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Labyrinth on the Thames plans major expansion with legendary English artist in 2026

Thursday, 13 November 2025 5:05AM UTC

Organisers of the Labyrinth on the Thames concert series aim to expand from six to nine events in 2026, including the addition of a renowned English live artist, as they seek approval amid resident noise concerns and growing diversity in musical offerings.

Organisers of the Labyrinth on the Thames concert series, held at the Old Royal Naval College (ORNC) in Greenwich, have committed to bringing a “legendary English artist” to the stage in 2026 if they are granted permission to expand their events. Labyrinth Festivals Limited has applied to Greenwich Council to increase the number of concerts from six in 2025 to a proposed nine in 2026, although they have indicated willingness to reduce this to eight to address neighbour concerns. Should the council approve their new licence application, the organisers plan to hold nine events annually starting in 2027.

Labyrinth on the Thames has cultivated a strong profile as a vibrant open-air series celebrating contemporary dance music amid the historic architecture of the 17th-century ORNC, with events running until 11pm and featuring acclaimed international artists such as Grammy-winning DJ Black Coffee and Australian alt-rockers Empire of the Sun. The 2025 series attracted significant attendance, reputedly around 10,000 people daily, and was described by event legal representative Matthew Phipps as an “overwhelming success,” noting that only a handful of local residents voiced objections and no council departments opposed the licence extension.

Despite the festival’s popularity, concerns from residents largely focus on noise pollution, particularly the low-frequency bass from the concerts. Council officers and event noise experts acknowledged this issue, with the latter emphasising efforts to monitor and manage sound levels continuously throughout the day. The organisers maintain that noise levels during this year’s events were kept well below the public nuisance threshold, aided by sound engineers who have “complete autonomy” to adjust volumes if complaints arise. Nonetheless, the council has received a dozen formal complaints, mainly from local Greenwich residents and a few from across the river in Tower Hamlets, with some grievances linked to inadequate advance notice of the concerts rather than the noise alone.

The 2026 series is planned to be more musically diverse than previous years, which mainly featured electronic dance music. While dance music remains popular among younger audiences, the organisers have confirmed at least one non-DJ act for next year’s lineup, still keeping its cultural focus but broadening the appeal. Councillor Dave Sullivan, part of the Licensing Sub-Committee, expressed curiosity whether the expanded festival would maintain its electronic music base or diversify into a wider range of genres. The promised inclusion of a “legendary English artist” performing as a live band suggests a strategic move to enrich the musical mix.

The Licensing Sub-Committee convened on November 12 to consider the licence application, with a final decision expected within five working days. The committee noted the relatively small number of objections, signalling broad community and council departments’ tolerance or support for the festival, balanced by the ongoing need to address noise and neighbour concerns. Labyrinth on the Thames has become not only a significant cultural event in Greenwich’s calendar but a test case for integrating large music festivals within sensitive historic and residential environments.

In summary, Labyrinth on the Thames seeks to build upon its initial success by expanding its event footprint and capacity while aiming to address resident concerns and diversify its musical offerings. The organisers’ commitment to featuring a legendary live band act adds a new dimension to what has been primarily an electronic dance festival, potentially enhancing the event’s appeal and legacy if approved by the council.

📌 Reference Map:

^[1] (MyLondon) - Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
^[2] (Greenwich Wire) - Paragraphs 1, 2, 3
^[3] (Labyrinth Events website) - Paragraphs 4, 7
^[4] (The Ticketing Business) - Paragraphs 4, 7

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.mylondon.news/whats-on/whats-on-news/london-gig-organisers-promise-legendary-32862748 - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://greenwichwire.co.uk/2025/11/04/labyrinth-on-the-thames-greenwich-licence-2026/ - Labyrinth on the Thames, a music festival held at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, plans to expand its 2026 event from six to nine days. The festival, which took place over two weekends in August 2025, featured artists like Black Coffee and Empire of the Sun. Organisers aim to double the daily capacity to 10,000 attendees. The proposal is under consideration by Greenwich Council, with a licensing sub-committee hearing scheduled for November 12, 2025. Residents have raised concerns about noise, leading to discussions on noise management plans.
https://www.labyrinthevents.com/onthethames - Labyrinth on the Thames is a six-date music series held at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London. The event features contemporary dance music performances set against the historic backdrop of the 17th-century site. Attendees can enjoy music by world-class artists while taking in views of the River Thames and the London skyline. The festival aims to celebrate both the venue's architecture and London's dynamic music scene, with festivities continuing until 11pm each day.
https://www.theticketingbusiness.com/2025/01/21/labyrinth-brings-first-major-music-event-to-iconic-london-landmark/ - Labyrinth, an independent UK promoter, announced its inaugural open-air live music series, Labyrinth on the Thames, to be held at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich. The event is set to feature contemporary electronic acts, with Grammy-winning DJ Black Coffee confirmed as the first headliner. The festival aims to bring world-class performances to the UNESCO World Heritage site, marking the first dance music event at this historic venue. The series is scheduled for the first two weekends in August 2025.
https://www.theticketingbusiness.com/2025/01/21/labyrinth-brings-first-major-music-event-to-iconic-london-landmark/ - Labyrinth, an independent UK promoter, announced its inaugural open-air live music series, Labyrinth on the Thames, to be held at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich. The event is set to feature contemporary electronic acts, with Grammy-winning DJ Black Coffee confirmed as the first headliner. The festival aims to bring world-class performances to the UNESCO World Heritage site, marking the first dance music event at this historic venue. The series is scheduled for the first two weekends in August 2025.
https://www.labyrinthevents.com/onthethames - Labyrinth on the Thames is a six-date music series held at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London. The event features contemporary dance music performances set against the historic backdrop of the 17th-century site. Attendees can enjoy music by world-class artists while taking in views of the River Thames and the London skyline. The festival aims to celebrate both the venue's architecture and London's dynamic music scene, with festivities continuing until 11pm each day.
https://www.labyrinthevents.com/onthethames - Labyrinth on the Thames is a six-date music series held at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London. The event features contemporary dance music performances set against the historic backdrop of the 17th-century site. Attendees can enjoy music by world-class artists while taking in views of the River Thames and the London skyline. The festival aims to celebrate both the venue's architecture and London's dynamic music scene, with festivities continuing until 11pm each day.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative is recent, dated November 13, 2025. The earliest known publication date of similar content is November 4, 2025, from Greenwich Wire, discussing Labyrinth on the Thames' licence application. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The narrative includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.

Quotes check

Score: 9

Notes: The direct quotes from event legal representative Matthew Phipps and Councillor Dave Sullivan are unique to this narrative. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating potentially original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score: 7

Notes: The narrative originates from MyLondon, a reputable news outlet. However, it also references Greenwich Wire, which is less well-known and may not be as widely recognised. The Labyrinth Events website is cited, providing direct information from the organisers. The Ticketing Business is also referenced, offering industry insights. The presence of multiple sources adds credibility, but the inclusion of less established outlets introduces some uncertainty.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative's claims about Labyrinth on the Thames' expansion plans and the inclusion of a 'legendary English artist' are plausible and align with the event's history and previous announcements. The report lacks specific factual anchors, such as the name of the artist, which reduces the score and flags it as potentially synthetic. The language and tone are consistent with typical event reporting, and the structure is focused on the main claim without excessive or off-topic detail.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative is recent and includes unique quotes, suggesting originality. However, the reliance on less established sources and the lack of specific details about the 'legendary English artist' introduce some uncertainty. The plausibility of the expansion plans is supported by the event's history, but the absence of concrete details warrants further verification.

Music festivals
Greenwich Council
Noise concerns