutely brilliant!," another said.
Moments that lit up every hub
Across Shoeburyness, Southchurch, Westcliff and Leigh, hundreds took part in sold-out activities that showcased the richness of our culture and history, including heritage walks, magic shows, exhibitions, competitions, community stalls, crafts, tours and more.
Cllr Matt Dent, cabinet member for Business, Culture, Music and Tourism, said: "The energy across the whole city was fantastic. Every hub had its own buzz, from music to street art to heritage tours. Seeing people of all ages celebrate our culture and talent was my favourite part of the day."
A landmark moment
Cllr Cowan delivered news that many had been hoping for: the historic Kursaal has been saved, with Remblance Leisure Limited, led by local leisure operator Star Amusements, taking over the lease this summer to restore and reopen the city's most iconic building.
Cllr Cowan proudly said: "The Kursaal has been part of our city's story for generations; there is work ahead, but we can look forward to seeing this iconic building play a positive role in our visitor and leisure economy again."
Glow-in-the-dark moment
As evening arrived, Pier Piazza shimmered into something magical. Light-up benches glowed softly, casting colourful reflections across the paving. A dazzling light show bounced off giant mirrorballs. The DJ sets sent waves of feelgood energy into the crowd.
A tear-jerker moment
'Southend Boy' Sonny Green personally introduced his special spoken poem, 'What Southend Means to Me.' There were smiles, a few tears, and a sense of collective pride, and 50,000+ views of the poem recital on the council's Facebook and Instagram pages.
A moment to remember
City Day didn't just fill the streets; it filled social feeds too. Across the council's Instagram and Facebook channels, more than 192,000 views were recorded on reels and stories, with hundreds more liking, sharing and spreading the joy. #SOSCityDay26
Check out all the wonderful pictures from the day on our Flickr page.