Brighton is about to lean into its Mediterranean side for a week. The Brighton Italian Festival comes back for its third edition, running from Sunday 11 October to Sunday 18 October, and it's the kind of programme that rewards a bit of browsing rather than a single plan. The whole thing is founded and directed by William Ranieri, and it follows a May 2025 edition that pulled in more than a thousand people, so it's clearly found its feet.
Every week we pick 🏆 the 5 best 🏆 things to do in Brighton and send them to your inbox. Just one weekly email, no spam.
By submitting your email, you accept our Privacy Policy
The opening day is the easiest place to start. On Sunday 11 October, there's a free street party in Jubilee Square, over in the North Laine, running from 10am to 9pm. It's free to walk in and it packs in live music, comedy, family entertainment and an outdoor market serving authentic Italian street food, pasta, artisan produce, gelato and wine. The square sits at 17 Jubilee Street, a stone's throw from the Royal Pavilion and a short walk from both the station and the seafront, which makes it an easy first stop before you commit to the rest of the week.
Midweek is where the more specific nights sit. On Thursday 15 October, Spaghetti Disco returns to Hotel Pelirocco on Regency Square, running from 7pm to 1am. DJ Andy Caruso spins Italian classics all the way from Mina and Raffaella Carrà through to Maneskin and Battisti, and the £8 ticket comes with a free welcome drink, a free midnight spaghetti and a raffle entry to win a room at the hotel for the same night, breakfast included. It's the sort of night that's built around the food as much as the music.
The weekend keeps the momentum going. On Saturday 17 October, Horatio's Bar out on the Brighton Palace Pier hosts Opera Viva, a semi-immersive operatic performance led by Simon Gray, starting at 7pm. Then the festival closes on Sunday 18 October with 'Films of Sicily and Sardinia - in the footsteps of D.H. Lawrence', an evocative multimedia piece at Loreto Bar by artist Daniele Marzeddu, blending spoken word, imagery and original music.
Between those headline nights, the week fills in with Italian cooking workshops, cultural talks, live music and community pop-ups, so there's something on most days whether you're coming for the food, the music or the culture. Ranieri has been clear about the idea behind it all: the festival is meant to build bridges between Italian and British culture and act as a hub for the Italian and Italophile communities in the city. If you've been meaning to explore that side of Brighton, this is a week to do it, and since the opening party is free, there's no real barrier to giving it a go.
Published Date
10 October 2026
