The Children's Parade
Same Sky
Theatre Maker Workshop
Wise Children
Songs of the Bulbul
Aakash Odedra Company in association with Manchester Camerata
Without Walls | Roots to Rise
Nandita Shankardass
Mehfil – e – Rose Hill: Into the Moonlight
The Mehfil Space and zer0classikal
Brighton Festival Film Unit
Brighton Festival Commission
How dark it is before dawn
Final installation at The Old Courtroom Last Day 10am-4pm, Mon 26 May
Beside the Sea
JJ Waller & Martin Parr
TRASHedy
Performing:group
Call Me Ishmaelle
Xiaolu Guo
HAPPY HYPE
Collectif OUINCH OUINCH x Mulah
London Symphony Orchestra
Unfortunately due to a printing problem, we are unable to provide Programmes for sale at tonight's concert. Here is a free digital version which can be downloaded.Susanna Mälkki, one of today’s most versatile conductors, expertly guides the London Symphony Orchestra through…
Earth Teeth
Written By Sarah Leaver - Created with ThirdSpace Theatre
Martin Parr in Conversation….
Internationally acclaimed Magnum photographer Martin Parr CBE makes a rare Brighton appearance to talk about his exceptional life in photography and his current project in the city, Beside the Sea with Brighton’s JJ Waller.This free flowing talk chaired by Alex Bamford…
What the Crow Saw Below
Robert Tregoning
Dome Connect
Dome Connect, Brighton Dome’s business network, which takes place in our reopened venues, showcasing the best of our artistic programme and giving you a chance to meet other like-minded professionals from across the city.
Brighton Festival joins the Big Give 2025 campaign to raise funding for free events programme
Today marks the launch of our Big Give fundraising campaign which will raise money towards free to attend events during this year’s Brighton Festival, 3-26 May. We are hoping to raise £10,000 in a week, which will offer thousands of people the opportunity to enjoy high…
5 Minutes with Artist Duo YARA + DAVINA
Artist duo YARA + DAVINA honour the living and the dead in this free public installation at Pavilion Gardens this May.
Brighton Festival is back!
We’re delighted to be back from Sat 1 May with arts outdoors, online and safety back on stage.
5 Minutes with Creative Director Stef O’Driscoll
Explore the stories of Brighton-based women in a city-wide audio storytelling trail throughout May
Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival Supports #FreelanceTaskForce
Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival is committed to supporting freelance theatre and performance creatives during these uncertain times. Along with more than 138 other arts organisations we signed this open letter and are offering a paid freelance contract for three…
Free things to do at Brighton Festival
Art can happen anywhere, and this May we have plenty of free events happening around Brighton & Hove. From dance and theatre, art exhibitions to workshops - we've got it all. Get out and explore!Without WallsSat 11 MayHead outdoors for a free afternoon of family-friendly…
Everything You Need to Know About 'FREE': Our Place's New Musical Inclusivity Project
If you haven't yet heard of Our Place, Brighton Festival's community outreach programme that became a community-run mini festival of its own, you're missing out on a load of fantastic and totally free events taking place over two weekends in Hangleton and Whitehawk.…
Free Day of Pop-up Performances Comes to Crawley This May
A Weekend Without Walls, an afternoon of free pop-up performances from some of the UK’s most innovative outdoor companies will take place in Queens Square, Crawley on Sat 9 May as part of this year’s Brighton Festival. From hip hop and circus to inspiring dance…
2011: Aung San Suu Kyi
Brighton Festival celebrated liberty and freedom with Guest Director Aung San Suu Kyi in 2011.
Visual art highlights: Celebrating community and connections
‘Gather Round’ for remarkable visual arts events that showcase the spirit of the Festival, from a free large-scale outdoor installation that relies on people working together, to a soundscape that brings the Sumatran rainforest to Brighton.
Gather Round: A Weekend Without Walls
A hit at last year’s Brighton Festival, A Weekend Without Walls returns for 2023 with a two-day selection of free, family-friendly outdoor spectaculars taking place across Brighton and Crawley.
Outdoor and Community Highlights: Brighton Festival 2024 celebrates community with fun, accessible and inclusive events across the city and beyond
With more free and pay-what-you-feel events than ever, this year’s Festival invites everyone to experience the hope, wonder and magic of the arts in a city-wide celebration of community from 4-26 May 2024. Explore our highlights...
Brighton Festival invites audiences to celebrate UK Pay-It-Forward Day
In celebration of UK Pay-It-Forward day on Sat 28 April 2018, Brighton Festival is inviting audiences to join the global philanthropic movement and enable more people to enjoy ticketed events at Brighton Festival. This is the second year that the scheme has run following…
10 Must-see Art exhibitions in Brighton This May
Discover a range of art events and exhibitions happening in Brighton and beyond throughout May. Washed Up Car-go | FreeSat 2-Sun 24 MayHove WarehouseArtist Chris Dobrowolski’s playfully thought-provoking Washed Up Car-go features iconic Brighton landscapes,…
Visual Art Highlights: Everyone is invited to play and have fun at interactive installations, special screenings and immersive exhibitions
This May, children and adults can get involved and celebrate the wonder and magic of the everyday with our vibrant visual art programme.
Brighton Festival returns with an opening weekend of parades, premieres and outdoor performances
Brighton Festival kicks off this weekend, 7 and 8 May, with an eclectic programme of world and UK premieres, pop-up community events and live performances across the city.2022 marks the return of the much-missed Children’s Parade on Saturday 7 May, following an enforced…
Your Place brings diverse line-up of music, dance, theatre and spoken word events to Hangleton and East Brighton communities
As part of a new partnership with Brighton People’s Theatre, Brighton Festival has been working with local residents and festival artists to programme an exciting and diverse line-up of free music, dance, theatre and spoken word in the Hangleton and East Brighton communities.Hosted…
Brighton Festival puts community at its heart in a successful return to full-scale for 2022
Brighton Festival 2022 saw a welcome return to scale for England’s largest curated multi-arts festival, with over 150 events, exhibitions and installations taking place across the city between 7 and 29 May. This year’s programme included 10 Brighton Festival Commissions,…
Brighton Festival 2020 Highlights
The acclaimed British and Ethiopian poet, playwright, broadcaster and speaker, Lemn Sissay MBE has launched Brighton Festival 2020 welcoming everyone to the Imagine Nation from 2 to 24 May 2020. Since it was first established in 1967, Brighton Festival has given artists…
What's on in Hangleton and Knoll
What's On In Hangleton
Brighton Festival 2015 soars to a close
Brighton Festival 2015 - with award-wining author Ali Smith at the helm as Guest Director - came to a soaring conclusion this weekend.Over the three-week Festival - the biggest and most established in England - many of Ali Smith’s ideas, interests and passions were explored…
Brighton Festival launches programme with David Shrigley as Guest Director
The full programme for Brighton Festival 2018, the largest annual, curated multi-arts festival in England, was unveiled today with the Turner Prize-nominated visual artist and Brighton resident David Shrigley (b.1968) as Guest Director.Best known for his darkly humorous…
Architects bring Arabic colonnade to Hove seafront as part of Brighton Festival 2022
Syrian architects Marwa Al-Sabouni and Ghassan Jansiz will bring a unique architectural element to this year’s Brighton Festival by building a temporary community arts venue on Hove seafront in the form of a traditional Arabic arcade.The Riwaq - the Arabic word for colonnade…
2021 Nobel Prize for Literature winner leads global books and debate programme at Brighton Festival
Brighton Festival continues its reputation as an enviable platform for engaging discussion and lively debate with 35 books and debate events for all ages from 7-29 May.Highlights include one of this year’s Festival Guest Co-Directors, Syrian architect and author Marwa Al-Sabouni,…
Kae Tempest debuts new album at secret Your Place gig
2017’s Guest Director Kae Tempest made a surprise return to the city on Sat 19 May for a secret gig as part of our Your Place initiative, performing an exclusive rendition of their unreleased new album in full at Hangleton Community CentreBilled only as a ‘special guest’…
Most participatory Brighton Festival ever comes to a close
We look back at Brighton Festival 2018, highlighting some choice stories, facts & figures, alongside a few words from Guest Director David ShrigleyAs the first locally-based Guest Director, David Shrigley was the most active and present yet – involved in more events…
What's on in East Brighton
Our Place – Brighton Festival in Your Community
If You Live In Moulsecoomb and Bevendean...
Our Place – Brighton Festival in Your Community
Celebrated global artists lead contemporary music programme at Brighton Festival 2022
Acclaimed international performers, including Grammy-nominated jazz trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire; the celebrated Orchestra of Syrian Musicians; and incendiary Latin jazz big band New Regency Orchestra; top the bill at this year’s Brighton Festival, from 7-29 May. As audiences…
Brighton Festival returns with an opening weekend of parades, premieres and outdoor performances
Brighton Festival kicks off this weekend, 7 and 8 May, with an eclectic programme of world and UK premieres, pop-up community events and live performances across the city.2022 marks the return of the much-missed Children’s Parade on Saturday 7 May, following an enforced…
Brighton Festival unveils The Riwaq – a bespoke colonnade on Hove seafront
Syrian architects Marwa Al-Sabouni and Ghassan Jansiz bring a unique architectural element to this year’s Brighton Festival by building a temporary community arts space on Hove seafront in the form of a traditional Arabic arcade.
Brighton Festival 2024 starts this weekend with a vibrant, hopeful programme of events for adults and children alike
The three-week city-wide celebration begins this Saturday, 12 May.This year’s opening weekend is brimming with interactive installations, exhibitions, theatre, dance and music. Come on down!Priceless FunPhotography: Leap Then LookStop by the Royal Pavilion Gardens where…
Brighton Festival 2016 announces Children’s Parade theme
Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival is delighted to announce that the theme for the 2016 Children’s Parade - which will take place on Saturday 7 May - is ‘Brighton celebrates’.Jointly produced with award-winning community arts organisation Same Sky and supported…
Danny Wallace’s Hamish and the Worldstoppers chosen for Young City Reads
Collected Works CIC and Brighton Festival - which celebrates its 50th edition in 2016 - are delighted to reveal that Danny Wallace's Hamish and the Worldstoppers has been chosen as the 2016 'Big Read' for children across Brighton & Hove. The concept is simple:…
Guest Director Kae Tempest's Picks
With this year’s celebration of the everyday epic fast approaching, we felt there was no one better to guide us through the month ahead than our pioneering Guest Director, Kae Tempest. Five Short Blasts Shoreham Who? Austalian artist duo Madeleine Flynn…
Brighton Festival 2017 goes down a storm
The 51st Brighton Festival - with acclaimed recording artist, poet, playwright and novelist Kate Tempest as Guest Director - came to a storming conclusion last weekend. The three-week celebration of the arts saw events take place in more venues across the city than…
Your Place returns for Brighton Festival 2018
Brighton Festival’s Your Place - two weekends of free entertainment in Hangleton and East Brighton, delivered in partnership with Brighton People’s Theatre - is set to return for 2018 following last year’s inaugural programme.Hosted by local community centres, and programmed…
Title revealed for Young City Reads 2018
Greg James and Chris Smith's Kid Normal chosen for city-wide 'big read' as part of Brighton Festival Collected Works CIC and Brighton Festival are delighted to reveal that Greg James and Chris Smith's Kid Normal has been chosen as the 2018 'big read' for children across…
Five of the Best…Feminist Festival events
To coincide with International Women’s Day - a global celebration of the economic, cultural, social and political achievements of women that takes place on 8 March each year - we shine a light on just a few of the many amazing female fronted events at this year’s Festival.…
Interview: Pippa Smith and Sarah Parsons
Pippa Smith is the Festival children’s events producer and in 1987 she co-founded Same Sky, a community arts organisation that still works alongside Brighton Festival to produce the Children’s Parade 30 years later. We sat down with Pippa and Sarah Parsons, Same…
Behind the Scenes: Emma Critchley, visual artist
We caught up with artist Emma Critchley to discuss Witness, a compelling three-screen film installation and meditation on disappearing glaciers, which has its UK premiere at this year’s Brighton Festival.
Audience Club at Brighton Festival 2025
It was our pleasure to welcome Audience Club members to this year’s Festival. Audience Club is a scheme that provides free tickets to Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival events to people in the Our Place communities of Hangleton & Knoll, East Brighton and Moulsecoomb…
Enjoy the Springtime with our Outdoor Events
Spring is on its way to welcome the 2019 Brighton Festival, and there is no better way to enjoy the sunshine than by checking out our range of dynamic outdoor events!This year, we have a huge variety of activities, performances, and exhibits hitting the streets of Brighton.…
Our Sponsors' Top Picks for Brighton Festival 2018
We asked a few of our sponsors what they were most excited about for Brighton Festival 2018. Here are their top picks.Abi Radford from Best of Brighton Holiday LettingsHow many events do you attend in Brighton Festival and how do you choose what you see?Not as many as I…
Your Place 2018 explores Random Acts of Neighbourliness with Hangleton & East Brighton residents
People are united by postcodes, but a new initiative as part of Brighton Festival’s Your Place - two weekends of free arts and cultural activities in Hangleton and East Brighton delivered in partnership with Brighton People’s Theatre - has been asking local residents…
From Your Place to Our Place
Back in 2017, Brighton Festival Guest Director Kate Tempest was inspired to initiate Your Place, a project with the aim of taking the Festival out to the communities of Brighton & Hove who might not be able to participate in cultural and artistic events. For Brighton…
Our Place Creative Makers
Our Place Creative Makers is a project that invites the communities of East Brighton and Hangleton and Knoll to explore and celebrate what the idea of Our Place means to them. This is an invitation to participate in the creation of a large-scale, craft-based installation…
Phillip Morgan shares fond memories of Brighton Festival
Phillip Morgan, a long-standing employee of Brighton Festival looks back at his fondest memories...When I was asked to write and deliver a talk on the history of Brighton Festival I agreed promptly. Being a freelance writer I’m always looking for the next job but I didn’t…
What's On: Must-see Events This Weekend at Brighton Festival
We’ve got a jam-packed weekend coming up for you! From free theatre and circus events, classical music to family-friendly events – we’ve got it all. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s happening…Without WallsSat 11 MayIf you’re looking for a full day of free, family-friendly…
Five Minutes with Nick Evans: Managing Partner of Griffith Smith Solicitors
We met with Nick Evans, managing partner of Griffith Smith Solicitors, one of Brighton Festival's longtime sponsors, to discuss what he finds special about the Festival. Nick and his team are keen to support local artists, as he explains below.Firstly, describe the festival…
What's On In Worthing
Make the most of the Festival's final week by widening your horizons and getting over to Worthing, where for the first time ever, a range of fun, family-friendly events are springing up across Brighton's neighbouring town. To help you pick and choose what to do and see,…
First Show Announced for Brighton Festival 2020
Brighton Festival, the biggest annual multi-arts festival in England returns next year from 2 to 24 May 2020 with a world première by Hofesh Shechter Company.Double Murder is a thrilling new two-part contemporary dance for our times, led by the multitalented choreographer…
Thrilling seaside mystery Malamander is chosen for Young City Reads 2020
A reading project for primary school children has revealed Malamander has been chosen as the Young City Reads title for 2020. Brighton Festival and Collected Works CIC selects one book for children across Brighton & Hove, Sussex and beyond to read,…
Brighton Festival 2020 Children’s Parade will Celebrate Nature’s Marvels for the Year of Biodiversity
Brighton city centre will be filled with a sea of colour and creativity next May as thousands of children, parents and teachers celebrate the natural world at the annual Brighton Festival Children’s Parade.Next year’s theme, Nature’s Marvels, will celebrate the wonders…
Brighton Festival Thanks Everyone At Home
1500 ticket buyers have donated back their ticket purchases to Brighton Festival after it was cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis. As a thank you for the public’s on-going support and generosity, Brighton Festival is offering a selection of free online events, featuring…
Premieres and new commissions take centre stage in Brighton Festival’s theatre, dance and circus programme
World premieres from acclaimed theatre innovators dreamthinkspeak and choreographer Charlotte Spencer, join UK premieres from contemporary circus company Circa and a new Brighton Festival Commission from the legendary Hofesh Shechter Dance Company at this year’s Brighton…
Reinventing circus for new generations and audiences at this year’s Brighton Festival
This year’s Brighton Festival hosts ground-breaking contemporary circus performances which push the boundaries of the art form to include new audiences and inspire future generations to take up circus skills.
Books & Debate Highlights: Beloved children’s writers, spoken word artists and acclaimed novelists assemble in this year’s expanded programme
Award-winning author and Brighton Festival 2024 Guest Director, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, brings Julia Donaldson, Michael Morpurgo, former Guest Director Kae Tempest and more together this May.Storytelling SensationsIllustration: Steven LentonOn 11 May in the Concert Hall,…
The making of... Brighton Festival 2015 trailer
By Leonora Lonsdale of Hoi PoilloiOne day I received a call from Pete Shuttleworth, a Producer who I had long wanted to work with, saying he had a job for me. It was for the Brighton Festival and the brief was to try and create a visual piece to accompany Ali Smith’s…
Young City Reads 2015 title revealed
William Sutcliffe’s Circus Of Thieves and the Raffle of Doom chosen for annual children's reading project.Collected Works CIC and Brighton Festival are delighted to reveal that William Sutcliffe's Circus of Thieves and the Raffle of Doom has been chosen as the 2015 Young…
Brighton Festival announces award-winning author Ali Smith as Guest Director for 2015
Brighton Festival - the largest and most established annual multi-arts festival in England - is delighted to announce that the 2015 Guest Director is award-winning Scottish author Ali Smith.The announcement comes hot on the heels of Smith’s winning of the Goldsmiths Prize…
Brighton Festival 2015 announces full programme of events
Clear your diaries in May as England’s largest mixed arts festival returns with award-winning author Ali Smith as its Guest DirectorBrighton Festival – under the watchful eye of award-winning author Ali Smith as this year’s Guest Director – has announced its full programme…
New sponsors announced as Brighton Festival 2015 launches full programme of events
A plethora of new sponsors have pledged to support Brighton Festival as award-winning Scottish author Ali Smith takes the role of Guest Director in its 49th year. Southern Water, Gatwick Airport ,The Montefiore Hospital, Riverford Organic Farms and solicitors Griffith Smith…
Brighton Festival performance takes visitors into maze of tunnels under Old Ship Hotel
Ticket holders for Brighton Festival event Vast White Stillness will get a sneak peak into a unique Brighton space as the performance takes them deep underground into the maze of tunnels beneath the Old Ship Hotel.Reality, imagination and memory blur in the intriguing new…
Agnès Varda is first woman to receive honorary Palme D’Or at Cannes
Agnès Varda – who made a very special personal appearance at Brighton Festival 2015 – is to receive an honorary Palme D’Or at Cannes this year in recognition of her career.The legendary French filmmaker and artist, whose incredible body of work is celebrated at Brighton…
The Tallest Tortillas, to the World’s Largest Timewarp - we investigate Brighton's world record attempts
The Measure of All Things, coming to Brighton Festival on Sat 23 and Sun 24 May, is an innovative ‘live documentary’, created by Academy Award-nominated film-maker Sam Green. The multi-disciplinary performance incorporates film, a live soundtrack from yMusic, and live narration…
Brighton Festival Live: Masha Gessen
The Harriet Martineau LectureIntroduced by Ali SmithPresented with New Writing SouthCelebrated Russian-American journalist, author and activist Masha Gessen is world-renowned for her outspoken opposition to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, and as Russia’s leading LGBT…
Guest Blog: Montefiore Meets Biscuitland
What to make of a show that asks you to view a neurological disorder/disability, as a 'superpower'? Well Jess Thom wants you to know that Tourette's is what makes her special and she's changing the world 'one tic at a time' and has turned her tics into some riotous entertainment.The…
Brighton Festival 2015 launches with award-winning author Ali Smith as Guest Director
Brighton Festival - the largest and most established annual multi-arts festival in England - has launched today with award-winning Scottish author Ali Smith as Guest Director. Recently named winner of both the Costa Novel award and Goldsmiths Prize for boldly original fiction,…
Volunteer with England's biggest mixed arts Festival
Embrace Brighton’s epic Festival season, be at the heart of the action in this milestone 50th year and gain invaluable work experience within a busy arts organisation. Any time you can offer would be much appreciated – we'd love to have you on board to help make our 50th…
Laurie Anderson on...
… Brighton Festival 2016’s theme of ‘home and place’:‘I’m really happy to be part of Brighton Festival this year. I love the theme, maybe because I’m a working musician and often on the road, the idea of home is pretty appealing. It’s also a great idea for a festival, trying…
Brighton Festival celebrates the city's memories with new oral history app
'Jimi Hendrix signed my tambourine and I had to run for my life...'A free interactive oral history app unfolding the ordinary personal stories of young love, loss and rebellion in the 1940s, 50s and 60s is launching during May as part of Brighton Festival 2016.The Giddy…
Festival Hot Seat... Clairière Urbaine
We caught up with Retouramont to find out more about their UK premiere Clairière UrbaineWhy should someone come and see your show?The show - and more broadly the artistic work of the company Retouramont - offers new perspectives on the city. It doesn’t consider…
Interview: Stewart Hurwood on Lou Reed Drones
'I like to think of it as a sonic massage…'How did you meet Lou Reed and how long did you work with him?I worked with Lou Reed for the last ten years of his life. I became his right-hand man handling many more things than just his guitars, equipment and managing the stages…
Five minutes with... Alexei Sayle
Alexei Sayle joins us this Brighton Festival to discuss his new memoir, Thatcher Stole My Trousers. We pinned him down for a quick, but seriously funny five minutes of questions...I knew I wanted to be a comedian when…I never wanted to be a comedian that’s why I seem…
Festival Fifty: Five Biggest Hits
From pyrotechnics to pendulums, some events at Brighton Festivals past have attracted audiences tens of thousands strong. Here are a few of the biggest hits from recent times – how many of them did you see?Joueurs de Lumnieres, Groupe F, 2006Some 70,000 people descended…
Record-breaking 50th Brighton Festival comes to a dazzling conclusion
The three week celebration of the arts was the most successful in its history with more people engaging with the festival, both as audiences and participants, and more tickets sold than ever before.Drawing inspiration from Brighton Festival’s origins as a celebration of…
Festival Hot Seat...The Hum
Breathing new life into the mundane,The Hum takes over Brighton this year to remind us of the beauty in the everyday. We caught up with director, Nic Sandiland, to find out more.Can you tell us what your show is about?Yes, it’s about looking at the detail of our everyday…
New app The Hum invites festival-goers to view Brighton in a new light
The Hum, a free app which highlights the beauty in the everyday, is now available to download.A Brighton Festival co-commission conceived and directed by Nic Sandiland, The Hum is a reflection and meditation on our own everyday interactions with the city. Half cinema, half…
The deadline for entries to Lulu.com Short Story Competition has been extended
The short story writing competition launched by Lulu.com, sponsor of Brighton Festival commission the Storytelling Army, is now open to entries until Wednesday 24 May.The publisher invites all Sussex residents over the age of 18 to respond to Brighton Festival Guest Director…
Eddie Otchere's Brighton Festival photo picks
Acclaimed photographer Eddie Otchere immersed himself in the city during this year’s Brighton Festival, soaking up the atmosphere, camera always in hand. Eddie facilitated workshops at Your Place in Hangleton and East Brighton and set up The Bright Room –…
VIDEO: 'The arts should be in our communities’
Brighton Festival 2017 reached more new audiences and more parts of the city than ever before. We shone a light on some of this year’s flagship community events and projects Reflecting Guest Director Kae Tempest's belief that: ‘The arts should be in our communities,…
First shows announced for Brighton Festival 2018
Hofesh Shechter: Grand FinaleBrighton Festival co-commissionThis latest work from internationally-celebrated choreographer (and Brighton Festival 2014 Guest Director) Hofesh Shechter is a spectacularly bold and ambitious new piece featuring ten dancers. Designed by Tom…
Spotlight: Your Place
Your Place returns for a second year with another exciting programme of free theatre, dance, music, art, outdoor games and workshops. For the past year, the community steering committees of East Brighton & Hangleton have been working together to conjure up a weekend…
Spotlight: Your Place
Your Place returns to the Brighton Festival with another exciting programme of free theatre, art, dance, music, outdoor games and workshops. For the past year, the community steering committees of East Brighton & Hangleton have been working together to create a vibrant…
Become a Brighton Festival Volunteer!
Join us at our volunteer drop-in evening on Thu 8 Mar, 5pm - 7pm Be part of the action and volunteer with Brighton Festival 2018.If you are passionate about the arts, Brighton Festival 2018 would love to hear from you! Members of staff from various Brighton Festival…
Festival Hot Seat: A House Repeated
A House Repeated is an interactive performance-game that combines the simplicity of bare-bones storytelling with the limitless possibilities of contemporary open-world computer games. We caught up with creator and performer Seth Kriebel to find out more.Firstly,…
Behind the scenes at this year’s Children’s Parade
We’re giving you a glimpse behind the scenes of Brighton Festival’s marvellous and entirely free Children’s Parade. Thousands of teachers, parents and students are working tirelessly to create the incredible sculptures and costumes that will take to the streets of Brighton…
5 Minutes with BTN BikeShare
BTN BikeShare is kindly supporting Rider Spoke by Blast Theory as part of Brighton Festival this May. We speak to Matthew Thompson, BTN BikeShare Manager at Brighton & Hove City Council about the theme of care and their involvement with Brighton Festival.As the theme…
Architects bring traditional Arabic colonnade to the seafront as part of Brighton Festival 2022
Syrian architects Marwa Al-Sabouni and Ghassan Jansiz will bring a unique architectural element to this year’s Brighton Festival by building a temporary community arts venue on Hove seafront in the form of a traditional Arabic arcade.“The Riwaq will be buzzing, filled with…
Behind the Scenes: Andy Field, author
The Book of Brighton & Hove is an invitation to see the city through the eyes of some of its youngest inhabitants. Ahead of its book launch at The Riwaq, we had a chat with The Book of Brighton & Hove co-creator Andy Field.‘We hope that by seeing the world through…
The 50th Brighton Festival launches with Laurie Anderson as Guest Director
The full programme for the 50th Brighton Festival (7-29 May 2016) - the largest and most established curated annual multi-arts festival in England - was unveiled today with experimental artist and musician Laurie Anderson as Guest Director.Renowned for her inventive use…
Explore the Venues
Find out the best way to get to each of our many venues and info on access and venue details
Get involved: Wonderful ways to be part of Brighton Festival
There are plenty of wonderful ways to get involved with Brighton Festival and we’d love you to be part of it. We’ve tonnes of volunteer and artist opportunities - we’ve got options for writers and readers, performers and greeters and treasure seekers and culture needers,…
5 minutes with... GoGo Penguin’s Chris Illingworth
Returning to Brighton Festival this year, GoGo Penguin’s groove-heavy, lyrical acoustic-electronica sound and exhilarating live shows have made them the band to see on the UK’s contemporary jazz circuit. We caught up with GoGo Penguin’s Chris Illingworth to find…
Eclectic beats and kaleidoscopic visuals: Get ready for a journey through sound and space with Squarepusher
Legendary electronic producer Squarepusher joins us at Brighton Festival with new album, Damogen Furies. With a career spanning 20 years, and 14 albums under his belt, he remains at the forefront of the electronic scene - constantly pushing the boundaries with his unique…
Brighton Festival 2016 Listing Highlights
Contemporary musicLaurie Anderson: Music for DogsUK PremiereTue 10 May, 7.30pm‘Wouldn’t it be great if you’re playing a concert and you look out and everyone’s a dog?’ Laurie Anderson mused while waiting backstage with cellist Yo-Yo Ma. True to form, Anderson made her outlandish…
Programmer Picks: Brighton Festival Books & Debates events
Alice O’Keefe, freelance journalist and Brighton Festival Books & Debate programmer, picks a few, of the many, literary events she’s most looking forward to. Brett Anderson: Coal Black MorningsYes, this is Brett Anderson as in Suede, and it turns out…
Festival Hot Seat: Snigel and Friends
Join Snigel (leading UK disabled dancer Caroline Bowditch) the inquisitive snail in their cozy home underneath the leaf canopy; a colourful and sensory world, designed by Laura Hook, where Snigel's insect friends come to visit. We talked to co-creators Caroline Bowditch…
Programmer Picks: Brighton Festival Family events to enjoy this May
Looking for events to take the kids to this Brighton Festival? Pippa Smith, Children's and Family Programmer shares a couple of her top performance picks for families. PenguinsOnce upon a time, not so very long ago, two penguins in New York Zoo adopted an egg and hatched…
Programmer Picks: Brighton Festival Spoken Word performances to enjoy this May
Assistant Producer, Rob Jones, highlights his top picks of poetry and performance at this year's Brighton Festival. Poets & Illustrators, with With Hollie McNish, Bridget Minamore, Toby Campion & Theresa Lola. Illustrations by Jess Wilson & Cressida…
Spotlight on Contemporary Music at Brighton Festival: Part One
From Jungle to John Surman, we've got some epic gigs to go to this May. We shine a light on just a few of the many amazing contemporary music events at this year’s Festival. Jungle Jungle were one of 2014's most explosive newcomers, with their joyous funk pop seducing…
Festival regular and former Guest Director Hofesh Schecter brings bold new work to Brighton Festival 2018
We caught up with internationally celebrated choreographer Hofesh Shechter to discuss his latest work, Grand Finale, a bold new piece featuring 10 dancers and six musicians. As concisely as possible, can you describe Grand Finale?Grand Finale is a work for ten…
Spotlight on Contemporary Music at Brighton Festival: Part Two
From jazz to alt-rock to folk, we've got some epic gigs coming up this May. We shine a light on just a few of the many amazing contemporary music events at this year’s Festival.Deerhoof + s t a r g a z eDeerhoof, an american experimental rock group, was formed in San Francisco…
From the British Airways i360 to Brighton Museum - young musicians to pitch up in locations all over city for Brighton Festival
Brighton & Hove Music & Arts and Brighton Festival presents its annual feast of music from the next generation on Saturday 5 May. This showcase for young musicians will include music for all tastes, featuring the Brighton & Hove Big Band; unplugged pop and folk-inspired…
Brighton Festival Children's Parade 2018
Picasso’s Dove of Peace and Munch’s The Scream among the creations at the Children’s Parade 2018Celebrating art from the likes of Picasso, Salvador Dali and many more, 20,000 people packed the streets on Sat 5 May as the 52nd Brighton Festival launched with the Children’s…
Morag Myerscough’s colourful touring bandstand comes to Brighton beachfront
Contemporary designer Morag Myerscough’s first ever mobile installation, Belonging - a bright, bold, touring bandstand - launches this weekend on the beach level next to the i360. Co-commissioned by Brighton Festival and Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft, Belonging celebrates…
A Weekend Without Walls
The annual free celebration of family friendly outdoors performance is back, promising a fun programme of acrobatics, aerial circus, dance, installations, music and theatre that is sure to thrill, inspire and entertain audiences of all ages. So gather your friends…
Brighton Festival 2019 Guest Director Revealed
Award-winning Malian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Rokia Traoré named as the eleventh Brighton Festival Guest DirectorRegarded as one of Africa’s most inventive musicians, Malian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Rokia Traoré is known for the variety…
Calling all artists to take part in Your Place at Brighton Festival 2019
Brighton Festival’s Your Place - two weekends of free entertainment in Hangleton and Knoll and East Brighton, in partnership with Brighton People’s Theatre and community steering groups – returns next May 2019. Artists and performers are invited to submit creative ideas…
Onjali Q. Raúf Introduces Young City Reads
On World Book Day Brighton Festival and Collected Works CIC invite schools to register for Young City Reads ‘big read’! To mark World Book Day (7 March) we’re inviting schools to register for the ‘big read’ with Onjali Q. Raúf’s The Boy at the Back of…
Interview with Luke Jerram: Museum of the Moon
Hanging in the Queens Park during Brighton Festival will be Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon. A model of the moon, seven metres in diameter, it features mind-boggling detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface, each centimetre of the internally-lit sphere representing 5km…
Five Minutes with AKA Trio
The AKA Trio is an international musical summit meeting of three world-renowned virtuosos: Antonio Forcione, Seckou Keita and Adriano Adewale. Coming from three different continents - Europe, Africa and South America - Antonio, Seckou and Adriano grew up in three different…
Five Minutes with Ultima Vez: TrapTown
TrapTown takes you to a parallel universe, free from defined time and space. Conflicts from the early days and curious strange catastrophes dominate the relationships between the people. The necessity and apparent possibility of emancipation rise to the surface. We…
The History of Brighton Festival from 1814–1967 by Phillip Morgan
Long-standing employee of Brighton Festival, Phillip Morgan presented a special talk on our history at our Taster Day earlier this month. Phillip shares ten interesting facts about the Festival...1. The first ever Brighton Festival was held in 1814, the festival took place…
Must-See Events at Brighton Festival’s Opening Weekend
At last, Brighton Festival is just around the corner! With a jam-packed opening weekend – here’s a quick rundown of what’s happening...Saturday 4 MayNé SoBy now you should be aware of our incredible festival guest director Rokia Traoré, but if you are not, here’s a brief…
Win a Luxury Weekend for Two to Celebrate Brighton Festival!
In association with our media partner The Arts Desk we are offering the chance to win an amazing Brighton Festival weekend.The prize package includes:• A two night stay at Birch in the Lanes, courtesy of Best of Brighton Holiday Lettings, a spacious,…
What's On: Must-see Events This Weekend at Brighton Festival
We’ve got an exciting weekend ahead! From free community events, classical music to theatre and dance – we’ve got it all. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s happening…FlightSat 4-Thu 23 MayFlight brings you up close and intimate to this heart-breaking story in a unique, deeply…
Come over to Our Place
Volunteers Tanya and Ricky helped to create Our Place, an event that saw the vibrancy and talents of their local community come to life. As members of the East Brighton Steering Committee they put together an awe-inspiring line up of theatre, dance, sport, music and…
University of Sussex students help create treasure hunt inspired by local history for Our Place at Brighton Festival
A treasure hunt will take place through the streets of Hangleton this weekend, after students and staff from the University of Sussex successfully collaborated with a local storyteller for Our Place a part of Brighton Festival. Final year undergraduates…
Round-up: Audience Reactions
Wow – what a month we have had! We’ve enjoyed every second of Brighton Festival 2019, and we hope you had a blast too. Here's a quick look back at what audiences had to say...Flight“Flight was deeply moving, breathtakingly beautiful and utterly necessary work of storytelling.…
Brighton Festival 2020 Guest Director is acclaimed poet Lemn Sissay MBE
Lemn Sissay is a passionate and powerful voice whose performances are humbling and exhilarating.– Kate Tempest, 2017 Brighton Festival Guest DirectorThe acclaimed British and Ethiopian poet, playwright, broadcaster and speaker, Lemn Sissay MBE has been announced…
Disused Hove Warehouse to Host Brighton Festival Events
A disused warehouse next to Hove train station will be the venue for several public events as part of Brighton Festival 2020. Property developers, Watkin Jones Group, have partnered with the Festival to provide the empty spaces which are due for demolition. Brighton Festival…
Pay it Forward Scheme
Pay It Forward (PIF) is a scheme that ensures everyone can enjoy Brighton Festival. Introduced in 2017 by Guest Director, Kate Tempest, the Pay It Forward scheme will be entering its third year of bringing the together at Brighton Festival. Guest Director of Brighton Festival…
Interview: Brighton Festival Photography with Summer Dean
Summer Dean is a freelance photographer/film maker and artist based in Brighton.We caught up with her to find out what she’s doing to keep creative during lockdown and take a look back at some of her favourite Festival images from the last few years.What is your role at…
Children’s Parade at Home Sat 2 May, 10.30am for 5 minutes
Help us keep the spirit of the Children’s Parade alive this year and have your own mini parades at home! All of us at Brighton Festival, and our artists at Same Sky were so sad to cancel this year’s Parade, that when received an email from Tobias at Balfour…
Socially Engaged Art Salon Exhibition Goes Digital
This May, Socially Engaged Art Salon’s (SEAS) latest exhibition, somewhere was due to take place throughout Brighton Festival. In response to the coronavirus crisis, the exhibition is now available online. Discover the exhibition here.In 2019, SEAS commissioned…
Interview with caravan showcase artist Andy Field
Andy Field is an artist, writer and curator and is one of the participating artists selected to take part in caravan, the biennial showcase of English performance as part of Brighton Festival. We spoke to him about how he’s adapted from creating a physical…
A Simple Act of Wonder launches with Fabrica Gallery
Brighton Festival’s 2020 co-commission with Fabrica has launched with an interactive online exhibition on the gallery’s website. A Simple Act of Wonder was originally due to open in April as part of Brighton Festival 2020 but due to the coronavirus pandemic…
Brighton Festival is coming: 1-23 May 2021
We are delighted to be working with Lemn Sissay on Brighton Festival 2021, continuing his role as guest director following last year’s cancellation due to the coronavirus pandemic.Soon after the cancellation of last year’s Festival, Lemn and the team began planning the…
2017: Kae Tempest
The Guest Director for Brighton Festival 2017 was the acclaimed recording artist, poet, playwright and novelist
2016: Laurie Anderson
The experimental artist and musician took the helm as Guest Director in 2016 as Brighton Festival celebrated its milestone 50th year
2015: Ali Smith
Described as an heir to Virgina Woolf, this award winning Scottish author was guest director for the 49th Festival
2014: Hofesh Shechter
Critically acclaimed choreographer, dancer, musician, composer and performer Hofesh Shechter helmed the 2014 Festival
2013: Michael Rosen
Celebrated poet, writer, broadcaster and former Children's Laureate Michael Rosen led the 47th Brighton Festival
Brighton Festival is #HereForCulture
Brighton Festival is able to bring events back to audiences thanks to support received today from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund.We are amongst 2,300 cultural organisations who have been allocated more than £300 million by Arts Council England to help…
5 Minutes with Composer Ed Hughes
Explore the South Downs This Spring on an Audio Walking Trail
5 Minutes With the Co-Director and Artists From the Exchange
The Exchange is an exciting new collaboration between internationally acclaimed artists and young people in Brighton & Hove.
JOIN THE PAY IT FORWARD MOVEMENT
We are delighted to be continuing our Pay It Forward scheme...Conceived by Kae Tempest in 2017, Pay It Forward is a scheme that helps to ensure everyone can have access to the wide range of events throughout Brighton Festival.By paying an extra £5 when you book your…
World Premiere of dreamthinkspeak's Unchain Me: Highlight of this year's Brighton Festival will now run until 12 June
The world premiere of Unchain Me, a major new site-specific Brighton Festival commission from the critically acclaimed dreamthinkspeak, directed by the company’s Artistic Director, Tristan Sharps, will now extend until 12 June 2022, after selling out due to phenomenal demand…
Celebrated global artists lead contemporary music programme at Brighton Festival 2022
Acclaimed international performers, including Grammy-nominated jazz trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire; the celebrated Orchestra of Syrian Musicians; and incendiary Latin jazz big band New Regency Orchestra; top the bill at this year’s Brighton Festival, from 7-29 May. As audiences…
Behind the Scenes: Francesca Baglione / Miss High Leg Kick, live artist
We had a chat with Francesca Baglione (Miss High Leg Kick) in a Behind the Scenes, to hear about her aromatic performance Eau de Memoire, coming to Hangleton Park as part of A Weekend Without Walls for the opening weekend of Brighton Festival.
Behind the Scenes: Vidya Thirunarayan, dancer and potter
We caught up with Vidya Thirunarayan, who is bringing her unique performance combining pottery and dance to St Ann's Wells Gardens for its world premiere at Brighton Festival, as part of A Weekend Without Walls."I want people to leave feeling energised by the inimitable…
Dance & Circus Highlights: Explore our eclectic programme, from contemporary dance to spectacular outdoor circus
If you’re a fan of dance and circus, this year’s Festival won’t disappoint. To discover more about our triple bill of hip-hop inspired dance, large-scale feminist reimagining of seaside variety and breathtaking physical theatre from Australia and Italy, read on…The circus…
Behind The Scenes: Neolithic Cannibals
Meet Simon James, the self-trained sound artist from Whitehawk, Brighton, who’s using sound art to give a voice to young people in his local community as part of his Brighton Festival 2024 exclusive, Neolithic Cannibals: Deep Listening to the Unheard.Simon James is a local…
Behind The Scenes: Ooze Machines
Meet Dr Libby Heaney, the award-winning quantum physicist and visual artist behind the eye-opening and playful exhibition at Brighton Festival 2024.Dr Libby Heaney is blurring (or ‘oozing’) the lines between art and science. Widely known as the first artist to use quantum…
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