Burning the Clocks in Brighton will not take place this year

Same Sky, which runs Burning the Clocks, said the “pause” will allow for the organisation to focus on future planning while running its national programme of events and preparing for a return in 2026.

The parade sees thousands of families parade through the streets to light up the city on the Winter Solstice with lanterns that are then burnt on a large bonfire on the beach.

The 2026 effigy has been commissioned with the theme, “Magicada”, representing a symbolic rest followed by a noisy awakening. The massive lantern sculpture will be displayed publicly this year in Central Brighton on Sunday, December 21, 2025. But there will be no parade.

The parade snakes through the city to the seafront (Image: Sussex News and Pictures) Same Sky said the cost to stage large scale community events like Burning the Clocks have “soared” in recent years - with an expenditure increase of 44 per cent since 2019 and 2024’s costs’ exceeding £50,000.

Read more: Brighton: Thousands turn out for Burning the Clocks 2024

This includes significant logistical costs such as security and stewarding, personnel, equipment, pyrotechnics, and insurance, as well as funding school and community workshops and artistic contributions. Income from supporters, participants, sponsors, and donors helped cover a third of the event’s cost last year.

Same Sky is also recruiting for a leader for the organisation after artistic director John Varah retired from his permanent role with the charity.

Jane McMorrow, Same Sky’s interim chief executive,  said: “It was a tough but necessary decision to take a year off from running Burning the Clocks this year in order to focus our resources and allow time to strategically review and secure the long term future for Same Sky.

“We’re a small but powerful charity that has connected communities through shared art projects since we began in 1987 - but in recent years alongside many other small arts charities we’ve faced immense funding challenges.

Thousands take part in the parade (Image: The Argus/Andrew Gardner) "We have a tiny core team and each year we’ve only been able to stage the event thanks to every single person associated with the organisation, especially our artists and events team, going above and beyond.

“We also said goodbye to our artistic director this year - John Varah who retired after 34 years at Same Sky - which made this a good moment to review the organisation’s structure and ensure we are secure and fit for purpose to continue to make more positive community impact for many decades to come.”

Burning the Clocks 2024 was possible due to support from Arts Council England, Hand Brew Co., The Boyne Family, and James Heath and Co. In kind contributions were also made by Brighton Fringe, Brighton and Hove City Council, Brighton Winter Fayre, Brighton Dome and Festival, Moshimo, Infinity Co Op, The Chilli Pickle and Sea Lanes.