Events in Brighton calendar is the most generous in the south of England — something for every age, every taste, every season. Brighton never really stops. Any given week in this city brings live music at Concorde 2, theatre at the Brighton Dome, a sauna ceremony in ancient woodland, a new restaurant opening in the Lanes, and something happening on the beach that probably doesn’t exist anywhere else in the UK. This is your complete guide to Brighton events in 2026 — updated as new events are announced, organised by month and by category so you can find exactly what you’re looking for.
Jump to: March | April | May | Summer | Autumn | By Category
Events in Brighton — March 2026
March is one of Brighton’s most varied months — and in 2026 it is genuinely stacked. The city hosts a wellness festival, a women’s mass sea swim, breathwork 450 feet above the seafront, a major film festival, two award ceremonies, St Patrick’s Day celebrations, live music from indie to jazz, and the kind of immersive late-night events that remind you why Brighton is not like other cities.
Brighton Half Marathon 2026 is done. → Read our race report
Barnum The Circus Musical — Theatre Royal Brighton
3–8 March 2026. A circus-inspired musical that earned a standing ovation on opening night. Brighton Journal was there.
Venue: Theatre Royal Brighton
→ Read our review
Live Jazz at The Rooftop — every Thursday
Free live jazz every Thursday 5–8pm at Projects Club, Nile House. No booking required, no entry fee.
→ Full guide: Live Jazz Brighton at The Rooftop
Brighton i360 — One Year Under Nightcap — 8 March 2026
Brighton i360 marked one year under Nightcap management with a special International Women’s Day celebration above the city skyline.
→ Read the full story
BRAVO Restaurant Awards — winners announced 31 March
Brighton’s largest public food and drink vote celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2026. Voting across 18 categories including Best Restaurant, Best Café, Best Pub and Best Brunch. The 2026 theme is Choose Local.
Winners announced: 31 March | Vote: bravobrighton.co.uk
→ Full article: BRAVO Restaurant Awards 2026
https://brightonjournal.co.uk/bravo-awards-brighton-2026-winners/
May 2026 — Brighton’s Biggest Month
May is when Brighton fully ignites. Brighton Festival, Brighton Fringe, The Great Escape, Foodies Festival and the Artists Open Houses all run simultaneously — making May 2026 one of the richest cultural months in the city’s history.
Brighton Festival — 1–25 May
The 60th edition of England’s largest curated multi-arts festival. Over 100 events featuring theatre, dance, music, literature, visual art and debate. Highlights include the world premiere of Kohlhaas starring Arinzé Kene, Patti Smith for two nights, Laurie Anderson in a UK exclusive, and 25 free events including two Weekends Without Walls (16–17 May and 23–24 May).
Dates: 1–25 May | Venues: Brighton Dome + city-wide | brightonfestival.org → Full guide: Foodies Festival Brighton 2026
Artists Open Houses Brighton — weekends 2–25 May
197 venues, 1,000+ artists across Brighton & Hove. Free entry at most venues.
→ Full guide: https://brightonjournal.co.uk/artists-open-houses-brighton-2026/
Of Land, Sea and Sky — 2–23 May, The Old Market Hove
Three-week immersive season as part of Brighton Festival. Music, film, sound baths and arctic storytelling.
→ Full guide: https://brightonjournal.co.uk/of-land-sea-and-sky-brighton-2026/
The Great Escape — 13–16 May
The UK’s most important showcase for emerging artists. Over 500 acts across 35+ Brighton venues over four days.
Dates: 13–16 May | greatescapefestival.com
Brighton & Hove Albion Players’ Awards — 19 May
Part of the club’s landmark 125th anniversary celebrations. The awards evening takes place at the Amex Stadium.
Date: 19 May | Venue: Amex Stadium
Noughty 90s Festival — 24 May, East Brighton Park
Back for its 5th year at East Brighton Park. A full day of 90s and 00s music on Bank Holiday Sunday.
Date: Sunday 24 May | Venue: East Brighton Park
Gandeys K-Pop Dragon Circus — 28–31 May, Preston Park
A dazzling fusion of circus, K-pop music and spectacular performance. Four days in Preston Park over the late May Bank Holiday weekend.
Dates: 28–31 May | Venue: Preston Park
Brighton Fringe — May–June
The world’s second largest fringe festival. Hundreds of shows across dozens of venues — comedy, theatre, cabaret, circus and spoken word. Brighton Journal recommends: Alice Ella · Sameera Bhalotra Bowers · Saving Myself · Binding Agent · Evangeline · History Has No Safe Word → Full Brighton Fringe 2026 guide
Events in Brighton — Summer 2026
June 2026
Sounds of Soviet Underground — 13 June, Hope & Ruin London-based collective bring the Red Wave of Soviet-era rock to Brighton. Covers of Kino, Nautilus Pompilius, Zoopark and more. 7:30pm–11pm. → Preview
Henry Moore at Wakehurst — from 5 June Four major Moore sculptures in Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex. 30 minutes from Brighton. Runs to May 2027. → Full guide
Brighton Rocks / BRIFF — 15–21 June
Brighton’s BIFA-qualifying international film festival, screening across Dukes at Komedia and venues in Kemptown.
Dates: 15–21 June
Brighton Book Festival — 17–21 June
Brighton Book Festival returns for its fifth year. Zadie Smith headlines the 2026 programme.
→ Brighton Book Festival — Zadie Smith Returns After Ten Years
Love Supreme Jazz Festival — 3–5 July, Glynde Place
Europe’s largest outdoor jazz festival returns to the grounds of Glynde Place, East Sussex — just 20 minutes from Brighton. Loyle Carner, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Esperanza Spalding, KOKOROKO and Samara Joy headline 2026.
Dates: 3–5 July | lovesupremefestival.com
On The Beach — 17–19 July, Brighton Beach
Fatboy Slim brings Big Beach Boutique 7 to Brighton Beach — three massive dates on the pebbles this July. Plus Moby for his first Brighton show in 25 years.
Dates: 17–19 July | Venue: Brighton Beach
Brighton Pride — 1–3 August, Preston Park
The UK’s largest LGBTQ+ festival. Over 300,000 people. Diana Ross, RAYE, RuPaul and Jessie J headline 2026. The parade, Preston Park and Pride On The Park. The biggest day in Brighton’s year.
→ Brighton Pride 2026 — Diana Ross, RAYE, RuPaul & Jessie J
Mod Weekender — August Bank Holiday
Brighton, the spiritual home of the Mods, welcomes back the Untouchables Mod Weekender for its 21st anniversary. Sharp suits, scooter runs and a full weekend of Mod culture across the city.
Date: August Bank Holiday
Plumpton Revival — 8–9 August, Plumpton Racecourse
Sussex’s new festival on the historic site where Pink Floyd and The Who once played. Think Floyd, Who’s Next, blues artists, comedy, circus and more.
→ Full guide: Plumpton Revival 2026
Brighton Pier to Pier Swim — Summer 2026
Now in its 90th year. Brighton’s historic open-water swim covers 1km from the West Pier to Palace Pier. Both a competitive race and an open experience event.
Venue: Brighton Beach
The Story Trail — September–November, city-wide
A free family adventure across Brighton featuring 30+ giant BookBenches created by local artists. Part of the Wild in Art programme in partnership with Amaze charity.
Dates: September–November | Entry: Free
Events in Brighton — Autumn 2026
Wild Love Festival — TBC. A new one-day wellbeing festival launching in Brighton with a mission to reimagine wellness as inclusive, accessible and community-rooted.
Brighton Wellness Festival — September/October. The city-wide wellness festival returns for its second edition — 8 days, 100+ events across multiple venues. brightonwellnessfestival.co.uk
Brighton Photo Biennial — October/November. The UK’s largest international photography festival, with exhibitions and events across Brighton and Hove.
CINECITY Brighton Film Festival — November. The city’s longest-running film festival, now in its 24th edition.
Midge Ure — A Man of Two Worlds Tour — 23 November, Brighton Dome
Ultravox frontman Midge Ure brings his first new album in over a decade to Brighton Dome. An immersive live experience blending classic tracks with new cinematic instrumentals.
→ brightonjournal.co.uk/midge-ure-brings-a-man-of-two-worlds-tour-to-brighton-dome-this-november-2026/
Burning the Clocks — December. Brighton’s beloved Winter Solstice celebration — a lantern parade through the city culminating in a bonfire and fireworks on the beach. One of the most magical free events in the UK.
Brighton Events by Category
Live Music in Brighton
Brighton’s music venues run year-round. Key venues: Brighton Centre, Brighton Dome, Concorde 2, Chalk, Patterns, Komedia, The Old Market, Ironworks Studio. For upcoming gigs see Songkick Brighton and Skiddle Brighton.
Theatre & Arts in Brighton
Theatre Royal Brighton, Brighton Dome, The Old Market and Brighton Fringe (May–June) host the city’s main theatre programme. The Royal Pavilion runs candlelight concerts throughout the year.
Wellness Events in Brighton
Brighton has one of the UK’s most active wellness scenes — outdoor saunas, sound baths, breathwork, sea swimming and city-wide festivals.
→ Wellness Events Brighton 2026
Food & Drink Events in Brighton
BRAVO Restaurant Awards (winners 31 March), Foodies Festival (2–4 May, Preston Park), Brighton Food & Drink Festival (September), plus regular supper clubs and chef events throughout the year.
→ Food & Drink in Brighton 2026
Sport in Brighton
Brighton & Hove Albion home matches at the Amex Stadium throughout the season. Brighton Marathon (12 April). Brighton Half Marathon (1 March). Brighton Pier to Pier Swim (summer). For Albion fixtures see brightonandhovealbion.com.
LGBTQ+ Events in Brighton
Brighton Pride (1–3 August) is the headline event, but Brighton’s LGBTQ+ scene runs 365 days a year across venues including Revenge, Charles Street, The Marlborough and many more.
→ Brighton Pride 2026 — Diana Ross, RAYE, RuPaul & Jessie J
FAQ — Events in Brighton 2026
What are the biggest events in Brighton in 2026?
Brighton Festival (1–25 May, 60th edition), Brighton Fringe (May–June), The Great Escape (13–16 May), On The Beach with Fatboy Slim (17–19 July), Brighton Pride (1–3 August) and Brighton Wellness Festival (September/October).
Are there free events in Brighton in 2026?
Yes. Brighton Festival 2026 includes 25 free events and two Weekends Without Walls (16–17 May and 23–24 May). Oska Bright Film Festival (28 March–2 April) is free. The Story Trail (September–November) is free. Brighton beach is always free.
What is the Theatre Royal Brighton showing in 2026?
Spring highlights include Barnum The Circus Musical (3–8 March) and The Talented Mr Ripley (April). The full 2026 programme is at atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-brighton.
What wellness events are happening in Brighton in 2026?
EXHALE Mental Wellbeing Festival (20–21 March), Fuego’s Rise breathwork at the i360 (21 March), The Big Swim (March), Stanmer Sauna Garden and Brighton Wellness Festival (September/October).
→ Full guide: Wellness Events Brighton 2026
What’s on in Brighton in March 2026?
Brighton Half Marathon (1 March), Barnum at Theatre Royal (3–8 March), CMAT at Brighton Centre (9 March), Brighton Girl Awards (19 March), EXHALE Festival (20–21 March), Fuego’s Rise at the i360 (21 March), Oska Bright Film Festival (28 March–2 April) and BRAVO Restaurant Awards winners (31 March).
Is Brighton worth visiting for a day trip?
Yes — Brighton is one of the best day trips from London. The train from London Victoria takes 55 minutes. A good day covers the Lanes, the seafront, the Royal Pavilion and lunch at one of the city’s excellent restaurants.
Events in Brighton calendar — updated regularly by Brighton Journal editors. Bookmark this page for the latest Brighton events as they are announced.
See also: →Things to Do in Brighton| Events Brighton | Arts & Culture Brighton | Food & Drink in Brighton |Wellness in Brighton| Places to Visit Near Brighton | The Best Hotels | Brighton Journal Stays | Contact|
