Historical Re-enactments and Medieval Festivals near Brighton

Living in Brighton, we are used to the modern buzz of the Lanes and the seafront, but just a short trip inland or along the coast, the landscape is currently shifting back several centuries. With the spring season well underway, several Sussex locations are preparing for large-scale historical re-enactments. One of the most immediate opportunities to see this in action is at Arundel Castle, which is hosting a Medieval Festival – A Skirmish from 23 to 25 May 2026. This event focuses on the year 1480 and includes live combat, craft demonstrations, and archery. Tickets for this specific weekend are priced at £29.00 for adults and £13.00 for children. If you miss the May event, the castle has a busy summer schedule, including a Medieval Festival Weekend on 4–5 July set in 1474, and an International Medieval Jousting Tournament from 21 to 26 July, where eight competitors from four international teams compete for the title.

Further into East Sussex, Michelham Priory House & Gardens in Hailsham is holding the East Sussex Living History Festival from 24 to 26 August 2026. This event covers a broad timeline from the medieval period through to the 16th century, featuring historical encampments and demonstrations of daily life like period cooking and crafts. For those interested in hands-on activities, there are sessions for axe throwing and archery. Entry is £13 for adults, while members of the Sussex Archaeological Society and children under 17 can enter for free. During the same August Bank Holiday weekend, England’s Medieval Festival takes place at Pippingford Park, offering jousting, music, and medieval markets. For a more specific focus on the early medieval period, the Haestingas group, a local branch of Regia Anglorum, continues to perform across Sussex, recreating the lives of Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, and Normans through combat displays and craft workshops.

If you are willing to travel slightly further into Kent, the Festival Theatre 2026 Season runs from May through December at venues like Hever Castle and Penshurst Place. While many of these are theatrical performances, there are specific historical workshops such as Feel Like A Tudor! on 5 August. Additionally, the Broadstairs Dickens Festival returns for its 89th year from 12 to 14 June 2026, where the town adopts a Victorian atmosphere with recreations of scenes from David Copperfield and traditional dances. Back in Sussex, Arundel Castle rounds out the year with History Days on 6 and 13 August, featuring 'Kids Battles' and axe throwing, followed by a Festival of History from 29 to 31 August that spans from the Stone Age to the 20th century. For those with English Heritage memberships, Members Week from 23 to 31 May 2026 also provides access to various smaller-scale events across their regional sites.