Brighton will host its first-ever Italian Street Party on 2 May 2026, launching this year’s Brighton Italian Festival (BIF) with a full-day celebration in Jubilee Square from midday until late.
The free outdoor event will transform the city centre into a vibrant Italian piazza, packed with regional street food, live bands, guest talks and DJ sets running throughout the day and into the evening. Organisers promise a lively, multicultural and family-friendly atmosphere designed to bring together food lovers, music fans and the wider Brighton community.
The Street Party kicks off a month-long programme of events across the city. On 9 May, the festival presents award-winning theatre, a children’s clown show and a special launch night featuring a London-based artist, a Brighton singer performing in Italian and an American-Italian comedian.
Further highlights include a jazz evening with Italian vocalist Betty Accorsi (10 May), opera staged for the first time on Brighton Palace Pier (11 May), the high-energy “Spaghetti Disco” — where audiences eat spaghetti before dancing the night away (28 May) — and a grand finale on 31 May with 20 Sicilian folk singers accompanied by authentic Sicilian street food.
Additional events include a pottery workshop (3 May) and regional Italian dining evenings in partnership with local restaurants (7 and 14 May).
Founded by Brighton-based filmmaker William Ranieri, the Brighton Italian Festival celebrates Italian culture while supporting local venues, artists and independent businesses.
Full details: www.
Free entry for the Street Party.
