Brighton Festival is the largest and most established annual curated multi-arts festival in England.
Taking place over three weeks in May, theFestival is a celebration of music, theatre, dance, art, film, literature and debate, amongst other things, with indoor, outdoor, family and community events in various venues and locations across Brighton and East Sussex - including unique venues like Brighton Dome, i360, Royal Pavilion Gardens and Theatre Royal, as well as many smaller venues.
The Festival kicks off with the Children's Parade (the largest of its kind in Europe) on the first Saturday of May, and its stated purpose over the ensuing weeks is to “enable experiences where people can come together to enjoy, imagine, create and change”, with a vision for Brighton as a place where creativity is essential to life, a place of creative entrepreneurship and deep artistic collaboration.
History of Brighton Festival
Brighton Fesival was first held in 1967 after three years of planning following discussions and the exchange of ideas. Ian Hunter, who went on to become the festival's Artistic Director, submitted a program in 1967 which featured legendary actors Laurence Olivier and Anthony Hopkins, plus the British-American violinist and conductor Yehudi Menuhin.
In 2009 the festival's first ever Guest Director was the celebrated British-Indian scultor Anish Kapoor, and subsequent Guest Directors include the children's author Michael Rosen and the actress Vanessa Redgrave, as well as poet Kae Tempest, artist David Shrigley and writer Lemn Sissay OBE.
Brighton Festival 2025
Brighton Fetival 2025's Guest Director is the multi-talented Anoushka Shankar, sitarist, film composer and activist, who has said about the festival:
“For Brighton Festival 2025, we look towards a New Dawn. Together with the Brighton Festival team, I’ve been shaping a programme that envisions a hopeful future – an emergence from the dark of night into the glow of early morning. For years now there have been many reasons to worry, to lose hope.
But we have the power within us to create an alternate future. That’s what Brighton Festival 2025 is about – let's come together to reflect, lift each other up and take action. This is a festival for everyone to participate in, to connect with, to feel part of. I can’t wait.”
(BrightonFestival.org)
Accessibility at Brighton Festival
Brighton Festival is committed to making events accessible wherever possible, with BSL-Interpreted events, Audio Description provided at screenings, Captioned Performances, Highly Visual Events and Relaxed Performances.
See all Accessible Events.