Things To Do In Brighton This Weekend (25–26 July)

Brighton’s weekend programme for 25–26 July brings together major beach concerts, comedy, club nights, family activities, food experiences and live performance. Saturday is particularly busy, with gigs, immersive theatre, screenings and daytime events across the city.

There are also longer-running options for both days, including museum exhibitions, a Royal Pavilion family trail, open-studio art and cinema releases. Whether you are planning a day out or a late night, this guide covers a broad selection of confirmed weekend events.

All weekend

INTERSECTIONS EXHIBITION: See paintings by Sussex artist Kate Wickham alongside ceramics by Craig Underhill in the Intersections exhibition at Kellie Miller Arts. The show considers landscape, memory and humanity, bringing together Wickham’s topographical paintings and Underhill’s large-scale vessels informed by Cornish landscapes.

CURIOUS ABOUT BRIGHTON: Follow clues through landmarks and lesser-known corners of the city with these self-guided Brighton heritage walks. Available as a booklet or instant download, each route combines local history, puzzles and fresh-air exploration, with one purchase designed for up to four people.

MINIONS & MONSTERS: Head to Odeon Brighton for Minions & Monsters, in which the Minions search for frightening creatures for their monster movie. Their plans go awry after the creatures are unleashed on an unsuspecting world, sending them on a mission to save the day.

PLAY/RECORD: Visit Mid Street Lab for Caroline Beavon’s open studio residency, where the digital artist develops interactive work in public. The four-week project includes live making, free ticketed events and an opportunity to see the creative process as it unfolds.

TOY STORY 5: Catch Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5 at Odeon Brighton. With Jessie leading Bonnie’s room and Buzz Lightyear as her second-in-command, the toys face a new challenge when Bonnie becomes attached to a frog-like tablet called Lilypad.

PALACE OF DRAGONS: Families can explore the Royal Pavilion’s dragon-filled interiors through the Explore the Palace of Dragons experience. A mysterious nest inside the palace launches The Great Dragon Count, inviting visitors to search the building for the creatures hidden in its ceilings and chandeliers.

GOAT: See Goat at Odeon Brighton, a family film about Will, a small goat offered the chance to play roarball, a full-contact sport dominated by much larger animals. Dismissed by teammates, he sets out to prove that size need not decide the result.

THE INVITE: Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton star in relationship comedy The Invite at Odeon Brighton. A dinner party exposes tensions in Joe and Angela’s marriage as a few awkward questions lead to more honesty than the guests expected.

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR: Brighton Museum and Art Gallery presents the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, featuring 100 images selected from more than 45,000 competition entries. The display ranges from animal portraits and dramatic landscapes to endangered habitats and unusual species.

60 YEARS OF STAR TREK: Explore six decades of toys, models and memorabilia in the 60 Years of Star Trek exhibition at Brighton Toy and Model Museum. The display is included with museum admission and looks at the franchise through objects made for fans and collectors.

MOANA: Odeon Brighton is screening the reimagining of Moana, which follows Moana beyond the reef of Motunui as she travels with the demigod Maui. Dwayne Johnson returns as Maui alongside Catherine Laga’aia as Moana.

Saturday 25 July

FESTIVAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY: Meet local archaeology through handling sessions, drop-in talks, arts and crafts at this free Festival of Archaeology at Brighton Museum. The activities explore how people have lived with, shaped and been shaped by their environment; children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Starts 10am.

OYSTER OPENING MASTERCLASS: Learn about oyster history, provenance and species distinctions at the Oyster Opening Masterclass at Riddle & Finns. The 90-minute session includes hot and cold oysters, hands-on shucking guidance, a Bloody Mary, sparkling wine, champagne and an oyster-themed goodie bag. Starts 10.30am.

BOOZY BRUNCH CLUB: Settle in for an afternoon with queens at the Boozy Brunch Club drag bottomless brunch at Broadway Lounge. Guests can check in, take photos, meet fellow brunchers and watch as the drag performers take over. Starts 11am.

LOLA’S BUFF BOYS BRUNCH: Madam Lola’s hosts Lola’s Buff Boys Brunch, combining live cabaret, aerial acrobatics, boylesque and pop music. Food from neighbouring Kemp Thai can be ordered for delivery to tables during the show. Starts 11.30am.

ON THE BEACH: THE MACCABEES: The Maccabees headline an On The Beach show on Brighton Beach with Editors, Miles Kane, Anna Calvi, Ash, Badly Drawn Boy and Lime Garden also on the bill. The event is presented in association with Radio X. Starts 1pm.

THE COMEDY EXPERIMENT: Spend the afternoon at The Comedy Experiment at Caroline of Brunswick, a free comedy event featuring a television comedian. Previous headliners have included Maisie Adam, Joe Wilkinson and Harriet Kemsley, with happy-hour drinks available through the afternoon. Starts 4pm.

SBTRKT DJ: Concorde 2 welcomes the producer for an SBTRKT summer day party. Known for collaborations with artists including Sampha, Little Dragon, Drake, Ezra Koenig and A$AP Ferg, SBTRKT brings a DJ set to the seafront venue. Starts 5pm.

SWEET LORETTA: Sussex duo Quinn Humphreys and Fraser Blanchflower celebrate their debut record at the Sweet Loretta album launch show at Alphabet. Expect songs from You Had To Be There alongside fan favourites, shaped by the pair’s influences in 1970s and 1980s pop, soul and funk. Starts 6.30pm.

BLUE: Blue bring their new record Reflections to CHALK for an intimate album launch show. The event is presented as a chance to see the group perform around the release, with signed copies of the album available while supplies last. Starts 7pm.

SECRET COMEDY CLUB SATURDAYS: See stand-up at Artista with The Secret Comedy Club Saturdays. The independent venue hosts regular comedy nights and has won the Audience Choice Award for Best Fringe Venue. Starts 7pm.

FORBIDDEN NIGHTS: Ironworks Studios hosts Forbidden Nights, a stage show combining a male vocalist with aerial, pole and fire performance, plus striptease. The production describes its format as a meeting point between Cirque du Soleil and Magic Mike. Starts 7pm.

THE SLAYERS: Take part in The Slayers immersive social deduction experience at Preston Manor. Players join a council infiltrated by vampires, gather information, complete interactive challenges, form alliances and decide who can be trusted as the game develops. Starts 7pm.

HOUSE OF BAMBOO PRESENTS ODYSSEY: House of Bamboo returns to Tempest for Odyssey, a beach-front club night spanning disco, Balearic sounds, house and techno. Oh See, Sam Red, Missing People and Chicha Morada join the line-up. Starts 7pm.

GARY DELANEY: Gary Delaney brings a new stand-up set to Theatre Royal in Gary on Laughing. The comedian’s latest tour is built around new jokes and is intended for adults rather than children or easily offended audiences. Starts 7.30pm.

THE SERFERS + DARCY + GOLD & GREEN: Catch Brighton surf-punk band The Serfers with South Coast grunge-gaze group Darcy and Brighton alternative emo trio Gold & Green at this three-band show at The Hope & Ruin. Starts 7.30pm.

BRIGHTON SUNSET CRUISE: Sail from Brighton Marina on the Sussex Dolphin Project sunset cruise. Volunteers will discuss local marine wildlife and watch for marine mammals, while passengers can look for seabirds and see the seafront from the water; sightings are not guaranteed. Starts 8.30pm.

SCARY MOVIE: Odeon Brighton screens the returning Scary Movie film series, following Shorty, Ray, Cindy and Brenda as another masked killer targets them amid monsters, supernatural creatures and familiar slasher-film chaos. Starts 9.45pm.

DROP DEAD GORGEOUS: Watch the Drop Dead Gorgeous screening at Duke of York’s Picturehouse. This mock-documentary follows a teen beauty pageant and a former winner determined to see her daughter follow in her footsteps, with deadly consequences. Starts 10.15pm.

MAKE A DANCE: Ben Lewis and Josh Ludlow bring their Make A Dance club set to Patterns. Expect a groove-led blend of classic house, cosmic disco, percussion and offbeat selections; this is an 18+ event. Starts 11pm.

BRAINROT: DJ Morganio takes over CHALK for Brainrot, a Saturday club night promising selections across a range of genres. Starts 11pm.

Sunday 26 July

GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES: Dukes at Komedia screens Howard Hawks’ 1953 comedy musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, starring Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell. Starts 11am.

ON THE BEACH: MOBY: Moby headlines the final day of the On The Beach 2026 festival, performing live with a full band on Brighton Beach. The date forms part of his limited 2026 world tour and marks his first appearance in Brighton for decades. Starts 2pm.

JUST LIKE HEAVEN: Concorde 2 hosts the Just Like Heaven alternative 80s terrace party, with post-punk and new-wave selections including The Cure, Joy Division, Siouxsie and the Banshees, New Order, Depeche Mode and The Smiths. Starts 3pm.