Brighton & Hove Events Guide 2026: Everything That Happens Every Week, Month and Year
Brighton Pride taking over the city centre. Every August, over 300,000 people fill the streets for one of the best days of the year.
Brighton and Hove does not have an off season. While many UK cities slow down after the summer, Brighton keeps moving — there are weekly markets, nightly live music venues, monthly community events and a calendar of annual festivals that has made the city one of the most visited destinations on the south coast.
This guide covers everything that happens in Brighton and Hove on a regular basis. Whether you live here, are planning a visit or simply want to know what is on each month, this is the most complete overview of the city's events calendar for 2026.
What Happens Every Week in Brighton
Brighton has a core of recurring weekly events that run throughout the year regardless of season. These are the fixtures that give the city its reputation as a place where something is always happening.
Brighton Open Air Market runs every Saturday and Sunday on Upper Gardner Street in the North Laine. It is one of the oldest street markets in the city and sells everything from vintage clothing and antiques to handmade jewellery and street food. It is free to attend and draws a consistent crowd of locals and visitors.
Brighton Flea Market on Upper Gardner Street also opens on Saturdays and is worth combining with the Open Air Market if you are in the North Laine. Independent sellers bring second-hand goods, collectables and vinyl, and it remains one of the better spots in the city for finding something unexpected.
The Secret Comedy Club is the only comedy club in Brighton running five nights a week. Located in a small, intimate venue in the city centre, it hosts a mix of circuit comedians, open mic performers and occasional headline acts. Tickets are affordable and the atmosphere is informal. For anyone new to live comedy in Brighton, it is the easiest starting point.
Open Mic Nights run almost every night of the week across Brighton's pub circuit. The White Rabbit in the North Laine hosts acoustic music, poetry and comedy every Wednesday from 8pm. The Hampton runs a weekly open mic every Tuesday from 9pm with a free drink for performers. The Lewes Road Inn, The Southern Belle, The Mitre Tavern and The Constant Service all host weekly open mic nights on different evenings, meaning there is somewhere to watch or perform on virtually any night of the week.
Live Music is available nightly across venues including Concorde 2 on Madeira Drive, Chalk on Marine Parade, Komedia on Gardner Street, The Old Market in Hove and dozens of pubs throughout the city. Brighton's grassroots music scene covers jazz, rock, folk, punk, country and electronic music with very few gaps in the calendar.
Parkrun Brighton takes place every Saturday morning at 9am in Preston Park. It is free, timed and open to all abilities. The course follows the park's perimeter path and typically attracts several hundred runners each week. Registration is required on the parkrun website but there is no fee to participate.
What Happens Every Month in Brighton
Beyond the weekly staples, Brighton has a reliable set of monthly events that give the city a consistent rhythm throughout the year.
Brighton Antiques and Collectors Market at the Brighton Centre car park runs on the first Sunday of each month and is one of the larger antiques events in the south east. Dealers come from across Sussex and beyond, making it a reliable source for vintage furniture, ceramics, jewellery and collectables.
Pub Quizzes run on a monthly and weekly basis across dozens of venues. The city has a particularly strong quiz scene with regular events at The Joker, The Mitre, The Great Eastern and many others. Most are free to enter or charge a small team fee.
Brighton Dome and Theatre Royal Brighton both run monthly programmes covering classical music, theatre, dance and spoken word. The Dome is one of the most historically significant music venues in the UK — the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and ABBA have all performed there — and its monthly listings are consistently strong. Theatre Royal Brighton is the city's main producing theatre and typically runs three to four productions each month.
The Royal Pavilion hosts candlelight concerts throughout the year inside the historic building. These evenings are popular and tend to sell out in advance, particularly around key dates in the calendar.
Brighton & Hove Events Month by Month: 2026
January
January is one of the quieter months in Brighton but the city does not shut down. The seafront remains open, the markets continue and live music venues run at full capacity. It is one of the best times to visit if you want to explore the city without summer crowds. Restaurants often run January deals and the pier remains open daily.
February
Brighton Tattoo Convention returns to the Brighton Centre for its annual event, typically running over a February weekend. It is one of the UK's longest running tattoo conventions and brings together over 300 artists alongside vendors selling art, jewellery and clothing. It is open to the public and does not require tattoo experience to attend.
Brighton Science Festival takes place in February and runs events across multiple venues in the city. It is aimed at families, students and anyone with an interest in science and typically includes hands-on workshops, talks and interactive displays suitable for a range of ages.
March
Brighton Half Marathon takes place on 1 March 2026 and is one of the most popular road races on the south coast. The course covers 13.1 miles starting and finishing at Hove Lawns on the seafront. Thousands of runners take part each year, supported by large crowds along the route.
BRAVO Restaurant Awards hold their voting period in March, with the ceremony taking place on 31 March at The Old Market in Hove. The awards celebrate Brighton and Hove's independent food and drink scene and are voted for by the public.
International Women's Day events are held across Brighton in early March, with the BRAVO Women in Hospitality finalists announced on 8 March.
April
Brighton Marathon takes place on Sunday 12 April 2026. It is the UK's third largest marathon and one of the most scenic, running along the seafront and through the city's streets before finishing at Hove Lawns. Up to 20,000 runners participate and the atmosphere along the route is consistently well-regarded.
Brighton International Animation Festival (BIAF) begins at the end of April and runs until 6 May. It is one of the world's leading animation events, based primarily at Brighton Dome and partner venues. The programme includes screenings, industry talks, workshops and public exhibitions. It is open to both professionals in the animation industry and general audiences.
Easter Weekend events run across the city, with the British Engineerium in Hove hosting a special Easter weekender. The Victorian engineering museum is an unusual and impressive space and its holiday events are well-suited to families.
May
May is arguably the busiest month in Brighton's events calendar and requires the most planning if you want to make the most of it.
Brighton Festival runs for the first three weeks of May and is the largest open-access arts festival in England. It covers theatre, music, dance, art, literature and debate, with free outdoor events as well as ticketed performances. In 2026 the festival includes two Weekends Without Walls — free outdoor performances on 16–17 May and 23–24 May across locations throughout the city.
Brighton Fringe runs throughout May and into early June, turning the city into a month-long performance space. Hundreds of shows take place across pop-up venues, pubs and any room with a microphone and chairs. It is the place to see emerging comedians, theatre makers and performers before they reach larger stages.
The Great Escape takes place in May and is the UK's most important festival for new music. Around 450 emerging artists from across the world perform across more than 30 walkable venues in Brighton city centre, as well as a pop-up festival site on Brighton Beach. It is widely regarded as the festival where the next generation of headline acts first gets noticed.
Foodies Festival returns to Preston Park from 2–4 May 2026, bringing three days of food, live music and cooking demonstrations. It is one of several food events Brighton hosts throughout the year and draws visitors from across the south east.
Brighton Miles takes place in Preston Park and is a free, inclusive running event — participants can run, jog or walk a mile. It is suitable for families and people of all ages and abilities.
June
June marks the tail end of Brighton Fringe and the city begins its transition into summer. The seafront becomes significantly busier from this point, and outdoor dining and evening events increase across the board.
Brighton Open Air Theatre (BOAT) in Dyke Road Park runs its outdoor performance season from late spring through summer. The programme covers theatre, comedy and family shows in an amphitheatre setting. Performances take place rain or shine and the atmosphere is informal. Bringing a blanket and arriving early is recommended.
Trans Pride Brighton takes place in June and is the first and largest Trans Pride event outside of America. It has been held in Brighton since 2013 and typically draws over 10,000 people. It is a protest, a celebration and one of the most significant LGBTQ+ events on the UK calendar.
July
On The Beach returns to Brighton's seafront for six dates across two weekends in July. The 2026 lineup includes The Maccabees and FatBoy Slim's Big Beach Boutique among the confirmed headliners. Taking place on Hove Lawns with sea views, it is one of the more distinctive outdoor concert settings in the UK.
Summer in Brighton means the seafront is at its busiest. The beach bars, seafront restaurants and outdoor venues all operate at full capacity. Evening events along the promenade increase and the city's LGBTQ+ scene, centred on venues including Revenge, Charles Street and The Marlborough, runs at full pace throughout the summer months.
August
Brighton Pride takes place on 1–2 August 2026. It is the UK's biggest LGBTQ+ Pride festival, drawing over 300,000 people to the city's streets for the parade and park events. Pride has been held in Brighton since 1972 and the event now spans an entire week of associated nights, parties and fundraising events across the city's venues.
August is the peak of Brighton's summer season. Accommodation books out weeks or months in advance around Pride weekend and the August bank holiday. If you are planning to visit for any event in August, early booking is strongly recommended.
September
Brighton Comedy Garden returns to Preston Park from 9–13 September 2026. The festival takes place in a large tent in the park and brings together top names from the UK comedy circuit alongside craft beer and food vendors. It is one of the city's most popular autumn events and regularly sells out.
Brighton Mod Weekender takes place in September and is one of the most distinctive events in the city's calendar. Brighton's long association with Mod culture comes to life with daytime seafront scooter events, markets and evening gigs. It draws participants and spectators from across the country.
Pier to Pier Swim takes place in September and is one of the most well-known open water swimming events on the south coast. The route runs between Brighton's two piers and is open to registered participants.
October
Brighton Digital Festival runs as a month-long programme of events across the city celebrating digital culture. The programme includes exhibitions, meetups, talks, workshops and conferences covering everything from interactive art to practical technology sessions. It is open to the public.
Brighton Cocktail Week takes place in autumn and involves venues across the city offering specially priced cocktails and tasting menus. It is one of a growing number of food and drink weeks Brighton hosts throughout the year.
October also marks the start of the academic year for Brighton's two universities. Freshers events and university-affiliated nights fill the city's venues during the first few weeks of term.
November
November is one of the quieter months for major events but the city's indoor venues run full programmes of live music, comedy and theatre. The Royal Pavilion begins its winter events season and the city's pub and restaurant scene continues at the same pace throughout the year.
Brighton Bonfire Night celebrations are among the more atmospheric in Sussex, with displays at various locations across the city. The county's bonfire society tradition also draws many Brighton residents out into East Sussex during the first weeks of November.
December
December brings winter markets, Christmas events and the city's particular approach to the festive season — Brighton does it with more independent spirit than most. The North Laine fills with gift shopping, the Lanes take on their Christmas character and the Royal Pavilion looks spectacular in winter light.
The seafront in December is worth visiting for its own sake. The low winter light and relative quiet make for a very different experience to summer, and the city's cafes, restaurants and pubs provide good reason to stay indoors when the temperature drops.
Year-Round: The Parts of Brighton That Never Stop
Some aspects of Brighton's events scene run continuously and are worth knowing about regardless of when you visit.
Brighton's LGBTQ+ scene operates 365 days a year. Venues including Revenge on Old Steine, Charles Street on Marine Parade and The Marlborough on Princes Street run regular nights, events and community gatherings throughout the year. Pride in August is the headline event but the community fabric of Brighton's queer scene is consistent across all twelve months.
Brighton & Hove Albion play home matches at the Amex Stadium in Falmer throughout the football season, from August to May. For fixtures, visit brightonandhovealbion.com.
Brighton's live music circuit — covering Concorde 2, Chalk, Komedia, The Old Market, Patterns, The Green Door Store and dozens of pub venues — runs nightly. There are very few evenings in any month where it is not possible to find live music somewhere in the city.
Brighton Beach is open year-round. Wild swimming, seafront walks and winter sea swimming have a dedicated community in Brighton who use the beach in every month of the year. The Yellowave beach sports centre also runs activities throughout the year including beach volleyball.
Planning Your Visit Around Brighton's Events
If you are visiting Brighton specifically to attend an event, accommodation books up quickly around major dates — particularly the May festival period, July's On The Beach, and August Pride weekend. Booking several weeks in advance for those periods is strongly advised.
The city centre is walkable and most major venues are within reasonable distance of the seafront. The North Laine, The Lanes and the seafront itself are the three areas where most events, markets and venues are concentrated. For events at the Amex Stadium, Preston Park or Stanmer Park, Brighton's bus network is the most practical option from the city centre.
For the most up to date listings throughout 2026, Visit Brighton's events calendar at visitbrighton.com is the most comprehensive free resource for confirmed dates across all categories.
This guide will be updated throughout 2026 as new events are confirmed. If you run an event in Brighton or Hove that should be included, get in touch via our contact page.
