More than 100 mosques across Britain will open their doors to the public this weekend as part of the annual Visit My Mosque campaign, inviting people of all faiths and none to meet Muslim communities and learn more about Islam.
The nationwide initiative, organised by the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), will take place on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September, with participating mosques offering tours, talks, refreshments and opportunities for informal conversation with worshippers and community members.
The campaign comes at a particularly sensitive time for British Muslims, amid growing concern over Islamophobia, anti-Muslim hatred and the spread of misinformation online.
Organisers say the aim is to create direct encounters between Muslims and their neighbours, allowing visitors to see for themselves what takes place inside a mosque and to ask questions about Islam without the filters of political debate or social media.
Opening doors amid rising anti-Muslim hostility
The MCB said the campaign is intended to challenge misconceptions through personal contact and conversation at a time when public discussion around Islam and Muslims has become increasingly hostile.
Dr Wajid Akhter, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, said too many people now form their views of Muslim communities through online algorithms and divisive commentary rather than through direct experience.
He said understanding British Muslims requires meeting them in person, describing the campaign as an opportunity to speak openly “over a cup of tea, tasty samosas and an honest conversation”.
For many visitors, the weekend will be their first experience inside a mosque.
The MCB says its wider aim is to break down barriers and strengthen relationships between communities.
Mosques as part of British community life
Participating mosques are expected to organise guided tours, exhibitions, talks, cultural food, workshops and multi-faith activities.
The 2026 campaign is also placing a greater emphasis on showing the broader role mosques play beyond congregational prayer, including education, charity, social support and neighbourhood engagement.
A number of mosques are being highlighted as flagship participants, including East London Mosque and London Muslim Centre, West London Islamic Centre, Leeds Grand Mosque, Cheadle Mosque, Inverness Mosque and Jamia Masjid Slough.
The campaign is also working alongside Heritage Open Days, placing mosque visits within the wider context of Britain’s cultural and religious heritage.
Visitors encouraged to ask questions
The open days are free and generally require no advance booking.
Visitors are encouraged to ask questions about Islamic belief, worship, Muslim family life and the experiences of Muslims in Britain.
Guests can usually expect to be welcomed by volunteers, offered refreshments, shown around the mosque and given an opportunity to learn about the building and the community it serves. Visitors are normally asked to remove their shoes before entering the prayer area and to dress modestly.
At a time when Muslims are frequently discussed as a political or security issue, Visit My Mosque offers a different approach: allowing people to encounter Muslim communities directly rather than through headlines, stereotypes or online polemics.
For participating mosques, the weekend is also an opportunity to present themselves not as isolated religious institutions, but as an established part of Britain’s social landscape.
