Brighton Festival has announced that next year’s Children’s Parade, opening the 2026 festival on May 2, will celebrate storytelling with the theme Read All About It!. Inspired by 2026 being the National Year of Reading, the parade will explore six children’s book genres: Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Traditional Stories, Science Fiction and Graphic Novels & Picture Books.
Jointly produced with award-winning community arts charity Same Sky, the family-friendly parade is free to attend and draws thousands of participants and spectators to central Brighton. It is the largest event of its kind in Europe, with hundreds of local schoolchildren creating large-scale artworks and costumes to bring their stories to life along the parade route.
2026 also marks the 40th anniversary of the Children’s Parade. Since its inception in 1986, more than 150,000 people have taken part. Each participating school will work with a dedicated Same Sky artist, who will provide in-person guidance and creative support.
Same Sky is introducing new ways to help teachers incorporate music into the parade, including samba masterclasses led by percussion expert Ollie Tunmer, formerly of STOMP, in partnership with Create Music.
Lucy Davies, Chief Executive of Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival, said: “The Children’s Parade is part of Brighton’s identity – a vivid, collective act of imagination and ambition that unites schools, families and communities. This year’s theme puts storytelling at the heart of the celebration, and we’re proud to bring it back to our streets for the 40th edition.”
Jane McMorrow, Interim CEO at Same Sky, added: “We’re incredibly proud to mark 40 years of the Children’s Parade. With this year’s focus on children’s literature, pupils and teachers can let their imaginations run wild. We can’t wait to see it all come together.”
The parade will be supported by independent school Brighton Girls, known for its innovative teaching and commitment to social responsibility.
Brighton Festival runs from May 2 to 25, 2026, with the full programme set to be announced on February 18 2026. Festival membership offers priority booking for all performances.
For more information and images, visit Brighton Festival.
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