Alongside Brighton Festival

The front of a pink house with a bay window, on the black railings in front of the house is a sign that reads Open House

Artists Open Houses

Sat 4–Mon 27 May, weekends

Throughout weekends of May, artists will open their doors to show work from around 1,000 artists exhibiting in over 200 venues across the city, out to Rottingdean, Newhaven, Ditchling, and beyond. Visiting local artists in their homes and studios is an unmissable part of the festival season, and with homemade tea and cake on offer too, the Artists Open Houses are a very special weekend treat.

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Three female dancers in fully blue outfits stand, slghtly leant forward with their arms raised. Behind them is a large stained glass window

Brighton Fringe

Fri 3 May–Sun 2 Jun

Discover a new story, escape the everyday and Find your Fringe at venues across the city and beyond this May. Whether you’re ready to try out a new talent, get in the groove, or simply get weird, there’s something for everyone at Brighton Fringe.

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The bottom half of a womans face, with a hand help up to the mouth to say 'shh'

Brighton Open Air Theatre: Homestead by Steven Dykes

Mon 20–Wed 22 & Sat 25 May

Set in the American South of the turbulent 1950s, Homestead is a thrilling reimagining of Lorca’s masterpiece of desire and betrayal. A fatal collision of frontier values and post-war dreams. Communal hymns and boys with cars. Church elders and Elvis Presley. Conor Baum (Shakespeare’s Globe) directs the UK regional premiere of this extraordinary reinvention of Lorca’s tragic story of oppression, desire and rebellion.

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A stone bust of a female person with flowers overlayed

Charleston Festival

Thu 16–Mon 27 May

Celebrating our 35th year, Charleston Festival returns for 10-days of talks, performances, workshops and family events in the beautiful grounds and gardens at Charleston in Firle. First speakers announced include Succession writers Jesse Armstrong and Lucy Prebble, alongside Grayson Perry, Nitin Sawhney, Jackie Kay, Val McDermid and Es Devlin. Tickets on sale from Thu 29 Feb.

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An illustration of a woman buying some meat from a butcher, whilst her child laughs as an elepgant wraps his trunk through the door of the butcher shop and steals a pie!

Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft: Bloomin’ Brilliant: The Life and Work of Raymond Briggs

Sat 27 Apr - Sun 27 Oct

A new exhibition featuring never-seen-before items and artworks from one of the UK´s most beloved author illustrators – Raymond Briggs (1934-2022). Bloomin’ Brilliant is a highly personal show that will bring together 30 items from the late author´s estate with over 100 original artworks from his 60-year career.

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A big crowd of people watching a music gig on Brighton seafront

The Great Escape

Wed 15–Sat 18 May

The Great Escape is THE festival for new music, showcasing 500 emerging artists from around the world in 30+ venues across the city and a pop-up festival site on Brighton Beach. It’s the first place to discover your new favourite artists before they go on to headline major festival stages.

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