Brighton Festival Children's Parade 2026

This coming May 9th, Brighton sees the return of the Children's Parade, which marks its 40th anniversary as part of the 60th Brighton Festival. The event is organised by Same Sky, the same group behind other local fixtures like Burning the Clocks. This year, the theme is 'Read All About It!', and the focus remains on the large-scale sculptures crafted from wet-strength paper and willow rods, which are always the visual centrepiece of the procession. It is a community-led effort involving over 50 groups, ranging from local primary schools like Meridian Community, Brunswick, and St Nicolas, to organisations such as the Batucada Carnival Club and the Create Music Brass Ensemble.

The logistics for the day are straightforward. The parade is free to attend and begins at 10:30 am on Jubilee Street. From there, the route moves through North Street, East Street, and Grand Junction Road, eventually concluding at Madeira Drive by 1:00 pm. Given the number of participating schools—including institutions like Aldrington CE, City Academy Whitehawk, and the Hove Learning Federation—the streets are usually quite busy with families and participants. It is worth noting that the parade is a significant logistical undertaking, involving a wide array of local schools such as Peter Gladwin, Eastbrook, Carlton Hill, and Varndean School Band, among many others like St Andrew's, Beehub, and St Bernadette's.

For those planning to be in the city centre that morning, expect the usual crowd density associated with this event. The procession is a mix of choreographed dance routines and live music, with groups like the Steel Tribe Steel Band and the Christ's Hospital School Band contributing to the atmosphere. Whether you are watching from the sidelines or just navigating the city, the route covers the main thoroughfares, so it is useful to keep the 10:30 am start time and the 1:00 pm finish at Madeira Drive in mind if you have other plans for the day. It is a long-standing part of the festival calendar that brings together a large portion of the local educational and community sector.