Our very special 60th edition of Brighton Festival wrapped up last weekend. Over 100 events took place all over the city, including the first ever Brighton Festival production, over 25 free events, performances and workshops and more than 140 performers from around the globe. Thank you for making this such a fabulous 60th edition! Read on to remind yourself of some of the highlights…
We opened this year with Kohlhaas, the first ever Brighton Festival production. Dynamic and thought-provoking, Kohlhaas was directed by Omar Elerian and starred Arinzé Kene, receiving critical acclaim. Read the reviews here.
Also during our opening weekend: Brighton’s city centre streets lit up with colour in the 40th edition of the annual Children’s Parade. Thousands of children and teachers took to the streets, displaying their creative parade floats and performing live music for this year’s theme, Read All About It!
Leading circus company NoFit State returned to Brighton Festival with the world premiere of their brand-new show carnation: a rollercoaster of large-scale immersive circus, featuring jaw dropping aerial feats, tightrope stunts and live music.
Ivan Morison and Heather Peak’s Soft Machines appeared on Hove Promenade throughout the Festival. This monumental public artwork, built from agricultural materials, explored the bodies that make a city, and the plurality of love, intimacy and desire between them.
Returning for the first time since she was Guest Director in 2016 (for our 50th edition!), Laurie Anderson performed new show The Republic of Love in Brighton Dome Concert Hall.
The inimitable Patti Smith returned to Brighton for a Festival exclusive two-day residency, performing with her long-term collaborators as the Patti Smith Quartet.
Our classical music programme stretched across centuries and genres, including performances from London Symphony Orchestra, Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra, Brighton & East Sussex Youth Orchestra, Chiaroscuro and Consone Quartet and Iestyn Davies & Oliver Wass.
Zamrock pioneers W.I.T.C.H. shared the stage with groundbreaking artist Sampa The Great in a joyful, powerful collaboration exclusively for Brighton Festival.
Legendary electronic band Asian Dub Foundation performed a live soundtrack for two screenings of La Haine, bringing the cult French thriller to life on stage.
Celebrated Brighton poetry night STATUS FLO took place in Brighton Dome Corn Exchange for the first time. Hosted by award-winning spoken word artist and STATUS FLO founder AFLO. the poet, they were joined by Joelle Taylor, Yomi Ṣode and Brighton-based performers Kae and Scarlett Fae.
Award-winning performance company Clod Ensemble and 12-piece band Nu Civilisation Orchestra staged The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, a unique, immersive performance of Charles Mingus’ 1963 masterpiece jazz album.
Award-winning international theatre company fix+foxy flipped the script on the Wild West in Dark Noon, transforming the Corn Exchange into an absurdist, surreal pioneer town.
This year, we celebrated ten years of Our Place, which works in partnership with community steering groups to select, programme and produce art projects, performances and events, taking place for free in their neighbourhoods. To mark the occasion, land artist LEO led the creation of art trail with locals from Hangleton, puppeteer Darren East led a live performance with Moulsecoomb residents, and we held Family Fun Days with free events, workshops and stalls.
Two Weekends Without Walls took place across the city. These free outdoor performances featured a range of dance, theatre, performance art and physical comedy, from acclaimed artists including Talawa Theatre Company, Daughters of the Wire and Radical Ritual.
On the final weekend of this year’s Festival, a Youth Curated Weekend took place in Brighton Dome Studio Theatre, in collaboration with Create Music and Lighthouse. These two days of events were shaped and designed by young people from across the city, featuring visual arts exhibitions, debate and live music.
Brighton Festival 2026 is indebted to the steadfast support of funders Brighton & Hove City Council and Arts Council England; Principal Supporter The Pebble Trust; Major Sponsor Mayo Wynne Baxter; Higher Education Partner University of Sussex; and all sponsors, patrons, members and supporters.
Kohlhaas was supported by Louise and Jamie Arnell. The Children’s Parade was supported by Brighton Girls and Jumpin Fun. Soft Machines was supported by the Henry Moore Foundation. Chiaroscuro and Consone Quartets were supported by Margaret Polmear. Comedy and Create Music events and the Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival membership scheme were supported by Mayo Wynne Baxter. Our Place was supported by Pembroke. Ridiculous Raps & Rhymes with Michael Rosen & MC Grammar was supported by Brighton College Prep School. London Symphony Orchestra was supported by Professor David Gann CBE FREng. Festival of Ideas was in collaboration with University of Sussex. Thikra: A Night of Remembering was supported by Dishoom Permit Room. Free events at Brighton Festival were supported by The Pebble Trust, Chalk Cliff Trust and our Big Give Arts for Impact supporters.
