Festivals in Brighton

From the big internationally renowned festivals to the less widely known but just as fun festivals, whatever time of year you visit, the chances are you’ll find festivals to enjoy

Brighton Festival celebrates the arts in all its guises and invites esteemed artists from around the world to come and perform. For the first three weeks of May you’ll find the city vibrating with theatre, music, dance, art, literature and debate, with outdoor and family events, too. Past guest directors have included Aung San Suu Kyi, Anish Kapoor, Vanessa Redgrave and Michael Rosen. The opening children’s parade is a spectacle not to be missed!

Brighton Fringe runs alongside Brighton Festival, embracing every art form and supporting artists both new and established. Want to see something that pushes the boundaries of artistic expression? Then come to Brighton & Hove in May! While you’re not attending events, you can explore the Artists’ Open House trails and buy all kinds of art, jewellery and ceramics direct from the artists themselves.

Brighton’s other best-known festival is Brighton Pride, which takes place in August and has been described by The Guardian as “the country’s most popular LGBT+ event”. Pride’s daytime parade turns the city into a riot of music, colour and eye-popping costumes, while past artists who have taken to the stage in Preston Park include Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue and the Pet Shop Boys. If you’re coming to Brighton for Pride, be sure to book accommodation as early as possible.

There are music festivals in Brighton and neighbouring parts of Sussex throughout the year, including: the Great Escape (new music); the Elderflower Fields Festival (for families with young children); Love Supreme (jazz, soul, hip-hop); Glyndebourne Festival (for opera lovers), and Boundary Festival (electronic) to name just a few.

Music aside, you can find festivals celebrating pretty much anything – photography, comedy, science, beer, food, even paddling round the pier, which sees water sports enthusiasts battle it out to race around Brighton Palace Pier and raise money for charity. Charleston Festival is a must for art and literature-lovers; the Brighton Kite Festival in Stanmer Park is great fun for all the family; and Burning the Clocks celebrates the Winter Solstice with an eye-catching parade of creative luminous lanterns that culminates in a bonfire and firework display.

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If you think Brighton is just a summer city then you are missing out! There's a cornucopia of culture and gastronomic delights to enjoy throughout the year as well as an eclectic events programme.
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