Monday 19th May 2026: Brighton came alive with the sound of new music this weekend as The Great Escape celebrated its landmark 20th anniversary with four days of discovery, connection, and unforgettable performances. We were in attendance for the full duration and our staff Top 5 choices and concert reviews will follow over the course of the coming week.
Welcoming festivalgoers and music industry professionals from around the world, the festival once again transformed the city’s seaside streets, venues and stages into a global showcase of emerging and established talent, with artists representing more than 50 countries performing across over 40 venues throughout Brighton alongside a packed and forward-thinking conference programme.
In collaboration with an expansive network of media and industry partners, this year’s edition delivered one of the festival’s broadest and most ambitious line-ups to date. At the Brighton Dome, Spotlight Shows from electroclash icon Peaches, and fast-rising Irish trio Kingfishr delivered some of the weekend’s defining moments. Viral Québec polkadot-clad duo Angine de Poitrine provided the soundtrack to a rollicking Opening Party on the Beach Stage, joined by Montreal rock outfit Ribbon Skirt and Cornish-Irish group Girl In The Year Above ensuring a riotous start to the festival.
Wednesday’s opening day highlighted the breadth of talent on offer across the city. Netherlands-based neo soul artist Bnnyhunna impressed at Patterns Upstairs with a smooth and soulful set, while London dance-punk duo The Itch ignited the downstairs venue with frenetic energy and sharp-edged hooks. Over at Komedia Studio, New Zealand artist Jude Kelly delivered a standout headline performance as part of The Great Escape’s Lead Country Partnership.
International showcases continued throughout the week, with partnerships including Sounds Australia, Flowing Water: China Sounds, Inspired by Tokyo and The Portuguese Discovery shining a spotlight on some of the most exciting emerging talent from across the globe, reinforcing The Great Escape’s role as a vital meeting point for international music communities.
Thursday maintained the festival’s momentum with another eclectic mix of performances. Margate collective Pigeon delivered a joyous, rhythm-heavy set, while Dead Dads Club – produced by Fontaines D.C.’s Carlos O’Connell – blended sharp songwriting with hazy indie textures. Experimental folk group Madra Salach captivated audiences with stirring, atmospheric performances that demonstrated the festival’s continued appetite for genre-defying artistry.
Friday saw a series of high profile stage takeovers bring fresh energy across Brighton’s venues. Notion’s packed programme at Quarters featured compelling sets from PVA, Sassy 009 and The Orchestra (For Now), while NME’s showcase at The Old Market brought together Mandy, Indiana, Girl Scout, Chanpan, and Any Young Mechanic for an evening of live music. DIY’s takeover of Horatio’s on Brighton Pier celebrated emerging alternative talent with performances from Mên An Tol, Airfic, Y and more.
Heavy music also had a strong presence across the weekend as Download Festival teamed up with Kerrang! to present The Download Stage at seafront venue Daltons. Rap-rockers Native James and Frozemode were joined by Comastatic, Ally Nicholas, OVERSIZE and many more ahead of the festival’s return to Derbyshire next month.
Alongside the music programme, The Great Escape’s industry-leading conference once again brought together the brightest talents from the international music sector to provide cutting edge insights for attendees. Highlights including keynotes from Melanie C, electroclash icon Peaches alongside ILĀ, as well as two leading live agents, Emma Banks and Natasha Gregory.
Saturday’s closing party, presented by Dork Magazine, brought the festival to a triumphant close as post punk favourites Shame delivered a characteristically lively post-punk performance with support from Tooth, August, Goodbye, and Orchard.
The Great Escape continues to be the UK’s top destination for music lovers, industry professionals and new talent to explore, connect, and discover the power of new music alongside insightful discussions of the industry’s most pressing issues at its picturesque home of the Brighton seaside.
Twenty years on, The Great Escape continues to stand at the forefront of new music culture, bringing together artists, audiences and industry leaders. With one of its most diverse and ambitious programmes to date, the festival’s 20th anniversary proved a powerful reminder of why The Great Escape remains the UK’s home of emerging music.
Super Earlybird festival tickets have already sold out, however Earlybird festival and Super Earlybird delegate tickets for The Great Escape 2027 are on sale now from HERE.
