U-turn as Brighton Spiegeltent will not return to the city this summer

Brighton Spiegeltent will not take place this year due to the “ongoing infrastructure works affecting its usual home at Old Steine Gardens”.

The announcement comes just weeks after organisers said the festival would return, moving to a larger location in Victoria Gardens.

Now bosses have announced they “don’t feel the Brighton Spiegeltent event would benefit from relocating to an unsuitable and challenging location”.

In a post on social media, the festival organisers said that the Valley Gardens Phase 3 road scheme, an extensive project to redevelop the road systems in the area, will make the festival’s Old Steine Gardens site unusable for most of 2026.

The pop-up festival which takes place during the May Fringe and Festival hosts a diverse program, including cabaret, circus, comedy, live music, and family-friendly performances as well as bars and food stalls.

“We’re hugely proud of the very special experience we have all built over 11 successful seasons and don’t feel the Brighton Spiegeltent event would benefit from relocating to an unsuitable and challenging location,” the post reads.

“This decision has been made very carefully after much consideration and consultation. We are sad at the impact the loss of Brighton Spiegeltent in May will have on our artists, audiences, the team and our creative community.

“Although Brighton Spiegeltent will not appear in May 2026, we wish all performers, producers and staff the best this festival season and we will continue supporting and promoting shows and events in other venues throughout the year.

“But mostly, we’re looking forward to being better positioned to focus our energy and resources and totally committed to a welcome return in 2027 – the time will fly be, we promise.”