Italian Street Party

Brighton is getting a new addition to its cultural calendar this May with the inaugural Italian Street Party. It is kicking off on Saturday, 2 May 2026, right in the heart of Jubilee Square. The event is designed to bring a bit of that Italian plaza atmosphere to the city centre, and since it is free to attend, it is a straightforward option if you are looking for something to do that weekend. The day itself is set up to be pretty varied, with a mix of regional street food, live bands, and DJ sets, alongside some talks.

This street party is actually the opening event for the wider Brighton Italian Festival, which runs throughout the rest of the month. It is interesting to see how they have spread the programming out. For instance, on 3 May, there is a pottery workshop, and throughout the month, they have scheduled specific regional dinners at local restaurants on 7 and 14 May. The programming gets quite specific as the weeks go on: 9 May features a mix of theatre, a children's clown show, and a launch night with a London-based artist, a Brighton-based Italian singer, and an Italian-American comedian. If you are into jazz, there is an evening with vocalist Betty Accorsi on 10 May, and on 11 May, they are hosting an opera performance at the Brighton Palace Pier, which is a first for that location.

The festival continues later in the month with a 'Spaghetti Disco' on 28 May, where the concept is essentially eating spaghetti before the dancing starts. The whole thing wraps up on 31 May with a final event featuring 20 Sicilian folk singers and more street food. The festival was founded by British filmmaker William Ranieri with the aim of supporting local artists and independent businesses while highlighting Italian culture. It is a busy schedule, but it gives you plenty of options if you want to catch specific parts of the programme throughout May.