Major Events, Exhibitions and Festivals
January to December 2016
This round-up gives vital media information about events in Brighton & Hove. While every care has been taken to ensure that all the events listed are accurate at the time of going to press, VisitBrighton cannot be held responsible for any errors, omissions or subsequent alterations. For more information, as well as images, please contact .
Headlines
British Airways i360!
The big news for 2016 will be the opening of the British Airways i360! This major new attraction will be the world’s tallest moving observation tower. When the tower opens in the summer of 2016 visitors will be able to take a voyage to the skies and see Brighton as you have never seen it before. Glide up slowly to 162 metres high to enjoy breath-taking 360 degree views of up to 26 miles from the world’s first vertical cable car, conceived and designed by the London Eye architects, Marks Barfield www.brightoni360.co.uk
Snowdogs by The Sea
Snowdog sculpture trail to descend on the city of Brighton & Hove for the biggest ever public art event in 2016! Snowdogs by the Sea will see more than 50 individually designed 1.5m tall Snowdog sculptures appearing throughout Brighton & Hove during autumn 2016. The trail is being co-ordinated by, and will raise funds for, local charity the Martlets Hospice, who are working with Wild in Art. Each Snowdog will help bring art to the streets and the people of Brighton & Hove.
Anniversaries
In 2016 two of Brighton’s biggest festivals will be celebrating anniversaries. The
Brighton Festival will be marking 50 years of fantastic arts programming. Over the years guest directors have included Vanessa Redgrave, Brian Eno and Anish Kapoor. Alongside the Festival is the Brighton Fringe which will be celebrating 10 years of comedy, cabaret, theatre and the downright bizarre! www.brightonfestival.org / www.brightonfringe.org.uk
New event - Brighton Triathlon
On Sunday 11th September 2016, Brighton and Hove seafront will provide the iconic backdrop to the official Brighton and Hove Triathlon. Professional Triathletes, and first-timers alike will commence their race with an open water sea-swim from the picture-postcard pebble beach, before a flat criterion cycle leg held entirely on closed roads takes them along the city’s unique coast, before a final return to Hove Lawns and a run that will head out towards West Pier and the new i360 before crossing the finish line with Brighton’s iconic cityscape as a backdrop. Alongside of the event there will also be a new Sport & Fitness show which promises to be fun and inspirational packed with the widest range of sports and fitness experiences, demos from top fitness brands and nutrition experts, and exciting new technology. www.brightonandhovetriathlon.com / www.sportandfitnessshow.com
Fashion Cities Africa - Brighton Museum
The first major UK exhibition dedicated to contemporary African fashion will be shown at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery between April 2016 and January 2017. The exhibition will explore practices of dress, fashion and styling in four African cities: Casablanca, Lagos, Nairobi and Johannesburg. www.brightonmuseums.org.uk
EVENTS
JANUARY
Ongoing to 21 February
Pierdom: Photographs of Britain’s Piers by Simon Roberts - Brighton Museum
40 photographs from Pierdom, Simon Roberts' three-year quest to document all of Britain's remaining pleasure piers are exhibited together for the first time at Brighton Museum and Art Gallery www.brightonmuseums.org.uk/brighton
Ongoing to 28 February
Exotic Creatures - The Royal Pavilion
A new exhibition at the Royal Pavilion explores how animals considered exotic by the Georgians and early Victorians were depicted, kept and presented. Exotic Creatures will look at animals owned by the Royal Family and in menageries and early zoos, as well as the ‘political beasts’ of the period (c.1740-1850). www.brightonmuseums.org.uk/royalpavilion
5 to10 January
Holiday on Ice Passion - Brighton Centre
Holiday on Ice is returning to the UK for one week only in January 2016 with their new, spectacular show. Taking the audience through the journey that each skater experiences, from the passion of the ice to the ambition, challenges and beauty of this fascinating world, PASSION follows the true-life stories of the cast members, who every night bring the glamour of Holiday on Ice to life for audiences across the globe. Tickets from £15 www.brightoncentre.co.uk
FEBRUARY
1 to 28 February
Brighton Science Festival - Citywide
Get your geek on! Last year’s festival included Lego Robots, Dinosaurs, a chance to build your own games console and The Simpsons & their Mathmatical Secrets. www.brightonscience.com
19 to 21 February
Modelworld - Brighton Centre
Having started out as a model railway show it now encompasses so much more and has become a family model show with something for children of all ages www.brightoncentre.co.uk
27 to 28 February
VegFest UK - Brighton Centre
Europe's prime vegan festival VegfestUK will be back at the Brighton Centre for a weekend of vegan food, shopping and education! www.brighton.vegfest.co.uk
28 February
Vitality Run - Brighton Half Marathon - Brighton Seafront
The Vitality Brighton Half Marathon 2016 will be held on 28 February. This is a beautiful seafront course, amazing crowd support and one of the first half marathons on the running calendar. Also includes a Youth Race. www.brightonhalfmarathon.com
MARCH
17 to 19 March
Sussex Beer Festival - Corn Exchange
Sample over 160 beers plus a large selection of ciders and perries at the 26th Sussex CAMRA Branches Beer & Cider Festival www.brightondome.com
20 March
Chicken Run - Hove Park
Brighton wants you to run like a chicken! Get down to Hove Park and participate in a fun run. All participants are provided with a chicken costume and a chocolate egg at the finish. There will be a 5km chicken fun run for adults, a 1 mile chicken run and a 500 metre dash for children! www.brightonandhovechick.wix.com/brightonchickenrun
APRIL
14 to 15 April
Brighton Music Conference - Brighton Dome
The UK's leading electronic music conference, Brighton Music Conference (BMC), has confirmed its 2016 two-day event will take place at the Brighton Dome on Thursday 14th April and Friday 15th April 2016. Whether you are just starting out in the music industry or an experienced industry professional BMC offers an array of opportunities for you to form new business partnerships and to expand existing networks with established partners. www.brightonmusicconference.com
15 to 17 April
Brighton Marathon
The Brighton Marathon gets bigger every year and is now one of the top 12 running events in the UK. The weekend also includes the Mini Mile Races, the BM10K and the Brighton Marathon exhibition and is broadcast on Channel 4 www.brightonmarathon.co.uk
23 April
Ace Café Reunion ‘inCarNation’- Madeira Drive
Calling all Petrol heads! On Saturday 23rd April 2016, from 10am - 6pm, Brighton's famous seafront road, Madeira Drive will again host the UK's finest on four wheels as Ace Cafe London present the 5th annual InCarNation Brighton. www.ace-cafe-london.com
29 April to 1 May
Foodies Festival - Hove Lawns
The UK's largest celebration of food & drink will see visitors flock to Hove Lawns to enjoy an array of culinary activities including a live entertainment stage, cooking demonstrations and tasty treats from some of the top city restaurants. www.foodiesfestival.com
30 April to 1 May
Tattoo Convention - Brighton Centre
The weekend includes over 250 international artists, live music seminars, art gallery, late bars, indoor food court, trade rooms, competitions and much more www.brightontattoo.com
30 April to 8 January 2017
Fashion Cities Africa - Brighton Museum
The first major UK exhibition dedicated to contemporary African fashion will be shown at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery between April 2016 and January 2017. The exhibition will explore practices of dress, fashion and styling in four African cities: Casablanca, Lagos, Nairobi and Johannesburg. www.brightonmuseums.org.uk
MAY - THE Festival Month!
6 May to 5 June
Brighton Fringe - Citywide
The Brighton Fringe will be celebrating its 10th year as the world’s third largest fringe festival. Brighton Fringe runs alongside (and beyond!) the Brighton Festival with cabaret, comedy, classical concerts, club nights, theatre and exhibitions, as well as street performances throughout the city. www.brightonfringe.org.uk
7 to 29 May
Brighton Festival - Citywide
The largest multi-arts festival in England, the Brighton Festival hosts a sensational programme of art, theatre, dance, music, literature and family shows. In previous years the Guest Artistic Directors have been Hofesh Shechter, Michael Rosen, Vanessa Redgrave, Aung San Suu Kyi, Brian Eno and Anish Kapoor. This year, the Brighton Festival will be celebrating 50 years of its fantastic arts programming.
www.brightonfestival.org
19 to 21 May
The Great Escape - Citywide
Since its launch The Great Escape festival has established itself as the place to catch the next big thing. Over the years acts that have played the festival have gone on to become household names including: Adele, White Lies, Kasabian, Mumford & Sons, Tinie Tempah, Ellie Goulding, Chase & Status, Foster the People, Rizzle Kicks, Jake Bugg, George Ezra and Royal Blood www.escapegreat.com
22 May
Heroes Run - Brighton seafront
Over 1,000 participants dress as their favourite superheroes or Villain and run, walk (or fly!) either 10K or 5K for charity. There’s even a Mini-Heroes 500m dash for younger heroes still in training. Holy smokes Batman! www.heroesrun.org.uk
27 to 30 May
Elderflower Fields Festival - Ashdown Forest
A family friendly festival set in the stunning Sussex countryside. The event includes fun activities, locally sourced food and an eclectic mix of live music acts. www.elderflowerfields.co.uk
28 to 29 May
Funk the Family Festival - Hove Park
Funk the Family is a rather splendid, all-day festival, born in Brighton & Hove with an emphasis on really high quality, live music, paired with brilliant entertainment, for all the family. www.funkthefamily.co.uk
Weekend in May
Artists’ Open Houses - Citywide
Artists’ Open Houses is the biggest free arts event in the UK, with over 1,000 artists exhibiting in 200 houses and art studios opened to the public across the city. Its sister festival, HOUSE, is a curated festival showcasing modern art. www.aoh.org.uk
JUNE
3 to 4 June
The Great Skinhead Reunion - The Volks Bar
The Great Skinhead Reunion is the biggest gathering of Skinheads in the UK. It takes place over a full weekend in Brighton, the birthplace of the Skinhead culture in the 1960′s. 2016 will be the 6th reunion and it keeps going from strength to strength www.greatskinheadreunion.co.uk
4 June
Kemptown Carnival - Kemptown
The Kemp Town Carnival returns in 2016 and it’s looking to be the biggest yet with 6 live music stages showcasing some of Brighton’s leading artists and musicians, opening up the Parade of Flowers to many more groups and performers, street theatre, dance troupes, choirs, street games, graffiti demos and workshops, amazing local food and drink, vintage arts, crafts and clothing, children’s entertainment and activities, fairground rides, tug’o’war, and the Grand Custard Pie Fight! www.kemptowncarnival.com
10 June to 10 July
Brighton Big Screen on the Beach - Brighton Seafront
Brighton's Big Screen on the beach is back for a summer of sport and blockbuster movies. The event will include grandstand seating, a licensed bar and refreshments area. www.brightonsbigscreen.com
12 June tbc
World Naked Bike Ride - Citywide
The event celebrates bicycles and bodies with a seaside bike ride in the buff, a paddle in the sea and a naturist beach picnic. Be warned, full nudity is allowed! www.worldnakedbikeride.org/brighton
16 to19 June
Brighton Bear Weekend - Citywide
Brighton Bear Weekend is an annual event for bears, cubs and friends in Brighton and Hove, on the south coast of England. www.brightonbearweekend.com
18 June to 3 July
TAKEPART Festival - Citywide
TAKEPART is a two week showcase of hundreds of events, activities and taster sessions across the city. The festival has grown to become the largest celebration of community sport and physical activity in the country. www.brighton-hove.gov.uk
19 June
London to Brighton Bike Ride - Ends on Madeira Drive
The annual bike ride from the capital to the coast in aid of the British Heart Foundation is the UK’s largest charity bike ride with 27,000 riders. www.bhf.org.uk/london-brighton
JULY
2 to 3 July
Paddle Round the Pier - Brighton & Hove seafront
A weekend of beach events which gets bigger every year, Paddle Round the Pier invites all kinds of vessels to take to the sea and spectators to enjoy the festivities on-land. www.paddleroundthepier.com
9 to 10 July
Kite Festival - Stanmer Park
A perfect family event, the Brighton Kite Festival is one of the longest running kite festivals in the UK, flying for over 35 years. www.brightonkiteflyers.co.uk
23 July
March of the Mermaids - Hove Lawns / Seafront
Flip those fins, shake those shells and twirl those tentacles for this fun day out for all the family. There will be prizes for the best costumes and see who will be crowned Miss Brighton Mermaid and King Prawn. www.facebook.com/mermaids.march
26 to 31 July
International Taekwon-Do Federation World Championships 2016 - Brighton Centre
The 17th Adult & Senior and 12th Junior International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) World Championships 2016 will take place at The Brighton Centre 26th-31st July 2016. Trenic and United Kingdom ITF (UK ITF) look forward to welcoming you to this exciting event which will thrill spectators with displays of traditional Tul (Patterns), Sparring, Power and Special Techniques. www.brightoncentre.co.uk
AUGUST
6 to 7 August
Brighton Pride - Citywide and Preston Park
The celebration of LGBT life in the UK’s ‘gay capital’ includes a huge, colourful Pride Parade through the city with floats, music and amazing costumes, and a big party in Preston Park. Great fun, Pride is open, accessible and suitable for all. www.brightonpride.org
20 to 21 August
Thai Festival - Preston Park
Experience the taste of Thailand this summer and enjoy with all the family. Thai beer garden, traditional music and dancing, world class food, children’s play area and not forgetting the world class Miss Lady Boy World beauty contest you’ll be kept busy all weekend. www.magicofthailand.co.uk
27 to 29 August
Brighton MOD Weekender - Citywide
An integral part of the Brighton calendar, the original celebration of sixties modernist style lasts all weekend and sees a vast array of Vespas descend on Brighton seafront. We are the Mods! www.newuntouchables.com