60th Brighton Festival

1-25 May 2026

Brighton Festival today announces the full line-up for the 2026 edition of the largest annual curated multi-arts festival in England. Returning to the city and surrounding areas from 1 – 25 May 2026 with over 100 events, this will be the first Festival under the artistic leadership of new Chief Executive Lucy Davies.

From 2026 onwards, world-class artists and performance companies will transform Brighton Dome’s beautifully restored Corn Exchange into a hub for unique theatrical events. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Opening this year’s programme is the World Premiere of Kohlhaas (1-5 May), the first original work to be produced by Brighton Festival. Directed by Omar Elerian (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Rhinoceros, Misty) and starring Arinzé Kene (Misty, Girl From The North Country, Get Up Stand Up) in their first collaboration since Misty, this bold and contemporary adaptation of Heinrich von Kleist’s novella Michael Kohlhaas delves into the psychology of protest and resistance.
• The Corn Exchange programme will also feature a 5-hour durational performance by twelve local children and one adult percussionist in Fevered Sleep’s Time Keeps The Drummer (8 – 10 May); Clod Ensemble and Nu Civilisation Orchestra’s live dance celebration of Charles Mingus’ seminal album The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady (16 – 17 May); and fix+foxy’s brutal, immersive, reimagining of the birth of modern America performed by a phenomenal South African cast, Dark Noon (21 – 24 May). 
• Live-art company KlangHaus will present two site-responsive, immersive experiences (2 – 23 May, Anita’s Room) which will blend moving images, live music, light, sound-design and staging. Last Haus on Earth dismantles the barriers between performers and audiences in an audio-visual sensorial storm, whilst in Darkroom audiences of six are plunged into darkness in this visceral response to climate change.
• The contemporary music line-up also features an exclusive one-off collaboration between groundbreaking artist Sampa The Great and Zamrock pioneers W.I.T.C.H. who will join forces for a night of psychedelic rock, hip-hop and soul, celebrating music born from independence, resilience and creative freedom (9 May, Brighton Dome Concert Hall); fresh off the release of his brand-new album, legendary singer, composer and transgender activist Beverly Glenn-Copeland will perform his unique blend of folk, jazz, classical and electronic music at the Festival (1 May, Brighton Dome Concert Hall); five-time Grammy Award winner and one of the greatest artists in international music, Angélique Kidjo will bring her striking voice and stage presence as part of the Hope Tour (16 May, Brighton Dome Concert Hall).
• In the literature programme, Joelle Taylor performs a staged reading of her new poetry collection Maryville (8 – 9 May, Brighton Dome Studio Theatre); a searing, poetic excavation of 50 years of lesbian counterculture, directed by Neil Bartlett with visuals from artist and filmmaker Sweatmother. Taylor will also join award-winning writer Yomi Ṣode and a host of exciting local talent for the return of STATUS FLO (18 May, Brighton Dome Corn Exchange), curated and hosted by AFLO. the poet.
• Past Festival Guest Director, former Children’s Laureate and poetry icon Michael Rosen will team up with award-winning rapping teacher & World Book Day ambassador, MC Grammar for Ridiculous Raps & Rhymes (3 May, Brighton Dome Concert Hall), a high-energy, laugh-filled musical celebration of words. 
• In its 60th year, Brighton Festival continues to build and strengthen its relationship with the people of Brighton and the South East with  thousands of local people and children taking part this year. To mark the start of  the Festival, thousands of people will take to the streets to celebrate the 40th Children’s Parade, the largest parade of its kind in Europe. Presented by Brighton Festival and Same Sky, the parade, which is inspired by 2026 as the National Year of Reading, will see the streets of Brighton come alive with large-scale artworks and costumes created by hundreds of school children from across the city.
• Breakin’ Convention The high – energy hip hop and breakdance show curated by dance legend Jonzi D returns to Brighton Dome on its 2026 tour of the UK. The stellar line – up for Brighton includes Femme Fatale , ILL – Abilities and the Olivier Award – winning TRAPLORD from Ivan Michael Blackstock . Wed 27 May , 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Brighton Dome Concert Hall
• We mark the release of Andi Osho’s Most Wanted and Dorothy Koomson’s The Quiet Girls, as they speak to radio presenter and host Fee Mak about what happens when characters take matters into their own hands (14 May).
• Award-winning poet Raymond Antrobus (16 May) was first diagnosed as deaf at the age of six when he discovered he had missing sounds – bird calls, whistles, kettles, alarms. Teachers thought he was slow and disruptive, some didn’t believe he was deaf at all.