Great Reasons To Visit Brighton In 2026
We take a look at the vibrant cultural city of Brighton in Sussex and what makes it a great place to visit, dine, shop and stay, with some great recommendations from locals & visitors.
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While famous for its beaches, pier, shopping Lanes and Royal Pavilion, these are just a snippet of the riches that this Sussex city has to offer. Whether you are looking for a day out, a family holiday or somewhere to put down roots, there is so much to discover and love about Brighton.
A diverse city, it blends history with modern culture creating a vibrant and beautiful location. Starting its life as an ancient fishing village, it then became known as a health resort in the 18th century and has since gone on to flourish and grow. Taken as a sign of prestige, in 2000 Brighton and Hove was granted City Status by Queen Elizabeth II as part of the Millennium celebrations and its reputation has continued to grow.
However, Brighton is definitely also a location for many lively events, and stands out as a festival hot spot whether it’s beer, the arts, Pride, kites, mermaids or even naked bike rides!
If you are looking for somewhere to stay on your visit, Index Digital publisher Stephen Gurney would suggest the Blue Sky Guest House. Located right in the heart of the Kemptown and by the sea it is just a 10-minute walk from the city centre and offers fantastic value for money.
During your trip to the Sussex city, Brighton Beach is obviously a must-visit, and its popularity was shown when in 2023 it was crowned the most instagrammable in the UK By Dune London, after its research revealed a whopping 950,086 hashtag mentions. And with eight miles of beach you’ll be sure to find the spot for you, whether you are looking for somewhere to sit and enjoy some fish and chips or go for a swim.
There are also lots of green spaces to enjoy in Brighton. Stanmer Park has plenty of open land as well as woodland walks, at Preston Park you can take part in sports or simply relax and enjoy a picnic, and Queens Park has a wildlife garden planted by a local herbalist. As the city has seven Green Flag parks to choose from you will be spoilt for choice!
For those who love sports head to Yellowave Beachsports – the UK’s only permanent beach sports venue of its kind. Its courts, clubhouse and cafe are open year round and its dedicated team is passionate about beach volleyball and sand-based sports – so go on give it a try!
There’s also lots to explore at The Royal Pavilion, where you can take in the splendour of The Banqueting Room, find out how the Great Kitchen broke new ground in England, embrace the grandeur of the Saloon, view the Chinese-inspired Music Room, see where the royals rested in the Royal Bedrooms and discover the extraordinary war story of the Indian Hospital Gallery. Meanwhile outside, its garden offers a wildlife haven to be explored.
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A great day out for all of the family, take the opportunity to discover an amazing underwater world at Brighton Sealife Centre. There are more than 5,000 sea creatures to meet at the world’s oldest aquarium, from sharks and turtles to octopus and jellyfish. Opened in 1872, it has a beautifully restored Victorian arcade, seawater tanks with underwater tunnels and floor to ceiling viewing windows and rockpools where you can enjoy hands-on experiences too.
Plus don’t forget to make a visit to the Upside Down House. This “museum of illusions” is fun for all of the family, where you can capture “the most surreal images, unique poses from an inverted perspective”.
For those with a head for heights, take in the best views of beautiful Brighton with a trip to Brighton i360 where you will glide up to 450ft in a viewing pod to enjoy 360 degree panoramic views of the city, beach and out to sea.
And for traditional fun for all of the family, head to Brighton Palace Pier with its arcades packed with all the latest games, take part in side shows to show off your skills and maybe win a prize, grab a coffee at Starlings Roost Café and let the little ones run off some steam at the soft play area. Then head to the end of the pier where you will find a whole host of rides and plenty of refreshments to keep you going.
Heading away from the seafront, enjoy a walk through the labyrinth of the Lanes, where you’ll find lots of fantastic independent shops – and when you need a rest and something to refuel there are plenty of lively places to eat and drink. And speaking of refreshments, with a variety of venues throughout the city, why not enjoy a coffee from Wolfox Organic Coffee Roasters?
Once the location for a scene in the 1979 film Quadrophenia, Quadrophenia Alley in Brighton now houses Quadrophenia Alley by Bone Clothing. A shrine to the Mod movement, the alley draws visitors from afar and while you are there check out the men’s clothing store that now calls this its home.
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All the swimmers out there will be delighted that Sea Lanes Brighton opened in summer 2023 which has transformed the former Peter Pan site on Madeira Drive – offering a 50m six-lane open air heated swimming pool with membership available or open to members of the public on a pay per swim basis.
The aim was to create the UK’s first national open water swimming centre of excellence, with the development consisting of the pool and associated facilities, endless pool training facility, commercial buildings providing flexible space for local, independent businesses and improved access to the sea.
If you are looking for a more relaxed pace of life then Beach Box is an all year round wood-fired public beach sauna spa, based on Brighton Beach, with three unique cosy converted horse trailers. With incredible sea views and being located right on the pebbles with direct beach access, it’s perfect for a sea dip too!
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Events in Brighton in 2026
Brighton Dome
Brighton Dome brings the very best in live entertainment to all three of its venues for spring 2026. Featuring acclaimed dance artists and much-loved family shows in Brighton Dome Concert Hall, classical music and comedy in Brighton Dome Corn Exchange and interactive theatre in BrightonDome Studio Theatre, plus contemporary music, spoken word and more, there is something for everyone.
Some of the highlights include: Olivier Award-nominated dance piece MÁM from world class choreographer Michael Keegan Dolan; Family fun with We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, Horrible Histories, Rude Science and Michael Rosen’s Nice! for theatre goers of all ages; Brighton dance artist Liam Francis premieres new work Alchemy with his company, and Breakin’ Convention returns with world class performances from celebrated poppers, lockers, b-boys and b-girls; and Soul-warming feel-good joy in House of Life.
There's also a host of stars including Ardal O’Hanlon, Bridget Christie, Pete Firman, Sue Perkins, and Lucy Pearman bringing all the comedy you could want; Akala discusses the political landscape at this critical inflection point in his State of the Nation talk; and AFLO. the poet presents two nights of spoken word covering LGBTQ+ and International Women’s Day at Brighton Dome’s regular Status Flo event.
Plus music fans can enjoy performances from a host of stars including Beverley Knight, Sleaford Mods, The Charlatans, Franz Ferdinand and Ray LaMontagne; Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra each present a series of concerts; and for the first time BBC Radio 3’s Friday Night is Music Night is presented live from BrightonDome.
11th-12th April 2026: Brighton Marathon Weekend
Spanning two days, Brighton Marathon Weekend celebrates the vibrant community and expects up to 20,000 participants across three events: the Brighton Miles (held within Preston Park), the Brighton and Hove 10K (starting and finishing at Hove Lawns) and the Brighton Marathon – which goes through a variety of neighbourhoods as well as the coast and city centre. It was founded in 2010 with the marathon and a free children’s event – with the BM10K added in 2014.
1st-31st May 2026: Brighton Fringe
Brighton Fringe “sets out to stimulate, educate and entertain all year round through a diverse range of events, performances and workshops”. And throughout the month of May the city will see local, national and international performers showcasing their creativity. There will be a vast range of performances to choose from spanning theatre, comedy, circus dance & physical theatre, tours, music & nightlife, cabaret and more. Plus there are also a range of choices for children and young adults.
13th-16th May 2026: The Great Escape
A festival for new music, The Great Escape will showcase 450 emerging artists from all over the world in more than 30 walkable venues across the city – plus there will be a pop-up festival site on Brighton Beach. There will also be The Alternative Escape, Spotlight Shows, secret gigs, club nights and spontaneous collaborations throughout the weekend.
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Locals’ Top Tips
In 2023 Index Digital publisher Stephen Gurney enjoyed a three-day visit to Brighton and discovered some great local recommendations during his trip, where he stayed at the Blue Sky Guest House in Kemptown. Richard, the host, offered lots of ideas, so here are some places he recommended...
While in Kemptown it is well worth taking a visit to the Hand in Hand Pub which is over 200 years old and a brewery to boot. Also on this list is The Black Dove pub which is the place to head to for great cocktails and vibe, and The Bayleaf Indian Restaurant where Stephen had a great curry at the Mediterranean restaurant in St James Street which was also fabulous and locally run.
Also, on his travels Stephen cycled to the other end of Hove and enjoyed a great breakfast at the Big Beach Cafe, run by the super friendly Dan, Tania and part owner Fatboy Slim. A visit to the lanes is a must and for Stephen a stand-out experience was the truffle house Signorini Tartufi.
Naz at AK and Co accountants in Hove also recommended The Barley Mow Pub in Kemptown and for the best curry in the area he suggested the Hove Tandoori.
If you are looking for somewhere else to stay in Brighton or a bite to eat, nestled in the iconic cobbled alleyways of The Lanes, Hotel Du Vin offers 49 distinctive rooms and suites, some offering spectacular sea views. You can dine al fresco under the vine-covered pergola in the central courtyard, sink into a leather armchair in the bar or lounge or tuck into simple, robust dishes prepared with fresh, local, seasonal ingredients in their trademark bistro.
Or try out Red Brighton Blue, also in Kemptown. It is located within an eight-minute walk of Brighton Pier and 900 yards of The Royal Pavilion, and offers accommodation with a terrace as well as breakfast at the Cosiez Cafe, the property’s partner cafe, which is a short walk from the hotel. Popular points of interest nearby include Brighton Dome and Komedia, plus the Brighton Centre and Victoria Gardens are a 17-minute walk from the hotel.
On 16th October 2025, Flat Iron, on Ship Street near the city’s bustling Lanes neighbourhood, opened bringing great steak to the seaside town. Led by the ‘Flat Iron’ steak, a cut sourced from the feather blade and renowned for its flavour, tenderness and juiciness, the menu also features a rotating board of blackboard specials, including Wagyu daily specials and green chilli cheeseburger made using beef from the Flat Iron herd in Thirsk, Yorkshire. Index Digital visited shortly after it opened and enjoyed some delicious dishes – to read more about our visit, click here.
With so many events and activities constantly being added to the fun that is going on in Brighton, there is so much for all visitors and locals alike to enjoy in 2026!
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