Brighton Festival 2025 is set to end on a high note over the May Bank Holiday weekend, bringing together a vibrant mix of music, art, family events, outdoor performances, and thought-provoking talks under the banner of this year’s theme, New Dawn. As England’s largest curated multi-arts festival, it concludes its three-week run with a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of creativity and community.
Music Highlights with Guest Director Anoushka Shankar
Grammy-nominated sitarist and composer Anoushka Shankar, this year’s Guest Director, leads the final weekend with the premiere of Chapter III: We Return to Light—a visionary live show that concludes her acclaimed trilogy of mini-albums. Performing on Sunday May 25 with a handpicked ensemble of celebrated musicians, the concert promises a deeply moving experience, supported by the Bagri Foundation.
The weekend also features a performance by Mercury Prize-nominated artist Nadine Shah on Saturday, supported by singer-guitarist Ms. Mohammed. Later that night, Shiva Soundsystem founder Nerm closes the festival with a high-energy party showcasing the best of contemporary UK South Asian club culture.
Art, Expression and a Shared Vision of the Future
Throughout the Festival, artist duo Howareyoufeeling.studio invited participants to reflect on what New Dawn means to them through a travelling installation and a series of workshops. The project culminates in How dark it is before dawn, a free exhibition of community-created artwork on display at The Old Courtroom from May 23 to 26.
Outdoors, the city becomes a canvas for imaginative performances. In Walk, Wander, Dream, yoga practitioner Parmjit Sagoo and musician Arun Ghosh (also performing with Shankar) lead meditative walking sessions paired with live music. Meanwhile, percussionist Sarathy Korwar conducts a vibrant Percussion Parade along Brighton seafront, featuring a 30-piece youth ensemble performing original music inspired by global and futuristic rhythms.
Swiss troupe Collectif Ouinch Ouinch brings explosive energy to the streets with Happy Hype, a carnivalesque celebration of dance, joy and queer exuberance that invites the public into a shared world of festivity and freedom.
Family Fun and Outdoor Adventures
Families are well catered for, with events for children and adults alike. Prancer the Dancer’s DanceDanceDiscoPartyFunShow invites kids aged 3+ to fuel a disco with their dancing energy. Over at the Brighton Dome Corn Exchange, young inventors aged 3–11 can build a futuristic vision of the city in Future City: Brighton 2125, using recycled materials.
Brighton Table Tennis Club returns with a free family day of games, and in Crawley, outdoor arts specialists Without Walls present pop-up performances across the weekend. These include interactive water installations, aerial dance, hip hop, and bird-watching experiences that explore themes like climate change and human connection.
Talks, Books and Big Ideas
Brighton Festival 2025 also offers space for reflection and conversation. Highlights include:
Photographer Martin Parr in conversation about his latest work
Authors Elizabeth Lovatt and Natasha Brown discussing their new books
American writer Rebecca Solnit launching her essay collection No Straight Road Takes You There in conversation with former Brighton MP Caroline Lucas
Author Dean Atta leading a creative workshop on writing for children and young people
A Festival of Renewal and Collective Hope
Guest Director, Anoushka Shankar said: “Being at the helm of an institution that seeks, year on year, to celebrate boldness, diversity, and connection, has been an honour. I invite everyone to participate in and feel part of this last weekend, which is packed with artists bringing their unique perspectives and beauty to the Festival.”
Her vision, shaped by the idea of a New Dawn, imagines a hopeful future—one where art and community pave the way for renewal, resilience and shared joy.
Brighton Festival 2025 runs until Sunday May 26. For full event listings, times, and ticket information, visit brightonfestival.org.
