Checked: 11 October 2026, 12.55am BST.
Sunday offers a strong mix of free city-centre culture, talks, live music and major Sussex events. The main planning issue is transport: the direct Brighton Main Line is closed between Brighton, Hove or Lewes and Three Bridges, so do not build the day around a normal London or Gatwick train journey.
1. Brighton Italian Festival street party
Jubilee Square hosts the Brighton Italian Festival street party on Sunday. It is the easiest option for a flexible drop-in day because it is free and central, with food, music and cultural activity rather than one fixed seated performance.
Listings have not always presented identical starting times, so use our separate Brighton Italian Festival practical guide for the latest verified programme, travel and weather notes.
2. One Song at Fabrica: free
Kadir Karababa’s One Song exhibition runs at Fabrica, Duke Street, from 9 to 28 October. The audio-visual installation uses songs and stories shared by women with experience of migration or seeking sanctuary, exploring memory, identity and the idea of home.
VisitBrighton lists Sunday entry as free. This is a useful choice if you want an indoor stop that can fit around lunch or another city-centre event. Check Fabrica’s own page before leaving for the day’s exact opening hours and access information.
3. AI: Threat, Tool or Transformation? at The Old Market
Dr Fola Yahaya and Dominic Kos discuss practical AI adoption at The Old Market in Hove. Venue doors open at 9.50am, the unreserved session starts at 10.20am and tickets are £20 plus a £2 venue levy.
The event is for ages 14+, with under-16s accompanied by an adult. Earlier listings named Peter Kyle as the second speaker, but the venue’s current page names Dominic Kos. Use the venue listing as the authoritative line-up.
4. Brighton Philharmonic at the Dome
The Stravinsky Connection begins at Brighton Dome Concert Hall at 2.45pm, with doors from 2pm and an approximate finish at 4.30pm.
The programme pairs Stravinsky with Mozart and features pianist Milda Daunoraite with conductor Joanna MacGregor. Standard prices run from £15 to £41. Under-30 tickets start at £10, while up to two £1 child tickets can be booked with each adult ticket. The Dome says under-14s cannot attend unaccompanied.
5. Battle of Hastings re-enactment at Battle Abbey
English Heritage’s large re-enactment runs from 10am to 5pm at Battle Abbey. Saturday sold out; the organiser advised visitors to pre-book Sunday rather than rely on walk-up entry.
The programme includes the main battle, living-history camps, falconry, music and children’s activities. Every visitor needs a ticket, including members and children under five, even when the price is free. Tickets are non-refundable and cannot be moved to another date.
6. Bluebell Railway character day
The Bluebell Railway lists several Mad Scientist appearances on Sunday. If travelling from East Grinstead, the railway suggests the 11.30am, 12.45pm or 2.10pm departures for connections with later shows.
This is the option that most needs timetable discipline. Check the railway’s current ticket and train times before leaving, particularly because the wider rail network is disrupted.
Transport and weather
No direct trains run between Brighton, Hove or Lewes and Three Bridges on Sunday. Replacement buses and diverted trains are operating, but journeys to Gatwick and London are longer. Read our weekend rail closure guide before committing to a timed ticket.
The latest Brighton weather forecast favours a dry day with sunny intervals developing and a high around 16C. Outdoor events should still be approached with a warm layer for the morning and evening.
Brighton Locals’ view
Our pick: combine one free city-centre event with one booked performance rather than trying to cross the county repeatedly. The Italian Festival plus Fabrica is the simplest low-cost pairing; the Philharmonic offers unusually strong family pricing; Battle Abbey is the standout full-day trip if tickets remain.
Bottom line: there is plenty to do, but book first, check the venue’s live listing and allow extra travel time.
Featured image: Brighton Dome’s Church Street façade, one of the venues in this guide. Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Archive image.
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