Ridiculous Raps and Rhymes

The Brighton Festival is preparing for its 60th anniversary in 2026, and the recently announced line-up suggests a bit of a shift in direction under the leadership of Lucy Davies. One of the family-oriented highlights scheduled for the spring is Ridiculous Raps and Rhymes, taking place on 3 May 2026 at the Brighton Dome Concert Hall. This event is being presented as a high-energy musical celebration of language, fitting into the wider context of the National Year of Reading. It features a collaboration between Michael Rosen, the well-known poet and former Children’s Laureate, and MC Grammar, a teacher who has gained recognition as a World Book Day ambassador for his use of rap to teach grammar and literacy.

The show is built around the idea of making words and rhymes accessible through music and laughter, moving away from a standard recital format. By pairing Rosen’s experience in children’s literature with MC Grammar’s contemporary, rhythmic style, the performance aims to engage families in a way that feels both educational and entertaining. As it’s held in the Brighton Dome, the event is one of the larger-scale productions in the festival’s 2026 calendar, which is being described as the start of a "new era" for the city's arts scene. The festival itself remains the largest of its kind in England, and this 60th edition is using the National Year of Reading as a pillar for its family programming.

In terms of getting seats, the booking process is already underway. Tickets are available for festival members as of today, 19 February, while the general public sale is set to begin on 26 February. This is a paid event, and given the profile of the performers involved, it’s a significant part of the May bank holiday weekend schedule. The timing of the announcement and the ticket release allows for some forward planning for those who follow the festival’s annual updates. The inclusion of figures like Rosen and MC Grammar reflects the festival's current approach of blending established literary figures with modern performers to reach a broader local audience.