Hastings Fat Tuesday Music Festival is an annual five day festival taking place on the South Coast of England. The town wide celebration hosts free and ticketed gigs, parties, parades, and acoustic sessions in various venues across Hastings and St Leonards, featuring both international headliners and a vast array of local bands and artists. A vibrant, town-wide event that combines the traditional "Fat Tuesday" revelry with a focus on live music and community engagement.
The 2026 Festival takes place between 13th and 17th February.
The core of the festival involves two major "tours" where numerous acts perform short, free sets across multiple pubs, bars, and venues in Hastings and St Leonards.
Unplugged Saturday: Features acoustic sets, often with musicians moving from venue to venue with portable amps.
The Main Tuesday Tour: A free night of high-energy music across the Old Town, featuring full electric sets and a wide range of genres, from punk and indie to gospel and reggae.
Umbrella Parade & Preservation Sunday: A family-friendly, vibrant parade where participants carry decorated umbrellas through the streets. This culminates in "Preservation Sunday" with a "play-off" between New Orleans-style second line brass bands. Free community workshops are held in advance for people to decorate their umbrellas.
Le Grand Mardi Gras Ball: A ticketed event featuring live music, DJs, and a "Best Dressed" competition, adding to the traditional Mardi Gras spirit of dressing up.
Un-Convention: A one-day music conference aimed at grassroots musicians and students, with industry panels and discussions about the music business.
Sonics: An element dedicated to ground-breaking experimental, electronic, and underground music and culture.
Fringe Events and After Parties: The main events are complemented by various fringe events, themed nights (like the "Reggae Room Party"), and after-parties that keep the festivities going into the early hours.
| Season (13 Feb 2026 - 17 Feb 2026) |
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