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Get ready to celebrate 200 years of UCL!

11 February 2025

In February 2026, UCL will begin celebrating its 200th anniversary. On our 199th birthday we look ahead to UCL200, an exciting line-up of activities and events to mark our bicentenary year.

Historical sepia photo of crowds gathering at the UCL portico in 1909 for a bazaar and fête

Since 1826, UCL has championed innovation, invention and inclusive knowledge. It is a place of firsts – the first university in London, the first in England to admit students of all faiths and beliefs, and the first in England to welcome women alongside men into university education.   

It is this pioneering spirit and ongoing commitment to our founding values that underpin UCL200, an exciting programme of activities, events, dialogue and storytelling to mark UCL’s 200th anniversary, also known as our Bicentennial. We’re calling on our diverse, global community - our exceptional staff, students, alumni and partners - to get involved and join us in shaping the past, present and future story of UCL.  

Watch this short video to meet some of the people working behind the scenes on the UCL200 programme and get a sneak peek of what’s to come. 

MediaCentral Widget Placeholderhttps://mediacentral.ucl.ac.uk/Player/F9f7CfD51 year to go: Get ready to celebrate 200 years of UCL!

Through UCL200, we will collectively embrace our entrepreneurial spirit, recognise the impact of our ground-breaking work and people, and contribute to a world where knowledge, research and innovation serves as a force for positive good. As well as reflecting on our past, we will use this moment to look to the future and imagine new and exciting possibilities as we enter our third century.   
 

Expect engaging exhibitions, new publications, creative workshops, art installations, celebration ceremonies, artist in residence programmes, staff and student campaigns, and much more!

There are still lots of opportunities for people across the UCL community to get involved and create a memorable Bicentennial celebration for all. 

Find out more about the UCL200 Programme.  

Get involved

Thank you to all our video contributors: Professor Dame Hazel Genn, Pro-Provost Bicentennial; Lasana Harris; Professor of Social Neuroscience, Vice Dean for Global Engagement and UCL200 Faculty Champion in the Faculty of Brain Sciences; Lynn Ang, Professor of Early Childhood, Pro-Director and Vice-Dean Research and UCL200 Faculty Champion in IOE - Faculty of Education and Society; Rachel Dyball, BA History student and UCL200 Exhibition intern; UCL Faculty of Arts & Humanities; and UCL Special Collections. 

Main image: UCL Bazaar and Fête, 1909. UCL Special Collections, College Photographs.
Video: Created by Tom Kinnersly, Campaigns Content Manager and videographer, UCL.