This coming weekend a day in the park is about much more than a picnic and a lie down as Brighton Bash Carnival returns to St Ann’s Well Gardens.
That means four stages of live music and DJs, spoken word, a carnival parade, wellness activities, family entertainment and some of Brighton’s best-loved African and Caribbean food traders.
Now in its sixth year, the free event was created by Barco (Black Anti-Racism Community Organisation) to tackle anti-Black racism while celebrating and strengthening Black culture in Brighton & Hove. Brighton Bash Carnival has become the organisation’s flagship annual event, creating a joy-filled space to celebrate Black culture, creativity and community. Today, it’s grown into a city-wide event that welcomes everyone while staying true to those roots.
Music is, unsurprisingly, a huge part of the day.
The Palace Stage mixes Afrobeats, soul and live bands with spoken word and conversation, featuring artists including Delta Boy, Grupo Lokito, Esi, plus the Afrori Books Voices Choir. Campaigners Stuart Lawrence, whose brother Stephen’s murder became a watershed moment in the fight against racism, and Michael Abatan will also be speaking, while Aflo the poet, and a special collab between their Brighton poetry night Status Flo and Barco’s own Bash Slam bring spoken word firmly into the mix.
Elsewhere, the KTL Stage keeps things rooted firmly in reggae, dub and sound-system culture, while the DJ Tent, curated by AudioActive, showcases emerging Brighton talent alongside house, amapiano, Afrobeats and DJs from across the African diaspora. If you prefer something a little more stripped back, the Acoustic Stage has got live performances, community showcases and the Bash Ball.
Then there’s the food. Forget the standard festival burger van. You’ll find Brighton favourites like Lickle More, plus Mama Ky’s Soul Food, Adrian’s Island Fresh, Mama Shelia’s Kitchen and Lulu’s Swahili Kitchen serving everything from Caribbean classics to East African dishes, alongside fresh fruit from Denver’s All Fruits Ripe. These are worth saving your appetite for.
And if you need a breather between sets, there’s the Holistic Hub with yoga, sound baths, drumming, massage, tarot readings and creative workshops, while younger visitors have their own family area packed with activities throughout the day.
Add in the Black Brighton Market, the carnival parade weaving through the park and plenty of local creatives and community groups, and there’s every chance you’ll still be discovering something new six hours after you arrived.
Entry is free, although you’ll need to book a ticket in advance. Donations are encouraged, with proceeds helping Barco keep the carnival free while supporting its work tackling anti-Black racism and celebrating Black culture across Brighton & Hove throughout the year.
And if you want to carry on the party afterwards, the fun continues at Komedia (from 11pm; £11).
Saturday 25th July, 11am – 8pm; free, but donations encouraged
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