Angélique Kidjo: Hope Tour

The Brighton Festival is reaching its 60th edition this year, and there’s a sense of a fresh start under the new direction of Lucy Davies. The 2026 programme, which runs from 1 May to 26 May, includes more than 100 events designed to reflect the city's diverse interests. Among the highlights is Angélique Kidjo, who is scheduled to perform at the Brighton Dome Concert Hall on 16 May. She is bringing her Hope Tour to town, a show that highlights her career as a five-time Grammy Award winner. Her music often sits at the intersection of contemporary sounds, jazz, and folk, making her a significant addition to a festival lineup that also features global icons like Patti Smith, Laurie Anderson, and Beverly Glenn-Copeland.

The choice of the Brighton Dome as the venue for the Hope Tour aligns with the festival's tradition of using the city's established spaces for its headline musical acts. Kidjo is recognised for her vocal ability and her history of performing on international stages, and this specific tour is one of the key moments in the festival’s three-week run. The organisers have mentioned that this year’s event aims to mark a "new era" for the festival, focusing on creating experiences that resonate with the local community. Having an artist of Kidjo's calibre helps define the musical identity of this 60th anniversary, especially alongside the other contemporary and global artists booked for the month.

Regarding the practical side of things, the ticket rollout is happening right now. As of today, Thursday 19 February, booking has opened specifically for festival members. If you aren't a member, the general sale is set to begin next week on Thursday 26 February. This is a paid performance, and given the scale of the Brighton Festival, it’s one of many events spread across the city during May. The festival as a whole is looking to enrich the local cultural scene, and this concert on the 16th is positioned as a central part of that effort, offering a chance to see a globally recognised musician in a familiar local setting.