Brighton Festival announces Children's Parade theme

Children will be inspired by the brief of ‘read all about it’ to create their spectacular costumes, props and sculptures for the popular event.

Inspired by 2026 as the National Year of Reading, the theme will explore six genres of children’s books: realistic fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, traditional stories, science fiction and graphic novels and picture books. 

Some 5,000 children took part last year (Image: Victor Frankowski)

Jointly produced with community arts charity Same Sky, the Children’s Parade officially marks the opening of Brighton Festival, a three-week celebration of arts and culture across Brighton, Hove and East Sussex taking place between May 2 and 25, 2026.

Last year’s theme of ‘new dawn', saw surfers, jellyfish, dragons, turtles and even a fat cat paraded through the streets.

The family-friendly, free event takes place in central Brighton, delighting thousands of participants and spectators, and is the largest parade of its kind in Europe. Hundreds of teachers from participating schools across Brighton and Hove will work with their pupils to create large-scale artworks and costumes to display throughout the parade’s route and support children to learn through making. 

Next year marks the 40th Children’s Parade and it has been estimated that more than 150,000 people have taken part since the parade began in 1986. This year a dedicated Same Sky artist will work with each participating school, including an in-person visit, giving children the opportunity to learn from a professional artist. 

Same Sky, the charity behind the Burning the Clocks festival, which has been cancelled this year, is also introducing new ways to support teachers, including – in partnership with Create Music – offering samba masterclasses with percussion expert Ollie Tunmer to help teachers incorporate live music into the parade.  

People line the streets to get a glimpse of the parade (Image: Victor Frankowski)

Lucy Davies, chief executive, Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival said: “The Children’s Parade is part of Brighton’s identity – a vivid, collective, public act of imagination and ambition that unites schools, families and communities across the city. As we mark an incredible 40 years, this year’s theme puts storytelling at the centre. This celebration belongs to the city, and we’re so proud to help bring it to our streets again.”

Jane McMorrow, interim chief executive at Same Sky, said: “We’re incredibly proud to mark 40 years of the Children’s Parade – a creative tradition that brings the whole city together.

"With this year’s theme of children’s literature, pupils and teachers will have the opportunity to let imaginations run wild. We can’t wait.”