Tribute Gigs and Festivals Coming to Brighton in 2026

Brighton’s live music calendar for 2026 is looking pretty packed with tribute acts, which seems to be a growing trend for those of us looking for a bit of nostalgia without the stadium prices. The city has always had a solid reputation for these kinds of shows, and this year is no different, with several high-profile performances scheduled across our local venues.

First up on the horizon is U2Baby, scheduled for March 28. They have built a solid reputation in the tribute community, even getting booked for fan parties in Dublin when the actual U2 are in town. They focus on recreating the live concert versions of songs rather than just the studio tracks, covering everything from the early 80s stuff to more recent albums. It is a good option if you are into the specific stadium energy U2 is known for but want to see it in a more intimate setting here in the city.

Moving into the summer, the Could Be Real Tribute Festival is returning to Hove Lawns on Friday, June 12. This is an open-air event running from 3:00 pm until 10:30 pm, following a successful debut in previous years. The lineup for this year includes tributes to ABBA, Elton John, Kasabian, Fleetwood Mac, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Oasis, and Queen. It is a 14+ event, and they operate a Challenge 25 policy at the bars. They have a VIP option that includes fast-track entry and access to a "Golden Circle" area at the front of the stage, along with separate facilities. Just a heads-up that they have a no-pass-out policy, so once you are in, you are in for the evening.

Later in the year, the focus shifts to more contemporary indie sounds. On September 11, Chalk is hosting Indiepalooza, which is a touring festival packed into one night. The main draw for many will be Scam Fender, who has been getting quite a bit of national attention for his likeness to Sam Fender. The night also features The Kopycat Killers, Subarctic Monkeys, Oasis 96, Kasabian’t, and Kaiser Cheats. It is a 14+ show starting at 5:00 pm, and the sets move quickly through the different bands, making it a straightforward way to hear a lot of indie anthems in one go.

To wrap up the year, The Bootleg Beatles are coming back to the Brighton Centre on December 19. They are widely considered the benchmark for this kind of performance and have been touring for decades. This particular show is themed around the 60th anniversary of the films A Hard Day’s Night and Help!. They will be performing with an orchestra to handle the more complex arrangements from the later albums like Magical Mystery Tour and Yellow Submarine. It is a seated-only show starting at 7:30 pm, which fits the more theatrical nature of their performance. It is a reliable choice for a December night out, especially given the effort they put into period-accurate gear and costumes.