Brighton Festival

Brighton Festival is one of the city's great cultural landmarks, bringing an ambitious programme of arts and performance to Brighton and Hove each May. Established in 1967, it has grown into a major annual celebration of creativity, attracting artists from across the world while championing talent from Brighton, Sussex and the wider region.

The programme spans theatre, music, dance, visual art, film, literature, debate and outdoor performance, with events taking place in established cultural venues and unexpected locations across the city. Its appeal lies in the breadth of its programme: a single festival might invite audiences to discover an adventurous new theatre production, encounter contemporary art, hear an internationally acclaimed musician or take part in a free community event.

The festival traditionally opens with the Brighton Festival Children's Parade, a joyful procession created by local schools, young people and artists. It is a reminder that this is not simply a festival staged in Brighton, but one deeply connected to the people who live here.

For visitors, Brighton Festival offers an opportunity to experience the city's creative spirit at its most ambitious. For residents, it is an annual invitation to see familiar places differently, discover new ideas and take part in the cultural life of their city.