Inspired by the theme of ‘New Dawn’, Anoushka worked with our team to shape a programme that imagined a hopeful future, celebrating our collective ability to recover, take action and come together to change the world for the better.
Here are some of our highlights...
The perfect start to every Brighton Festival - the annual Children’s Parade! Produced in partnership with Same Sky and supported by Brighton Girls.
The Parade was led by Anoushka, Brighton & Hove Mayor Mohammed Asaduzzaman and our Chief Executive, Lucy Davies.
One of this year’s opening events was Sweety Kapoor and Anoushka Shankar’s epic lineup at Brown Girl in the Ring – including actors Meera Syal CBE and Indira Varma, poets Mona Arshi and Nikita Gill, musicians Ms. Mohammed, BISHI and Tara Lily, broadcaster Anita Rani and a special performance by Anoushka herself. Supported by Dishoom Permit Room.
Acclaimed choreographer Hofesh Shechter presented Brighton Festival Commission Theatre of Dreams, creating a dance world of fantasy and the subconscious.
Anoushka gave a stunning performance, alongside Britten Sinfonia and an ensemble of Indian classical musicians, of her father Ravi Shankar and American composer Philip Glass’ album Passages; the first time she has played the beloved album since 2017 (and only the second time in the UK!).
Teatro La Plaza’s boundary breaking 5-star rendition of Hamlet, starring a formidable cast of actors with Down syndrome, was loved by audiences and critics alike.
As seen in The Times, Doyel Joshi and Neil Ghose Balser’s (Howareyoufeeling.studio) travelling red-chair installation invited everyone to take a seat and watch the horizon, as part of their city-wide participatory project, How dark it is before dawn.
In an exclusive double bill, giant of Indian classical music Aruna Sairam and rising star Ganavya performed together at Theatre Royal Brighton.
A Brighton Festival Film Unit screening featured a performance from Create Music’s incredible inclusive creative music group Orchestra 360, about whom a brand-new film was shown.
Electronic composer Max Cooper transformed the Brighton Dome Concert Hall with his visionary immersive AV show, Lattice 3D/AV
Our Place communities worked with artists in residence on collaborative projects and shared the results at community fun days, including Amber Gibbins’ Seeds for Change project at Moulsecoomb Place.
Anoushka made a surprise appearance to perform with the acclaimed Seckou Keita & The Homeland Band!
Outdoor arts experts Without Walls returned to Brighton and Crawley for a series of free, pop up family events. (Pictured: Hydropunk by Artizani)
Australian company Circa tested the capabilities of the human body at their jaw-dropping circus show, Humans 2.0.
Aditya Prakash explored identity and tradition in his stunning multimedia performance, ROOM-i-Nation.
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performed Oscar-winning composer Rachel Portman’s new piece Tipping Points for the first time in the UK.
In Brighton Festival Commission Walk, Wander, Dream, participants were guided in a fusion of walking and yoga-inspired movement, with live music and pauses to look towards horizons and let thoughts wander.
On the closing weekend, award-winning percussionist Sarathy Korwar led a 30-piece band assembled by Create Music on a Percussion Parade along the seafront.
Howareyoufeeling.studio exhibited 6000 expressions of New Dawn at The Old Courtroom, created at workshops held in Brighton & Hove and Mumbai as part of their How dark it is before dawn project.
Anoushka Shankar unveiled the mesmerising finale of her recent trilogy of mini-albums, Chapter III: We Return to Light, guiding audiences through each movement toward the radiant, golden heat of morning, a time symbolic of strength, wisdom and transformation: a New Dawn.
Nerm and friends brought the Brighton Festival to a vibrant close with dynamic back-to-back DJ sets, dancing and special guests, at The Official Closing Party held in the beautiful surrounds of Brighton Dome Corn Exchange.
As the final notes fade and the last lights dim on another unforgettable Brighton Festival, we’re left with incredible memories of creativity, connection and joy. We’ll see you next year, 2-24 May 2026!
Brighton Festival is hugely appreciative of the generosity of a number of sponsors, supporters and donors. Read more about them here.
The Children’s Parade in partnership with Same Sky and supported by Brighton Girls
Brown Girl in the Ring supported by Dishoom Permit Room
Hamlet and Humans 2.0 supported by The Pebble Trust
Aruna Sairam & Ganavya, ROOM-i-Nation and Chapter III supported by The Bagri Foundation
Orchestra 360 and Percussion Parade supported by Mayo Wynne Baxter
Max Cooper and Seckou Keita & The Homeland Band supported by Graves Son & Pilcher
