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WeDJ 2026 at Leake Street Arches: Our Sunday at London’s DJ Expo

Every November, WeDJ takes over the arches at 26 Leake Street, under Waterloo, for two days of decks, talks and record digging. This year it ran on 7 and 8 November. We were working on the Saturday, so this is our round-up of the Sunday.

The expo is put on by Westend DJ and On The Rise DJ Academy, and it brings together DJs just starting out, working professionals and the pioneers who shaped UK DJ culture in the first place.

Purple-lit brick arch exhibition hall with DJ brand stands at WeDJ, Leake Street Arches, London
The main arch at Leake Street, lined with the brand stands.
The Talk

The Diggers Panel

The highlight of our Sunday was the Diggers Panel. On stage were Prime Cuts and Tony Vegas of the Scratch Perverts and former member Mr Thing, alongside people from the record shops that built the scene, from Mr Bongo to the Soho stores and shops around the UK.

Between them, the panel carried decades of UK DJ history. Mr Thing is a two-time world champion scratch DJ with 30 years behind the turntables, known to collectors for his Strange Breaks compilations on BBE. Tony Vegas started out buying hip hop records in the 80s, worked at Soul Jazz and then Mr Bongo, and co-founded Deal Real Records on Noel Street, Soho, in 1997.

Hearing how they dug for records and built their names through shops, radio and clubs was a good reminder of where all of this started.

DJ panel in front of an audience on the WeDJ stage at the WeDJ exhibition, Leake Street Arches, London
The Diggers Panel on the Sunday.
Group photo of The Diggers Panel DJs on stage at WeDJ, Leake Street Arches, London
The panel line-up after the talk.
The Kit

The Latest Kit, Side by Side

The big names were all there. AlphaTheta had Pioneer DJ players, including the CDJ-3000, set up to try. Rane had the System One running Serato, Technics had a row of turntables playing vinyl, and Denon DJ, Numark and Akai Professional were at the far end of the arches. Reloop, Ortofon, Decksaver, Magma, UDG, Ecler, AIAIAI and Soundboks were there too, along with plenty of speaker and sound companies.

It’s a rare chance to try new gear next to the alternatives before you buy, and to ask the people who make it. There were show deals on the stands, and plenty of tips and tricks from the demonstrators.

DJ equipment brand stands inside the arches at WeDJ, Leake Street Arches, London
AlphaTheta, Pioneer DJ, Denon DJ and Rane at the top of the arches.
Rane System One DJ controller overlooking the WeDJ exhibition hall, Leake Street Arches, London
Rane's System One, looking out over the hall.
AlphaTheta CDJ-3000 DJ media player with jog wheel and touchscreen in front of the westendDJ banner, WeDJ, Leake Street Arches, London
An AlphaTheta CDJ-3000 on the Westend DJ stand.
Technics turntables and DJ mixers set up for visitors at WeDJ, Leake Street Arches, London
Technics turntables and mixers, set up for visitors to play.
The Competition

A 7-Inch Win for DJ Matman

We Love 45s, who celebrate 7-inch vinyl in record shops, bars, clubs and festivals around the world, ran a DJ competition at their booth. We’re proud to say it was won by DJ Matman from our roster, who took home a set of Reloop RP-7 turntables, built just for 7-inch records.

Between the talks there were record stalls to browse too, with boxes of hip hop and 12-inches to dig through.

DJ playing 7 inch vinyl at the We Love 45s booth, WeDJ exhibition, Leake Street Arches, London
The We Love 45s booth, home of the 7-inch competition.
Crate of hip hop vinyl records at the WeDJ exhibition, Leake Street Arches, London
Hip hop crates at one of the record stalls.
On Film

Watch the Clip

A short clip from the Sunday at Leake Street: the stands, the decks and the crowd in the arches.

Watch on YouTube

Why We Go

Why We Keep Coming Back

WeDJ is one of the best weekends of the year for London’s DJ community to catch up: old faces, new DJs coming through, and a look at where the kit is heading. It keeps us close to the scene our DJs come from, and every DJ on our roster has at least 10 years’ experience behind the decks.

We were there last year too: read our WeDJ 2025 write-up.

Book a DJ From Our Roster

To book DJ Matman, or any of our DJs, for your own event, send us your date and venue and we’ll come back with availability and a quote.

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