Brighton events
Expert guide to Brighton
An insider's guide to the best festivals and events in Brighton, including Brighton Pride, Brighton Comedy festival and what to see at the Brighton Fringe Festival. By Louise Roddon, Telegraph Travel's Brighton expert.
Calendar of events and festivals 2017
Brighton Fringe Festival
May 5 - June 4
Now the world’s third largest fringe festival, Brighton Fringe runs alongside the Brighton Festival, with cabaret, comedy, classical concerts, club nights, theatre and exhibitions as well as street performers throughout the city.
Admission: dependent on venue
Contact:brightonfringe.org.uk
Brighton Festival
May 6-28
The largest multi-arts festival in England, the Brighton Festival hosts a great programme of music, theatre, art, dance and family shows. This year’s guest director is novelist and playwright, Kate Tempest.
Admission: dependent on venue
Contact:brightonfestival.org
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Tattoo Convention
May 13-14
Admirers of body art flock to this event to see more than 250 international artists as well as enjoying live music and late bars.
Admission: day tickets from £25.00 (online booking only)
Contact:brightontattoo.com
Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival
May 18-29
Covering various venues throughout the city, this excellent “Spring Harvest” festival just gets better and better. Watch out for linked in restaurant deals, the Big Sussex Market & Live Food Show featuring local producers. Add on cooking demos and fun gourmet wine and food bus tours in a vintage double decker.
Admission: free
Contact:brightonfoodfestival.com
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Artists’ Open Houses
Weekends throughout May
A chance to peek into private homes and studios to purchase artworks from over 1,000 talent locals. Look out for original jewellery, fabrics and ceramics too.
Admission: free
Contact:aoh.org.uk
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Paddle Round the Pier
July 1-2
A weekend of beach events for all kinds of vessels as paddlers, boaters and swimmers take to the sea and enjoy festivities on-land.
Admission: free
Contact:paddleroundthepier.com
Brighton Pride
August 5-6
The largest LGBT celebration in the UK, this huge and colourful event includes a Pride Parade through the city with floats, music and amazing costumes and a big party in Preston Park. Pride is open, accessible and suitable for all ages.
Admission: free
Contact:brighton-pride.org
Sussex and the World Weekender
26-28 August
The Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival’s second outing of 2017 sees three days of local and international food and drink on Hove Lawns, featuring over 50 producers and restaurants alongside live food shows.
Admission: free
Contact: brightonfoodfestival.com
Brighton Early Music Festival
October 27 - November 12
The second largest early music festival in the UK, this is well known for its lively and inspiring programme. Concerts take place in various venues and are often broadcast on Radio Three.
Admission: dependent on event
Contact: bremf.org.uk
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London to Brighton Veteran Car Run
November 5
Ending on Madeira Drive, this is a must for fans of gleaming old motors and commemorates the Emancipation Run of November 14, 1896.
Admission: free
Contact: veterancarrun.com
Royal Pavilion ice Rink
November onwards
Situated in the gardens of Brighton’s exotic pleasure palace, the Royal Pavilion, this beautiful outdoor ice rink allows up to 250 skaters per session, with stabilisers for young skaters and a learners’ area for scaredy cats. An on-site restaurant provides a great vantage point of the rink and the pavilion itself.
Admission: various prices from £13 per adult, to £8.50 children. Family deals available.
Contact: royalpavilionicerink.co.uk
Christmas Artists’ Open Houses
First three weeks of December (weekends only)
A citywide event where you can explore more than 100 houses to see and buy work by local artists, or simply enjoy a mince pie and some mulled wine while you browse.
Admission: free
Contact: aoh.org.uk
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Burning the Clocks Winter Solstice Parade
December 21
An alternative to the commercial Christmas scene, this event attracts thousands of people as they gather to make paper and willow lanterns to carry through the city before burning them on the beach as a token to the year’s end.
Admission: free
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