The University is the official Higher Education Partner of Brighton Festival, the largest annual curated multi-arts festival in England, hosted annually across the city. The 2024 events run from Saturday 4 May until Sunday 26 May.
Throughout the past year we have also been official education partner for the Turner Prize 2023. So this year we are bringing Turner Prize events to Brighton Festival!
About the festival
Brighton Festival brings together performers, writers and artists from across the world and this year it is more accessible than ever before, with a diverse series of 125 events: 16 free events, 56 events under £10, and 21 events for children and families.
As the festival’s Higher Education Partner we are delighted to provide you with unique access to the festival programme and the chance to attend events co-created by academics and students from the University.
Ticket offers for Sussex staff
- Scott Silven: Wonders – Best seats just £20 – Thursday 9 and Saturday 11 May, 2pm matinee, and Sunday 12 May, 2.30pm matinee, at Theatre Royal Brighton.
Promo code: BF24WONDER
- An evening with Salena Godden – Ticket just £5 – Thursday 9 May at Brighton Dome Studio Theatre.
Promo code: TRYFIVE
- Brook Tate 'Birthmarked' – Ticket just £5 – Thursday 9 May at the Attenborough Centre.
Promo code: TRY5
- Carnival Collective – Best seats just £10 (standing/unreserved seating) – Sunday 12 May at Brighton Dome Concert Hall.
Promo code: BF24TEN
- No Love Songs – £10 Best seats just £10 – Friday 17 and Saturday 18 May at 7.30pm and 2.30 pm (Saturday 18 May only) at Theatre Royal Brighton.
Promo code: BF24TEN
What’s on
You can view the whole Brighton Festival programme.
Our events
Our Festival of Ideas is back featuring a dynamic and engaging programme of talks, events and activities, led by students and staff from the School of Media, Arts and Humanities.
As part of Brighton Festival 2024, we’ll invite you to listen to bird song, think like a witch and feel the magic with Jeremy Deller!
Festival of Ideas – part of Brighton Festival
- Sunday 5 – Sunday 12 May
University of Sussex Festival of Ideas: Bird Bath
An immersive experience created by ecoacoustician Dr Alice Eldridge and meditator Alistair Appleton (Mindsprings), transforming buildings into restorative spaces with the soothing sound of local birdsong. Drop into St Peter’s Church in Preston Park for free.
Extra special experiences include Dawn Chorus Breakfast, and Dusk Meditation, Performance and Improvisation.
- Friday 10 May – University of Sussex Festival of Ideas: Remember When the Turner Prize Came to Sussex?
Get the inside story on why one of the UK’s most prestigious arts made its way to Sussex and the part the University of Sussex played in its role as education partner in bringing arts to the wider community. Organised in partnership with Towner Eastbourne.
- Saturday 11 May – University of Sussex Festival of Ideas: The Radical, Revolutionary Witch
Dr. Laura Kounine discusses her book “Witchful Thinking” with Zoë Howe (author and host of ‘Rock and Roll Witch’ on Soho Radio), exploring the contemporary symbolism of witches in feminism and activism.
- Tuesday 21 May – University of Sussex Festival of Ideas: Now That’s What I Call Magic with Jeremy Deller
Turner Prize-winning artist and University of Sussex alumnus Jeremy Deller explores collaboration, British history, protest, and pop culture. Organised in partnership with Towner Eastbourne
- Wednesday 22 May – University of Sussex Festival of Ideas: Radical Remembering with Subira Joy
Subira Joy, recipient of a Stuart Hall Foundation Fellowship, explores histories of resistance through creativity and performance.
Combining spoken word, discussions, writing, and more to explore queer and Black activism, archival research and radical lineages, Radical Remembering invites you to challenge how and why we hold our histories.
- Friday 24 May – University of Sussex Festival of Ideas: Close-up
Magician Vincent Gambini invites the public to experience a 10-minute performance inside a café, blurring the lines between reality and illusion.
Festival of Ideas: events from our students:
We will be showcasing events hosted by our students too who are hosting a mix of talks, workshops, round tables and performances in the run up to Brighton Festival. Look out for photos in newsletters and across socials.
ACCA events
Our wonderful on-campus arts centre, Attenborough for the Creative Arts is co-hosting Brighton Festival events too! View ACCA events
Our Place
The University is once again supporting Our Place, a free programme of creativity, which takes place in the Brighton and Hove neighbourhoods of Hangleton and Knoll, East Brighton, Moulsecoomb and Bevendean.
This year the programme will see three Artist in Residence projects, which will culminate in artworks to be showcased across the city in May, covering themes of cultural diversity, identity and community.