Brighton Festival 2026 has announced its full programme, marking the 60th edition of England’s largest curated multi-arts festival, which returns from 1 to 25 May 2026. The first festival under new Chief Executive Lucy Davies will present more than 100 events featuring over 140 artists across theatre, dance, music, literature, visual art and debate.
This milestone year introduces a new programming era, led by Lucy Davies and Producing Director Beth Burgess, as the Festival shifts away from its former Guest Director model. The change enables the Festival to produce original work in-house for the first time in its history.
Highlights include five world premieres, among them Kohlhaas, directed by Omar Elerian and starring Arinzé Kene. This bold adaptation of Heinrich von Kleist’s Michael Kohlhaas becomes the Festival’s first original production. A large-scale land artwork, Soft Machines by Ivan Morison and Heather Peak, will also debut, bringing monumental sculptural figures to Hove Promenade.
Brighton Dome’s Corn Exchange will host several major theatrical experiences, including Fevered Sleep’s five-hour performance Time Keeps The Drummer, Clod Ensemble and Nu Civilisation Orchestra’s live dance event inspired by Charles Mingus, and the South African cast of fix+foxy’s Dark Noon.
The Festival features significant outdoor and community programming too. The landmark 40th Children’s Parade returns as Europe’s largest event of its kind, and the 10th anniversary of Our Place will be celebrated with community‑driven arts activities across Brighton and the surrounding areas.
Global music icons will perform throughout the month. Patti Smith appears for a two‑night residency as The Patti Smith Quartet, followed by an exclusive evening of words and music. Laurie Anderson presents a UK exclusive with The Republic of Love, while Sampa The Great collaborates with Zamrock legends W.I.T.C.H. for a one-night genre‑blending concert. Further names include Beverly Glenn‑Copeland, Angélique Kidjo and the London Symphony Orchestra under Sir Antonio Pappano.
Lucy Davies said: “I thank and celebrate all the people and partners involved in creating this landmark 60th edition of Brighton Festival. We honour an extraordinary legacy and look ahead to Festivals to come as Brighton Festival enters an exciting new chapter. We will produce original work in theatre and land art and invite truly great artists to treat our beautiful Brighton Dome building as a site. The roll-call of artists and the volume of exceptional work taking place with 105 events across 24 days this May proves what a thriving ecosystem our Festival exists within. From Making It Out to the Lost Woods Project and the Table Tennis Club, Brighton Festival collaborates with partners in art, nature and civic life across the city and the region. Our mission is to enrich the city, to welcome world class artists, and to create lifelong memories for the many audiences who make the Festival so dynamic every May.”
Tickets for over 60 events will be priced at £15 or less, with 25 free events available across the programme.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
