Brighton Festival

Brighton Festival An annual celebration of the arts across Brighton, Hove & East Sussex

Join us Fri 1 - Mon 25 May 2026

Registered charity no. 249748
(2)

Each year we produce Brighton Festival, the largest curated annual arts festival in England. A celebration of music, theatre, dance, circus, art, film, literature, debate, outdoor and community events, Brighton Festival takes place in familiar and unusual locations across Brighton & Hove and further afield for three weeks every May. Renowned for its pioneering spirit and experimental reputation, B

righton Festival has become one of the city’s most enduring symbols of inventiveness. The inaugural programme in 1967 included Laurence Olivier, Anthony Hopkins, Yehudi Menuhin, The Who, The Pink Floyd, Concrete Poetry. So we have a long tradition for attracting the most exciting performers from across the globe, as well as promoting local artists, and bringing fresh, challenging work that opens minds right across Brighton & Hove and beyond. Our ambitious and daring programming aims to make the most of the city’s distinctive cultural atmosphere, and draws some of the most innovative artists and companies from the UK and around the world. Since 2009 we have welcomed a major cultural figure to guest curate and enhance the prestige of the artistic programme. Anish Kapoor, Brian Eno, Vanessa Redgrave, Michael Rosen, Hofesh Shechter, Ali Smith, Laurie Anderson, Kate Tempest, David Shrigley and Lemn Sissay have contributed significantly to our innovative programming as Guest Director.

Happy Volunteers' Week!This week (1-7 June) is Volunteers’ Week: the perfect time to thank all of our wonderful voluntee...
04/06/2026

Happy Volunteers' Week!

This week (1-7 June) is Volunteers’ Week: the perfect time to thank all of our wonderful volunteers for everything they do for Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival. We have an amazing team across our Front of House and Heritage teams, helping us to welcome audiences into our event spaces and share our venue’s history. Thank you to everyone who offers their time and enthusiasm to help support the work that we do!

"I am so grateful to our volunteers for their time, commitment and enthusiasm. You are are a vital part of Brighton Dome, and have been a key asset in making this landmark 60th Brighton Festival happen. Thank you!" — Lucy Davies, CEO Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival

Our volunteer opportunities are supported by Good Space, funded through Arts Council England and UK Government funding.

Interested in volunteering? Find out more at https://brightondome.org/news/happy-volunteers-week-2026/

With Brighton Festival 2026 wrapped up, we're looking back fondly on all of your photos and memories of last month. Than...
02/06/2026

With Brighton Festival 2026 wrapped up, we're looking back fondly on all of your photos and memories of last month. Thank you all for making it one to remember! ❤️

📸 Photo credits to:
Ruth Katra, Mo Plank, Edith WeUtonga Katiji

It was great to catch you this year! Thank you for making it one to remember See you in 2027!
29/05/2026

It was great to catch you this year! Thank you for making it one to remember See you in 2027!

Our very special 60th edition of Brighton Festival wrapped up on Monday.Over 100 events took place all over the city, in...
28/05/2026

Our very special 60th edition of Brighton Festival wrapped up on Monday.

Over 100 events took place all over the city, including the first ever Brighton Festival production, over 25 free events, performances and workshops and more than 140 performers from around the globe. Over 100,000 people attended this year’s Festival – thank you for making this such a fabulous 60th edition!

Brighton Festival is hugely appreciative of the generosity of a number of sponsors, supporters and donors.

Brighton Festival 2026 is indebted to the steadfast support of funders Brighton & Hove City Council and Arts Council England; Principal Supporter The Pebble Trust; Major Sponsor Mayo Wynne Baxter; Higher Education Partner University of Sussex; and all sponsors, patrons, members and supporters.

Click the top link in our Linktree (in bio) to read 'Postcards from Brighton Festival 2026' - a look back on all the highlights from this years Brighton Festival 📖

Brighton Girls Same Sky Matthew Herbert NoFit State Laurie Anderson Patti Smith Sampa The Great Asian Dub Foundation AFLO. the poet Clod Ensemble Without Walls UK Create Music Lighthouse London Symphony Orchestra

🎨 Love this year's Brighton Festival brochure? Buy a print of the 2026 design, or your favourite heritage Festival artwo...
26/05/2026

🎨 Love this year's Brighton Festival brochure? Buy a print of the 2026 design, or your favourite heritage Festival artwork, and support art in your community whilst you're at it!

Every purchase will help us continue to offer a joyous and diverse festival programme and offer creative opportunities to all.

Search Brighton Festival on the King & McGaw website



Artwork: Thomas Burden

Competition time!⁠⁠We want to put together a collection of photos from this years festival to remember it by, but we nee...
26/05/2026

Competition time!⁠
⁠
We want to put together a collection of photos from this years festival to remember it by, but we need your help!⁠
⁠
We are giving away a £50 Brighton Dome voucher, and all you need to do to be within a chance to win is send us photos of you having a blast at Brighton Festival 2026 📸⁠
⁠
Swipe through to see instructions on how to enter, and how to send your photos to us ⬆️

Have you seen A Timeline of Infinite Skies yet? An immersive installation at Phoenix Art Space featuring a soundscapes a...
25/05/2026

Have you seen A Timeline of Infinite Skies yet?

An immersive installation at Phoenix Art Space featuring a soundscapes and indigo-dyed textiles exploring the tension between profit and protest, and the wealth generated for residents by the plantation slavery system.

On until Sun 28 Jun, Wed–Sun, 12pm–5pm - FREE

Photos by Lucy Le Brocq

Hear it from our audiences 📢 Experience the breathtaking last performance of Thikra: Night of Remembering, Akram Khan Co...
24/05/2026

Hear it from our audiences 📢

Experience the breathtaking last performance of Thikra: Night of Remembering, Akram Khan Company's final touring production, tonight.

Book your tickets at brightonfestival.org 🎟️

☀️Soak up the sunshine and catch some free outdoor performances today! We've got street theatre puppet shows to beautifu...
24/05/2026

☀️Soak up the sunshine and catch some free outdoor performances today! We've got street theatre puppet shows to beautiful performances at Black Rock and Circus Street. So grab a spot in the sun and make the most of the final day of Without Walls

At Black Rock today
Kismat Walla 10.30am, 1.15pm & 4pm
HOLY DIRT 11am & 2pm
Fragments of Us 11.45am & 2.45pm
Stick and Stone 12.30pm & 5pm

At Circus Street today
CHAIR 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm & 3.30pm

Photo credit: Claire Leach

23/05/2026

Don't miss A Timeline of Infinite Skies at !

An immersive installation and soundscape by the artistic duo Antonio Jose Guzman and Iva Jankovic reflecting the intertwined histories of wealth and cultural memory, and highlighting Brighton & Hove's hidden or forgotten legacies of forced migration and the strong stand of abolitionism that rooted and flourished in the city.

On until Sun 28 Jun, Wed–Sun, 12pm–5pm - FREE

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12a Pavilion Buildings
Brighton
BN11EE

Telephone

+441273709709

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