Brighton Festival turns 60 this May – and its ditching one of its defining features. After 16 years, there’s no guest director for 2026. Instead, the programme’s been curated in house by the festival team, led by Lucy Davies.
The idea is to move away from the annual “big-name vision” and towards something more rooted in Brighton – with longer-term collaborations, stronger local links, and, crucially, the ability to produce original work for the first time.
What that means in practice: a line-up that feels broader, more immersive and a lot less like you’re being told to sit quietly and admire it. In short: there’s loads going on. Some of it brilliant, some slightly baffling, some of it happening outside actual theatres (we love), some totally free (we love more).
Here’s our edit of what’s coming up:
The cult one
La Haine with a live soundtrack
Iconic (and we don’t use that word lightly) French film La Haine gets a full live score from Asian Dub Foundation – loud, political and still painfully relevant.
Thurs 7th May; 10pm (7pm sold out): from £20
Book tickets
The big statement theatre moment
Kohlhaas
The Festival’s first ever in-house production (finally) and it’s not exactly subtle – think justice, protest, systems failing people, it’s very 2026. Adapted from Heinrich von Kleist’s novella Michael Kohlhaasl, directed by Omar Elerian and starring Arinzé Kene, it’s angry, urgent and completely apt for the times we’re living in.
Friday 1st – Tuesday 5th May; from £20
Book tickets
The immersive pick
Carnation
Circus, but make it political, daring and a wee bit wild. This huge new show from Festival regulars NoFit State Circus throws live music, vast visuals and actual risk into one high-energy spectacle about rebellion and resistance. A must-see.
Sat 2nd – Mon 25th May; from £17.50
Book tickets
The ‘dip in, dip out’ experimental one
Time Keeps The Drummer
Five-hour improvised performance you can wander in and out of (thank god, because five hours is long). There’s kids, music, drummers, movement, time doing funny things to you. It’s ideal if you’re looking for something a little bit different.
Fri 8th – Sun 10th May; from £8
Book tickets
The late-night immersive theatre one
Dark Noon
A confronting, immersive take on the Wild West that drags you right into it. This is no background theatre – you’re in it whether you like it or not.
Thurs 21st – Sun 24th May; from £20
Book tickets
The dancefloor-but-make-it-culture pick
The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady
A joyous evening of live jazz and dance in this presentation of Charles Mingus’ jazz masterpiece. We’re dancing if you’re asking.
Sat 16th and Sun 17th May; from £25
Book tickets
The spoken word one
Status Flo
Big, bold spoken word night curated by Brighton’s AFLO. the poet, with award-winning names like Joelle Taylor and Yomi Ṣode on the line-up. Expect sharp, political, emotional work and a crowd that’s actually listening.
Mon 18th May; from £10
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The nostalgic-but-not-naff theatre pick
Malory Towers
Enid Blyton’s classic boarding school page-turners, with an extra-joyful twist and a live music score. Emma Rice Company knows exactly how to turn something familiar into something that still feels fresh (and genuinely fun to watch).
Tues 19th – Sat 23rd May; from £15
Book tickets
The must-see talks pick
Feminism for a World on Fire
Less dry panel, more genuinely urgent conversation – three well-known writers tackle intersectional feminism, power and where things are going next.
Thurs 21st May; from £10
Book tickets
The atmospheric one
We Are Warriors
This immersive sound and light installation can be found inside the normally out-of-bounds Cab Road Tunnel under Brighton station. Expect hundreds of flickering lights – each a tribute to someone who’s been lost or silenced, voices echoing through darkness, and something that sits somewhere between memorial, protest and quiet moment to yourself. You can even add your own light as part of it, and help push the darkness away.
Wed 13th – Sun 17th and Wed 20th – Sun 24th May; suggested donation £4
Book tickets
The thoughtful culture fix
Queering the Archive: Who Gets to Tell Our Stories?
A deep dive into whose histories get told (and whose don’t), unpacking archives, identity and representation and the opportunity to create your own zine.
Sun 24th May; £5
Book tickets
The high-energy crowd pleaser
Breakin’ Convention
Hip hop theatre, breakdance, bags (and bags) of energy and impressive moves from b-boys and girls. This one always brings in a fun crowd and a properly electric atmosphere.
Wed 27th May; from £12.50
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The proper immersive headtrip
KlangHaus: Last Haus on Earth
Part gig, part installation, part fever dream – you’re surrounded by sound, projections and shifting visuals in a space where you can move around freely and feel like you’re really part of something.
Sat 2nd – Sat 23rd May; from £10
Book tickets
The ‘lie down and listen’ moment
Of Land, Sea & Sky: Sounds of the Ocean
A sound-led, immersive, slightly meditative journey into the heart of the ocean – this is the one where you can reset your brain for an hour and switch off completely from your phone.
Wed 6th – Sat 9th May; £15
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The wildcard headline grabber
Peaches
Iconic, provocative, entirely unapologetic electro queen. If you know, you know. If you don’t, expect a very fun education with drag queen Bimini supporting.
Fri 15th May; £33
Book tickets
The big emotional closer
Thikra: Night of Remembering
Akram Khan Company’s final touring work exploring ritual, heritage and memory with an all-female cast of dancers.
Sat 23rd and Sun 24th May; from £17.50
Book tickets
The free stuff
Children’s Parade
This is where it all kicks off. Thousands of people, colourful costumes, live music, incredible Same Sky models, it’s an unmissable city-cetnre takeover. This year’s theme is books. Whether you’ve got kids or not, it’s wholesome, joyful and one of our favourite things the Festival does.
Sat 2nd May; 10.30am; from New Road; free
A Weekend Without Walls
Two full weekends of free outdoor performances across the city – dance, circus, music, acrobatics, art and theatre, all popping up where you least expect it. This is Brighton at its finest: you leave the house for a coffee and accidentally watch something brilliant.
Various dates and times; free
More information
The outdoor bits
Soft Machines
Giant sculptural forms are taking over Hove seafront – slightly eerie, very photogenic and completely free to stumble across.
Sat 2nd – Sun 24th May; Hove Promenade; free
More information
A Timeline of Infinite Skies
Immersive installation, performance and soundscape digging into Brighton’s hidden histories – one to duck into when you want something quieter but still thought-provoking.
Sat 2nd May – Sun 28th June; Phoenix Art Centre; free
More information
The lowdown
Ditching the guest director could’ve made the festival feel a bit anonymous. Instead, it’s done the opposite – the programme feels more open, more varied, and even more Brighton in how it spills out across the city.
Between the headline shows, the free outdoor fun and the fact you can just wander into things, this might be the easiest year yet to actually get involved.
