Hordes of web designers, animators, games developers and digital artists will descend on Brighton and Hove for a celebration of new media.

The month-long Brighton Digital Festival, the largest of its kind in Britain, showcases the talents of those at the cutting edge of the media, arts and technology sectors.

It acts as a focal point for dozens of community groups running their own events - from social film and art nights, to mini conferences and seminars.

One of the highlights promises to be an interactive visual display outside the Corn Exchange in Church Road, Brighton, called Pyro (technics) To The People.

Another event to look out for is the Brighton and Hove Web Awards - sponsored by The Argus - which celebrates innovation on the internet.

Acting as a nucleus to the festival are the dSCAPE events, which bring together a portfolio clinic, an Irish animation night and a designers' night at the Sallis Benny Theatre at the University of Brighton in Grade Parade.

Tara Solesbury, director of projects at Wired Sussex, which organises the festival, said: "This year's festival will reflect the number of successful individuals and companies working within this sphere, plus the breadth of different technologies currently in use.

"It's is all about collaboration, which is reflected in the programme of events. Much the greater part of this is organised by community groups within Brighton.

"This is what Brighton does best. We're simply bringing it all together and helping the community to show itself off."

The festival was launched in 2004 to raise the profile of computer artists, interactive designers, film-makers, academics and technologists.

Brighton and Hove is one of Britain's leading centres for digital media and has a small army of web designers, animators, film-makers and games developers. Almost 1,500 companies - one in five - fall into the "creative" category. About half of those are directly involved in digital media.

Many are leaders in their field but because most work for small companies or operate as sole traders, their achievements often go unnoticed.

The festival, which runs throughout November, has helped cement the city's reputation as a hub for digital media companies.

The industry in the city creates a combined turnover of more than £150 million.