What's On
ARRIVALS + DEPARTURES
A public artwork about birth, death and the journey in between, created by artist duo YARA + DAVINA
HERSTORY
A city-wide audio storytelling experience that uncovers the stories of women usually hidden from history
Vintage Poets
Vintage presents some of its new stars for the future: Romalyn Ante, Jay Bernard and Seán Hewitt.
Artists Working with Data
A panel discussion as part of the HALO talks & workshops programme
Window Gallery at Phoenix Art Space: Care
Our Phoenix studio artists have been invited to consider the theme of ‘care’ for a group exhibition. What does care mean within the context of a global…
Rider Spoke - Blast Theory
Cycle through the streets, searching for the perfect place to hide a secret. Ride on and the voices of strangers will draw you to new and unknown places
Michael Rosen’s Brighton Birthday
Writer and poet Michael Rosen celebrates his 75th birthday at Brighton Festival, sharing stories of his life and work with Hannah Azieb Pool
HOME: THE MUSEUM OF ORDINARY PEOPLE (MOOP) and MNEMOSCENE
Discover fascinating stories of ordinary people in this immersive exhibition
I See Red
Miss Represented’s short film gathers material drawn from discussions and work created over the last two terms with young women across secondary schools…
Our Place
A FREE Community Celebration of Creativity for Hangleton and Knoll, East Brighton and (for the first time) Moulsecoomb and Bevendean
Daily Profundis
Simon Butteriss reads De Profundis in its entirety in daily episodes
Up My Street
Step into augmented reality in this street art and performance trail, allowing digital dancers to climb and dance around the real streets and buildings…
Ray Lee: Points of Departure
Against the backdrop of night, take a walk through the atmospheric industrial landscape of Shoreham Port and be dazzled by otherworldly sound and light…
Birth Café
As part of ARRIVALS + DEPARTURES events, you're welcome to join us, eat cake and talk about birth.
Global Conversations: Myth and Discovery
To celebrate the 180th anniversary of The London Library, Monique Roffey (UK) and C Pam Zhang (USA) come together to discuss the common themes of myth…
Death Café
In these uncertain times, amidst a global pandemic and social isolation, we offer you the time and space to come together and talk about your thoughts…
House Mother Normal - Online
A digital installation inspired by BS Johnson's celebrated novel, directed by Tim Crouch.
Angela Saini on Science
In a career that demonstrates a profound love for science, Angela Saini, award-winning journalist, author and broadcaster, has latterly become known for…
Redefining Grief
Loss is not just about death. We grieve losses of all kinds: people we loved, people we couldn’t love, pets, relationships, lifestyles, our jobs, a home,…
Tell Me Something About Family
Lemn Sissay's new project, lighting up the world with stories, phrases and sayings about family
Global Conversations: Writing Work
Two pivotal writers of the future, Kiley Reid (USA) & Hiroko Oyamada (Japan), unpack the culture of work and what it tells us about being human
HALO Family Workshops with Leap Then Look
A workshop for children age 5+ as part of the HALO talks & workshops programme
Snow Foal and Otters’ Moon
Author Susanna Bailey discusses her children’s novels and how the natural world can care for us all
Looking for Clues
Meet the authors of the hottest whodunnits around, with Robin Stevens, Sharna Jackson and Elly Griffiths
Global Conversations: African Diaspora Movements
Courttia Newland (UK) & Dr Kelvin C. Black (USA) discuss African Diaspora Movements, from tap dance and patois to South African viral hit Jerusalema
Pier to Pier
What is it like to live on the edge? What keeps us balanced in turbulent times? What do we feel when we look to the horizon?
Hic Sunt Leones - Hunting for New Physics at the Large Hadron Collider
A talk about the science behind HALO, as part of the HALO talks & workshops programme
this body is so impermanent...
Made in isolation by a group of virtuosic and singular artists on three continents, who have come together to create an hour-long meditation on this transformation…
Semiconductor in conversation with Ariane Koek
A talk from artists Semiconductor, as part of the HALO talks & workshops programme
Global Conversations: A Heritage of Resistance
Befekadu Hailu (Ethiopia) & Eyob Derillo (UK) unpack their roots in resistance and imagine what Ethiopia's future might be
Jacqueline Wilson
The beloved children’s author joins us for an online event to talk about past work and her latest novel, The Runaway Girls
Yolk and Aliens
Set within a personal memory shop, we invite you to experience a truly unique journey from Jane Horrocks
Roberto Ruisi and Sten Heinoja
Performing music by Debussy and Beethoven’s mighty ‘Kreutzer’ Sonata
House Mother Normal - Site Specific
A digital installation inspired by BS Johnson's celebrated novel, directed by Tim Crouch.
Schwanengesang
Baritone Roderick Williams is joined by rising stars Ella Taylor and Themba Mvula to explore Schubert’s Schwanengesang
The Forked Forest Path
Enter into Olafur Eliasson's immersive installation at Fabrica, and explore the twisting pathways of a fairytale forest
Paul Lewis
One of the world's great pianists Paul Lewis in recital, performing works by Mozart, Mussorgsky and Scriabin
HALO
A multisensory experience of matter formation in the early universe, by Brighton based artists Semiconductor
Adrian Brendel and Joanna MacGregor
Two exceptional soloists perform sonatas by Britten, Bridge and Franck
Chineke! Chamber Ensemble
The Chineke! Chamber Ensemble perform Schubert’s beloved ‘Trout’ quintet alongside two folksong arrangements by the remarkable American composer Florence…
The Informals II: Performance
An improvised documentary experience: an exhibition and performance by artists Polina Medvedeva and Andreas Kuhne, in collaboration with emerging talent…
Benson Wilson and Lucy Colquhoun
The baritone, winner of the 2019 Kathleen Ferrier Award, performs works by Schubert, Mahler, Britten and Ravel
The Exchange
A new collaboration between internationally acclaimed artists and young people in Brighton & Hove
One Two Three Four: The Beatles in Time
Celebrated journalist Craig Brown reads from his unique Beatles biography in conversation with Dymphna Flynn
The War of the Worlds
Inspired by Wells’ novel and the famous radio play, this legendary science fiction thriller is playfully reimagined for our era of Fake News and ‘alternative…
Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita
Welsh harpist Catrin Finch and Senegalese kora player Seckou Keita return to Brighton Festival with a special live and livestreamed event
Global Conversations: A Poet's Music
Award-winning poets Nathalie Handal and Kayo Chingonyi share music and poetry
Live is Alive!
A laid-back evening of subtle moves and tight grooves from jazz, soul, reggae, ska and beat poetry.
Under the Wild Wood Tree
A twilight, nature-themed woodland walk in which Same Sky's light sculptures and live choral music from Brighton Festival Chorus transform Stanmer Woods
The Informals II: Exhibition
The Informals II is an improvised documentary experience: an exhibition and performance by artists Polina Medvedeva and Andreas Kuhne, in collaboration…
HALO 11–16yr old Workshops with Leap Then Look
A workshop for ages 11–16 as part of the HALO talks & workshops programme
Tenebrae: Lessons Learnt in Darkness
From first light to gathering dusk, a ravishing installation takes over the Theatre Royal, acknowledging a year of collective grief and courage in which…
Yolk and Aliens - A Conversation with Jane Horrocks & collaborators
Following the showing of these new films join the discussion with the creatives as they explore memory.
Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow
Author Benjamin Dean discusses Waterstones' Children’s Book of the Month
BAIT with Live Score by Gwenno and Georgia Ellery
Mark Jenkin’s BAFTA-winning indie hit is accompanied by a new score performed live by composer Gwenno Saunders and cast-member Georgia Ellery.
Spectres
Authors Salena Godden, Maaza Mengiste & Evie Wyld discuss their books, and how background characters can shape narratives in unpredictable ways
AMPLIFIED!
A group of diverse local young people share their own unique and deeply personal stories in an expression of creativity and confidence
Monteverdi Vespers
An intimate and audacious new take on Monteverdi’s Vespers performed by this dynamic ensemble
A Quick Ting On Afro (1 + beats)
Christian Adofo and Zainab Kwaw-Swanzy talk about The Black Girl Afro and Afrobeats
Ways of Being True
Three storytellers discuss what constitutes historical truth and the tools they use to illuminate the blind spots of dominant narratives
Abigail Conway: The Candle Project
An ode to resilience, a celebration of shadow and light, an ancient ritual for our times
Consone Quartet
Performing works by Mozart and Schumann, the Consone Quartet specialise in authentic performance on period instruments
Dear Nature by John Newling
New music for solo cello by Sally Beamish and Lisa Heute links letters from John Newling appealing for a closer relationship with Nature
Isata Kanneh-Mason
Isata Kanneh-Mason's Festival debut performing a showcase spanning three centuries, including works of Mozart, Chopin and Gershwin
Josie Long
Three time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Josie Long is back with her most critically-acclaimed show to date
Robot Selfie
Brighton Festival invites you to be drawn by Kaleider’s wall drawing robot…
Glyndebourne’s Jerwood Young Artists
Members of Glyndebourne’s Jerwood Young Artists' scheme perform operatic excerpts from every corner of the repertory
Sofie Hagen- The Bumswing
Sofie Hagen lands at Brighton festival with a show about memories
Travelling Traditions
Reading and conversation featuring authors whose work is flavoured with the waters of a distant heritage
Strings of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The string players of the RPO perform works for string orchestra by Mendelssohn, Ireland, Tchaikovsky and the contemporary American composer Jessie Montgomery.…
Without Walls @ Our Place
Discover exhilarating FREE and NEW pop-up performances from some of the UK’s most innovative outdoor companies
Mark Watson: How You Can Almost Win
In 2017, Mark Watson was asked to go on Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls. It wasn't really for him.
Eliza & Martin Carthy: East
A specially crafted evening of musical and poetic works inspired by mesmerising myths, legends, poems, ballads and dance from England’s Eastern seaboard
Le Gateau Chocolat - LIMINAL
The opera occasional black bearded diva comes to the BRIGHTON DOME after a year in absentia with this one-night-only treat - Liminal
Guess How Much I Love You!
Join professional storyteller Liz Fost for a very special event celebrating the 25th anniversary of the beloved tale
Sophy Henn - Pizazz
The writer and children’s book illustrator discusses her new series following the adventures of Pizazz
The Nothing to See Here Hotel
With award winning duo, bestselling author Steven Butler and illustrator Steven Lenton