Brighton is one of Britain’s most exciting cities and you’d be forgiven for thinking that with its museums, concert halls, pubs, shops, restaurants, etc. that most of Brighton’s entertainment options are indoors but nothing could be further from the truth. Brighton has a vibrant outdoor event scene too.
Our must-have 2020 guide to outdoor events in Brighton details nearly 80 events spanning, quite literally, hundreds of days for you to have a great day out at. We’ve split the calendar around seasons with exceptions for the Brighton Arts and Fringe Festival month and for Brighton Pride the two largest sets of events that the city sees. Get ready to have fun in Brighton outdoors this year!
January – April: Brighton’s Outdoor Event Highlights
It might be a little chilly in Brighton in January but that doesn’t stop the city from getting outside and making the best of things. There’s plenty going on in the Winter and Spring months.
Event: CBUK Rock & Stroll
Date: Wed 1st Jan
Website: N/A
Location: Seafront
What Is It?
The year begins with one of Brighton’s smallest and saddest events. CBUK Rock & Stroll is a very personal moment for the parents and loved ones who have lost a child. They each bring a pebble, which they have painted or found on the walk, to commemorate their loss and join a walk along the promenade to Hove Plinth where the pebbles are collected and turned into a piece of moving memorial art. This is photographed and then the pebbles are returned to the beach. The stroll is done in the name of charity.
Event: Sussex Schools Cross Country Championships (Cross Country Races)
Date: Tues 14th Jan
Website: N/A
Location: Waterhall Park
What Is It?
Cross-country running championship which brings together the majority of schools in the region.
Event: Brighton Half Marathon
Date: Sun 9th Feb
Website: BrightonHalf Marathon
Location: Madeira Drive
What Is It?
This is a full half marathon to help get the citizens of Brighton into shape. Entries are welcome from anyone who wants to take part. The weather might be cool at this time of year but running should help everyone keep up a sweat.
Event: Architects of Air
Date: Thurs 2nd April – Sun 5th April
Website: Architects of Air
Location: TBC
What Is It?
The Luminaria come to visit Brighton. This is all about sound and light in a way that many of us will never get to appreciate. You really need to check this out in person to appreciate it.
Event: Incarnation Brighton
Date: Sat 4th April
Website: Incarnation
Location: Madeira Drive
What Is It?
Petrolheads might prefer to check our InCarnation in Brighton when the seafront pays host to the best cars in Britain. It’s free to attend, free to drive-in and show off your vehicle and features the performance and modified cars of the UK.
Event: Market
Date: Sun 12th April
Website: N/A
Location: The Level
What Is It?
The first of the monthly markets that run from April to September arrives at the Level on the 12th of April and you can find a full showcase of global street food plus toys, clothes, collectables and much more on display.
Event: Brighton Marathon
Date: Sun 19th April
Website: N/A
Location: Madeira Drive
What Is It?
The half marathon is the warmup to Brighton’s full marathon, it’s not as big as the London marathon but it’s still a fairly significant date in Britain’s running calendar.
April & May : Brighton’s Art Festival & Fringe Festival Events
Possibly the busiest time in Brighton’s cultural calendar is the period from the end of April to the end of May when the city’s Art Festival and Fringe Festival hold sway over the town.
Don’t worry you don’t need to be an art buff to appreciate what’s going on, as there is something for absolutely everyone during this period.
Event: Funfair
Date: Mon 27th April – Mon 4th May
Website: N/A
Location: The Level
What Is It?
Who doesn’t love the smell of candy floss and roundabouts? The funfair makes its first appearance in town here.
Event: The Warren
Date: Thurs 30th April – Sun 31st May
Website: WarrenFestival
Location: Victoria Gardens
What Is It?
The Warren (a pop-up venue associated with the Brighton Fringe) appears on the 30th of April for a month of exciting performances with everything from family-friendly fun to high-class comedy appearing.
Event: Foodies Festival
Date: Fri 1st – Sun 3rd May
Website: FoodiesFestival
Location: Hove Lawns
What Is It?
If you love unique and interesting food, this one’s for you. It’s your chance to enjoy food in all its glory!
Event: Rotunda Theatre
Date: Fri 1st – Sun 31st May
Website: N/A
Location: Regency Square
What Is It?
This is a superb spoken word festival and if you enjoy wordplay and clever repartee then you really shouldn’t miss it.
Event: Lady Boys of Bangkok
Date: Fri 1st – Sun 31st May
Website: LadyboysOfBangkok
Location: Hove Lawns
What Is It?
Check out the Lady Boys of Bangkok if you’d like to see a very different cabaret on Hove Lawns during May. They bring Thailand’s best-known individuals to Britain for a month.
Event: Brighton Spiegeltent
Date: Fri 1st – Sun 31st May
Website: BrightonSpiegeltent
Location: Old Steine Gardens
What Is It?
You can find a variety of interesting events at the Spiegeltent and there will be dancing in the SpiegelPub as well as theatre at the Bosco and much more!
Event: Brighton Festival Children’s Parade
Date: Sat 2nd May
Website: SameSky
Location: Madeira Drive
What Is It?
A major highlight of the festival calendar is the children’s festival parade which sees the little ones take their creativity to the city streets.
Event: Fringe City 2020
Date: Sat 2nd – Sun 31st May
Website: BrightonFringe
Location: New Road
What Is It?
The Fringe is Brighton’s alternative arts festival – things that are new or risqué are much more likely to appear here than at the main festival.
Event: Historical Commercial Vehicle Run
Date: Sun 3rd May
Website: N/A
Location: Madeira Drive
What Is It?
It’s a long drive with a bunch of historic commercial vehicles, it’s a peculiar festival which is unique to Brighton and it’s a lot of fun.
Event: Luna Cinema
Date: Tues 12th May – Sat 30th May
Website: LunaBeachCinema
Location: Beach/Seafront
What Is It?
The Luna Cinema is a major screen set up on the beach which shows movies, sports and more. It’s a huge draw to Brighton’s beach in the Spring and Summer months.
Event: The Great Escape on the Beach
Date: Wed 13th May – Sat 16th May
Website: TheGreatEscapeFestival
Location: Seafront
What Is It?
If you love music, you’ll love The Great Escape Festival which runs along the seafront during the late Spring.
Event: Market
Date: Sun 17th May
Website: N/A
Location: The Level
What Is It?
The market at The Level returns this month and nearly every month for the rest of the year.
Event: London to Brighton Mini Run
Date: Sun 17th May
Website: LondontoBrighton
Location: Madeira Drive
What Is It?
There will be no actual running at this event which is, in fact, a collection of British Minis (the cars) driving from London to Brighton. If you love these cars, this is the best place in the country to see them.
Event: The RISE Heroes Run
Date: Sun 17th May
Website: RiseUK
Location: Hove Lawns
What Is It?
RISE is a Brighton-based charity that assists the victims of domestic abuse. This is a run that raises money for charity.
Event: Hove Carnival
Date: Mon 25th May
Website: Martlets
Location: Hove Park
What Is It?
This is a completely free-to-attend, family event which brings stallholders and entertainers together to enjoy the weather and raise funds for care.
Event: Brighton Run2Music 2020
Date: Sat 30th May
Website: BrightonRun2Music
Location: Madeira Drive
What Is It?
This is a charitable event where participants run to music. There is also a “Scootathlon” for kids which involves using a scooter, then a bike, followed by a short run.
Event: Classic Car Run
Date: Sun 31st May
Website: N/A
Location: Madeira Drive
What Is It?
The classic car run is a collection of classic cars and it’s one of the best car events in the city in 2020.
Event: International Circus
Date: Weds 13th – Sun 17th May
Website: N/A
Location: Preston Park
What Is It?
If you like the circus then you might want to head to Preston Park for the International Circus when it arrives in May. This is a cruelty-free event.
June & July 2020: Summer Fun in Brighton
It’s summertime in Brighton and as you’d expect in Britain’s busiest seaside resort town, there’s a huge number of exciting things happening that you can take part in.
Event: Kemptown Carnival
Date: Sat 6th June
Website: KemptownCarnival
Location: St Georges Road & Upper St James Street
What Is It?
Summer starts with the Kemptown Carnival a free festival in Kemptown which runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the 6th of June. Live music, dance troupes, street theatre, games and much more bring residents and visitors together in celebration and for a giant custard pie fight!
Event: Land Beyond Music Festival
Date: Sat 6th – Sun 7th June
Website: EventsRunway
Location: Wild Park
What Is It?
It’s a music festival! We have no idea who will be playing as their website is a little reticent on the subject but last year was a great time!
Event: Luna Cinema
Date: Fri 12th June – Sun 12th July
Website: LunaBeachCinema
Location: Seafront
What Is It?
The Luna Cinema is a major screen set up on the beach which shows movies, sports and more. It’s a huge draw to Brighton’s beach in the Spring and Summer months.
Event: Lions Fayre Rottingdean
Date: Sat 13th June
Website: Rottingdean&SaltdeanLions
Location: Rottingdean Village Green & Kipling Garden
What Is It?
A traditional British summer fayre. If you want to get out and about for a good cause, don’t miss it.
Event: Brighton Bed Centre Classic Car Show
Date: Sun 14th June
Website: N/A
Location: Hove Park
What Is It?
The Classic Cars return to Brighton and you simply can’t miss that. If you love a bit of history and a lot of cool chrome, it can’t be beaten.
Event: Funfair
Date: Thurs 18th June – Sun 21st June
Website: N/A
Location: Victoria Rec
What Is It?
The funfair makes another appearance in the city, this time at the Victoria Rec.
Event: TAKE PART
Date: Sat 20th June
Website: N/A
Location: TBC
What Is It?
TAKE PART is Brighton’s pop-up fitness show and it will be doing its best to encourage everyone to get in shape.
Event: London to Brighton Bike Ride
Date: Sun 21st June
Website: BHF
Location: Madeira Drive
What Is It?
If you’d like to show off your fitness, then the London to Brighton bike ride hits town in June. It’s one of the year’s best events but we warn you – it can be really hard to get a bike on a train that weekend.
Event: Race for Life 5K
Date: Sat 4th – Sun 5th July
Website: RaceForLife
Location: Stanmer Park
What Is It?
It’s a fun run to raise money for charitable endeavours. You will need to sign up in advance to participate.
Event: Paddle Round The Pier Festival
Date: Sat 4th – Sun 5th July
Website: PaddleRoundThePier
Location: Hove Lawns
What Is It?
Where everyone, quite literally, tries to paddle around the pier. It’s also a fun festival with many different events all centred around the pier.
Event: Market
Date: Sun 5th July
Website: N/A
Location: The Level
What Is It?
The market at The Level returns this month and nearly every month for the rest of the year.
Event: Kite Festival
Date: Sat 11th July – Sun 12th July
Website: BrightonKiteFlyer
Location: Stanmer Park
What Is It?
The annual kite festival and if you want to see daring aerial acrobatics, it’s the place to be.
Event: Brighton Pride Dog Show and Community Day
Date: Sun 12th July
Website: BrightonPride
Location: Preston Park
What Is It?
You’d have to be barking mad to miss the dog show for Brighton Pride on the 12th of July, it’s a taste of what’s to come at the biggest event of the LGBTQ+ calendar year.
Event: Disability Pride
Date: Sun 12th July
Website: N/A
Location: Hove Lawns
What Is It?
An event that celebrates the contributions of the disabled to the community of Brighton and the UK at large.
Event: Brighton Comedy Garden
Date: Wed 15th July – Sun 20th July
Website: BrightonComedyGarden
Location: Preston Park
What Is It?
A guaranteed laugh a minute as several comedy acts converge on Brighton to entertain the masses.
Event: Brighton Phoenix 10K
Date: Wed 15th July
Website: N/A
Location: Hove Lawns
What Is It?
This is the first 10K run of the year in Brighton.
Event: Run 5.30 2020
Date: Fri 17th July
Website: N/A
Location: New Road
What Is It?
An early morning run for charity. We’re exhausted just thinking about it.
Event: Lions Saltdean Gala
Date: Sat 18th July
Website: Rottingdean&SaltdeanLions
Location: Saltdean Oval Park
What Is It?
A gala event to raise funds for the lions. Market stalls and fun are expected.
Event: Naughty 90’s Festival
Date: Sat 18th – Sun 19th July
Website: EventsRunway
Location: Waterhall Park
What Is It?
90s music galore is what we’d expect at this music festival in Waterhall Park.
Event: RSPCA Brighton Open Day & Dog Show
Date: Sun 19th July
Website: RSPCA-Brighton
Location: Braypool Sports Field
What Is It?
It’s a dog show and you don’t need a dog to go along and support the worthwhile work of the RSPCA, Britain’s oldest national animal charity.
Event: Funfair
Date: Thurs 23rd July – Sun 26th July
Website: N/A
Location: Saltdean Oval
What Is It?
There’s another chance to eat hot dogs and jump in the bumper cars when the funfair returns to town this time at Saltdean Oval.
July 2020 – Aug 2020: Brighton Pride Weekend
Brighton Pride weekend is the biggest event in the UK’s LGBTQ+ calendar and 300,000 or more visitors will flock to the city to celebrate Pride. It doesn’t matter who you are or how you swing, everyone is welcome to come and join the fun and follow the parade which starts in Kemptown and runs all the way to Preston Park where the big pride festival will take place. The parade is completely free to attend.
Event: Brighton Pride Festival
Date: Fri 31st July – Sun 2nd Aug
Website: BrightonPride
Location: Preston Park
What Is It?
For those of you thinking about joining in at the main festival, you’ll need to buy tickets in advance from Brighton Pride, the later you leave that – the more it’s going to cost. 2020’s lineup isn’t public knowledge but headliners in previous years have included Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears and the Pet Shop Boys. We can all get down to that, right?
Event: Brighton Pride
Date: Sat 1st – Sun 2nd Aug
Website: BrightonPride
Location: Old Steine
What Is It?
If you’re not into festivals but you still want to party for the weekend then head town to Kemptown with tickets bought from the Pride Festival website and get into street parties, small music events and other raucous celebrations in Brighton’s main LBGTQ district. This event sells out faster than the festival and you really need to book as soon as possible – all the early bird tickets are gone already.
Brighton Pride raises a lot of money for charity and is considered to be the best event of its kind in the UK and it raises the city’s profile for tourists the whole year round.
Aug 2020 – Sep 2020: Autumn Highlights In Brighton
The pace of events continues in the Autumn with a huge number of events for you to choose from.
Event: About the Young Idea
Date: Wed 5th Aug – Mon 21st Aug
Website: N/A
Location: Seafront
What Is It?
August gets underway with a tribute to Paul Weller and The Jam at the Seafront, the “Jam” Exhibition will host tons of band memorabilia, photographs and fashion and records from one of Britain’s most iconic acts. Paul Weller’s sister, Nicky, has been part of the organizing committee for an event expected to see 50,000 visitors.
Event: Brighton Big Dog
Date: Sat 8th Aug
Website: BrightonBigDog
Location: Stanmer Park
What Is It?
A Mountain Bike Race that takes place at Stanmer Park and the competition is fierce
Event: Market
Date: Sun 9th Aug
Website: N/A
Location: The Level
What Is It?
The market at The Level returns this month and nearly every month for the rest of the year.
Event: TREK Festival
Date: Fri 14th – Sun 16th Aug
Website: N/A
Location: Hove Park
What Is It?
The TREK food festival is coming to Hove Park, it was held in Amsterdam last year, and we’re interested to see what’s coming.
Event: Magic of Thailand Festival
Date: Sat 15th Aug – Sun 16th Aug
Website: MagicofThailand
Location: Preston Park
What Is It?
If you’ve never visited the Land of Smiles, this is your chance to have it come to you.
Event: Brighton Roaring Twenties
Date: Fri 21st Aug – Sun 23rd Aug
Website: N/A
Location: Hove Lawns
What Is It?
If you feel like 2020 is too much work, you might want to go back to the swing era of 1920, and you can on the Brighton Roaring Twenties weekend.
Event: Zippos Circus
Date: Wed 2nd Sept – Tues 8th Sept
Website: ZipposCircus
Location: Hove Lawns
What Is It?
You can enjoy the circus returning to town from the 2nd – 8th Sep when Zippos Circus appears on Hove Lawns.
Event: Brighton International Festival of Choirs
Date: Thurs 3rd Sept – Sun 6th Sept
Website: N/A
Location: Hove Lawns, Seafront Various
What Is It?
Choirs in concert to deliver some of the most beautiful sounds ever heard in the city.
Event: Fiery Foods Festival
Date: Fri 4th – Sun 6th Sept
Website: FieryFoods
Location: I360 Event Space (East)
What Is It?
This event is for the spicy food fans – if you like it hot, then you’ll find it here.
Event: Brighton National Speed Trials
Date: Sat 5th Sept
Website: Brighton&HoveMotorClub
Location: Madeira Drive
What Is It?
Cars and motorbikes will race down Madeira Drive to see who is the fastest.
Event: Brighton Burn Up
Date: Sun 6th Sept
Website: LondonAceCafe
Location: Madeira Drive
What Is It?
This is a major motorbike event and it’s one of the best events of its kind in the country.
Event: K9 Challenge 2020
Date: Sun 6th Sept
Website: K9Challenge
Location: Stanmer Park
What Is It?
The smartest dogs in Brighton (and beyond) show what they’re made of in the K9 Challenge.
Event: Brighton & Hove Triathlon
Date: Sat 12th Sept – Sun 13th Sept
Website: Brighton&HoveTriathlon
Location: Hove Lawns
What Is It?
It’s a full competitive triathlon event which is open to the public to watch.
Event: Market
Date: Sun 13th Sept
Website: N/A
Location: The Level
What Is It?
The market at The Level returns this month and nearly every month for the rest of the year.
Event: London to Brighton 2020
Date: Sun 13th Sept
Website: LondonBrightonCycle
Location: Madeira Drive
What Is It?
The biggest event in the UK’s cycling calendar. Thousands of cyclists ride from London to Brighton.
Event: London to Brighton Off-Road Bike Ride
Date: Sat 19th Sept
Website: BHF
Location: Hove Lawns
What Is It?
For those who felt that riding on the road from London to Brighton wasn’t easy enough – this time they do the same run but without roads!
Event: Reebok Ragnar White Cliffs 2020
Date: Sun 20th Sept
Website: RunRagnar
Location: Madeira Drive
What Is It?
A 170-mile relay run for serious runners only. However, you’re welcome to come along and voice your support if you’re not running.
Event: Boundary Brighton
Date: Sat 26th Sept
Website: BoundaryBrighton
Location: Stanmer Park
What Is It?
It’s a music festival. It’s too early to tell which acts will be on the bill, however.
Event: Brighton Breeze
Date: Sat 26th Sept
Website: N/A
Location: Madeira Drive
What Is It?
If you like VW cars, then this is your chance to see a huge VW meeting. It’s the biggest event of its kind in the UK.
Event: Apple Day Brighton
Date: Sun 27th Sept
Website: BrightonPermaculture
Location: Stanmer Park
What Is It?
Your chance to try a lot of apples for free and join in a traditional English fair.
Event: Brightona
Date: Sun 27th Sept
Website: Brightona
Location: Madeira Drive
What Is It?
This is the annual motorbike race for charity.
October 2020 – December 2020: Winter Wonderland In Brighton
As you might expect, the Winter calendar is a little less hectic, it can get quite cold outside in the Winter in Brighton but that’s not to say there’s nothing on.
Event: Market
Date: Sun 4th Oct
Website: N/A
Location: The Level
What Is It?
The market at The Level returns for the last time in 2020.
Event: Brighton Oktoberfest
Date: Fri 8th Oct – Sun 10th Oct
Website: oktoberfest-brighton.com
Location: The Level
What Is It?
This is when we celebrate beer and music by drinking beer and listening to live music. It’s awesome. If you can’t make it to Germany for the Oktoberfest, Brighton’s the next best option.
Event: London to Brighton Veteran Car Run
Date: Sun 1st Nov
Website: VeteranCarRun
Location: Madeira Drive
What Is It?
This is the biggest draw of Brighton’s motoring calendar and it attracts veteran cars from all over. You won’t see anything like this anywhere else in the world.
Event: The Nevill Fireworks
Date: Sat 7th Nov
Website: NevillFireworks
Location: Nevill Playing Fields
What Is It?
Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the British Government. So what do British people do? Celebrate in his honour. One of the best fireworks displays in the South can be found at Nevill Playing Fields for the Guy Fawkes festivities.
Event: Brighton 10k Run
Date: Sun 15th Nov
Website: N/A
Location: Madeira Drive
What Is It?
The last running event of the calendar year, it’s only 10,000 meters which ought to be easy if you completed the Marathon back in April.
Event: Burning the Clocks
Date: Mon 21st Dec
Website: Samesky
Location: Madeira Drive
What Is It?
The sweetest event of the year is when Brighton comes together for Burning the Clocks on 21st of December for a lantern parade throughout the city. If you want to take part, you will need to order (and pay for) a lantern kit but you can watch for free.
Conclusion
As you can see, Brighton is an amazing city for outdoor events and no matter what you’re in to from country fairs to rock festivals, there is quite literally something for everyone. The summer sun makes for the busiest time of the year, but the biggest events are Brighton Pride weekend and the Brighton Arts Festival and Brighton Fringe Month.
