Animal Crossing at SEA LIFE Brighton: A Summer Guide

The collaboration between Nintendo and SEA LIFE is returning to Brighton this summer, bringing the world of Animal Crossing: New Horizons to the local aquarium. From July 13th to August 16th, 2026, the site will be transformed into a physical version of the game’s islands, focusing on marine education through the lens of the popular life simulation series. This partnership follows previous successful runs and aims to connect the digital museum experience many players know from their consoles with real-world conservation and marine biology.

Visitors will be able to take part in a themed tour of the 'Sea Life Islands'. One of the main features is a stamp rally, where you can collect character stamps at different stations throughout the aquarium. It is a direct nod to the International Museum Day event found in the game, where players track down stamps in Blathers' museum. Alongside this, there is a fossil dig activity where you can look for the ancestors of modern marine life, and a search for Gulliver, the seagull character who famously washes up on the game's shores. These activities are integrated into the regular exhibits, so you will be looking for game references while seeing the actual residents of the aquarium, such as the green sea turtles and zebra sharks.

For those interested in the characters themselves, Tom Nook and Isabelle are scheduled for daily meet-and-greets. In Brighton, these sessions are set to happen every 30 minutes between 10:00 and 16:00. It is a chance for a photo, though the sessions themselves last about 30 minutes and times can change depending on the day. Other residents from the game, like Aurora and Octavian, also feature in the themed signage and educational materials scattered around the different zones, from the tropical areas to the colder water tanks. The idea is to learn about the real-life counterparts of the fish and creatures you catch in the game, providing a bit of context to the digital collection.

The event is included in the price of a standard admission ticket, so there is no extra fee to participate in the Animal Crossing activities. The aquarium suggests booking an 'Anytime Ticket' if you want more flexibility with your entry time, especially since the character appearances are spread throughout the day. At the end of the route, the gift shop will have a range of Animal Crossing merchandise available, including items that are usually exclusive to Nintendo’s permanent stores. It is a straightforward way to see the aquarium with a different theme, whether you are a long-time player of the Switch game or just looking for something different to do in Brighton during the summer months.