The Story Trail Farewell Weekend

Brighton is gearing up for another major public art event this autumn. It’s called The Story Trail, and it will transform the streets, parks, and open spaces of Brighton & Hove into a giant 'storybook' for eight weeks, running between September and November 2026.

This initiative is a collaboration between the local charity Amaze, which supports families with disabled children and young people across Sussex, and the public art specialists Wild in Art. The core of the trail involves the exhibition of over 30 large sculptures, known as 'BookBenches'—benches shaped like open books—each uniquely designed by local artists. Alongside these, there will be a collection of smaller BookBenches decorated by schools and community groups. Following the main trail is completely free, making it a fun, family-friendly adventure designed with accessibility in mind. For those who hold a Compass Card, there will be discounts available on tickets for any related fundraising events. To help everyone navigate the city and find all the unique designs, organizers are providing both a printed map and a mobile app, which is being developed by their digital partner, DabApps. The trail is supported by several local businesses, including Renaissance Legal, Book Nook, Brighton and Hove Museums, and others.

Once the eight weeks of public display are complete, the event culminates in The Story Trail Farewell Weekend. This final gathering is scheduled for November 27th to 29th, 2026, and offers the last chance to see all the large BookBenches gathered together in one single location (which is still to be confirmed). After this display, the large sculptures will be auctioned off to raise vital funds for Amaze. The smaller BookBenches will either return to the groups that created them or also be auctioned for the charity, ensuring the project leaves a lasting legacy of support for local families.