The Great Escape

About The Great Escape Festival

2027 brings The Great Escape Festival to Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, as a citywide music festival focused on pop, rock, electronic and hip hop.

2006 was the first edition. The festival now runs across 30+ venues with a daily capacity of about 15,000, alongside a major music industry conference attended by thousands of delegates.

2020 was cancelled because of COVID-19, and 2021 was held entirely online. In 2024, around 163 artists withdrew in protest and the opening showcase was cancelled.

Lineup and Programme

450+ artists are presented across Brighton venues, with music spanning pop, rock, electronic and hip hop.

The programme includes live music showcases, industry panels, workshops and networking sessions. Spotlight headline concerts take place in larger venues with separate tickets, and The Alternative Escape adds free fringe shows around the city.

Who Is It For?

18 is the minimum age for all attendees, and the festival is strictly over-18s only.

The main audience is young adults aged 18–35, alongside music industry professionals attending the concurrent conference. The age restriction means it is not a family festival for under-18s.

The Venue and Site

30+ walkable venues across central Brighton form the festival site, rather than one enclosed arena.

The venues are typically indoor clubs and theatres. No verified camping information is listed for the festival.

Brighton and Hove is in East Sussex, 47 miles from London and 42 miles from Portsmouth.

• Brighton rail station: about 0.5 mile from the festival area.
• Hove rail station: about 1 mile from the festival area.
• Road access: A23 via M23 junction 10 from London, and the A27.
• Parking: no verified parking information is listed.