Events in Sussex - look to the skies and celebrate Airbourne - Eastbourne International Airshow, East Sussex in August - credit Mark Jarvis

Eastbourne International Airshow

13th - 16th August 26 credit Mark Jarvis

What's On in Sussex

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Discover what's on in Sussex, including festivals, family-friendly events, theatre shows, garden open days, food festivals and seasonal events for a great day out in East and West Sussex. Whether you’re drawn to vibrant seaside cities for a holiday, peaceful gardens for a day out near you, world‑class culture for a short break away or events that the whole family will enjoy, you’ll find plenty to upcoming events to suit all ages and interests.

Events in Sussex

Top Sussex events not to miss in 2026

2026 brings an exciting line‑up of events and celebrations across the county of Sussex

  • World of Wizardry, Bluebell Railway, Sheffield Park Station, Uckfield, East Sussex
    24th, 25th, 27th - 30th May 26
    A magical adventure of enchantment and adventure for all the family at Horsted Keynes Station.
  • Beach Life Music Festival, Eastbourne Bandstand, Eastbourne, East Sussex
    30th & 31st May 2026
    Family-friendly free seaside music festival (F).
  • Treetop Challenge, Go Ape, Tilegate Park, Crawley, West Sussex
    Ongoing 
    Exhilarating family-friendly adventure up in the tree canopy, with Tarzan swings and ziplines.
  • Rose Week, Pashley Manor Gardens, Wadhurst, East Sussex
    12th - 20th June 2026
    With rose themed talks and walks and the chance to enjoy the beautiful English Rose.
  • Summer Season, Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester, West Sussex
    Includes 45 Years (12th June – 11th July 2026) and My Fair Lady (6th July – 5th September 2026)
    Award-winning theatre shows full of secrets, intrigue and life-changing stories.
  • Airbourne: Eastbourne International Airshow, Eastbourne Seafront, East Sussex
    13th - 16th August 2026
    Featuring the Red Arrows ,The Starlings Aerobatics Team and Aerosuperbatics Wing Walkers (F)
  • Battle of Hastings Re-enactment, Battle Abbey, Battle, East Sussex
    10th & 11th October 2026
    Dramatic living history event that changed the course of English history.

From dramatic coastline and rolling South Downs landscapes to headline festivals, historic re‑enactments and flourishing gardens, make Sussex the perfect place for a seaside stay or countryside escape. Start planning your 2026 adventure today. 

What's on in Sussex this May, June and July

Explore our featured events list and discover what's on this May, June and July in East and West Sussex, from spring garden festivals to sporting events to take part in, family trials and outdoor adventures all waiting to be explored.

Visiting Chichester for an event, book a stay at Stubcroft Farm campsite

Plan your visit to Sussex

If you planning to come to South East England to enjoy one of the many events on offer in Sussex, find answers below to some frequently asked questions.

Frequently asked questions about events in Sussex

Planning a short break around an event in Sussex?

If you're travelling from outside the area for an event in Sussex, there are numerous hotels and other accommodation options to suit your needs. Search & Book Sussex Accommodation to plan your visit.

What's on in Sussex today or this weekend?

You'll find daily updated listings of events across East and West Sussex by using the date filter in the search box above or scroll to the bottom of the page to see our full events guide to Sussex - great for providing inspiration and ideas.

Are there any family-friendly events in Sussex?

Yes. Many of Sussex events are designed for families, including garden and nature trails, steam railway events, outdoor festivals and school-holiday activities. Use the 'type filter' in the search box above and choose family to find suitable events.

Are there free events in Sussex?

Yes. Look for events marked (F), including airshows, festivals and community celebrations. 

Sussex events near me

Discover events for residents, day-trippers, and holidaymakers. Browse the full calendar of events in Sussex below or switch to Map View to find out what's happening near you.  A visit to Sussex means you're never far from an event, a place, or an adventure - guaranteed to keep you entertained and coming back for more.

What's on in East Sussex and West Sussex

Number of results:

Number of results: 160

, currently showing 21 to 40.

  1. From the Lee Miller Archives: Lee's Surreal Menagerie

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibitions

    East Sussex

    Infused with wit and shaped by her surrealist sensibility, this playful display in the Farleys Gallery Café focuses on Lee Miller's animal subjects. From taking 'pet portraits' at the request of rich clients in her New York Studio, to rescuing a…

    Dates

    From:
    2 Apr 2026to30 Oct 2026Open 10:00 - 16:30
  2. Fireworks Night at Leonardslee Wine Estate

    Type

    Type:

    Fireworks

    West Sussex

    Join us for one of West Sussex's most spectacular fireworks displays at the beautiful Leonardslee Wine Estate. Set across 240 acres of historic gardens and rolling countryside, this magical evening is perfect for families, couples, and friends…

    Venue

    Leonardslee Wine Estate, Horsham

    Dates

    From:
    5 Nov 2026to6 Nov 2026Open 17:00 - 21:00
  3. Sussex History & Heritage Events with Kevin Newman

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage & History

    Lower Beeding, Horsham

    Join Sussex historian, author, and Pages Magazine columnist Kevin Newman for a lively and entertaining series of history events in The Courtyard here at Leonardslee.

    Venue

    Leonardslee Gardens, Horsham

    Dates

    From:
    20 Sept 2026Open 10:30 - 12:30
    From:
    18 Oct 2026Open 10:30 - 12:30
    From:
    13 Dec 2026Open 10:30 - 12:30
  4. Summer Barn Dance

    Type

    Type:

    Dance / Dancing

    Chichester

    Get ready for an evening of foot-stomping fun, live music, and a bouncy castle at the Summer Barn Dance at Aldingbourne Country Centre - featuring professional barn dance callers to guide you through every lively step!

    Venue

    Aldingbourne Country Centre, Chichester

    Dates

    From:
    1 Aug 2026Open 18:00 - 21:30
  5. Family Cupcake Decorating Workshop: Petals, Paws & Piping Bags

    Type

    Type:

    Other

    Lower Beeding, Horsham

    Bring the kids for a fun, hands-on cupcake decorating session this half term. Each child will receive six cupcakes to decorate, with guidance from Zoe from Bouquet Bakes, they will decorate them with designs including a mix of cute animals, pretty…

    Dates

    From:
    31 July 2026Open 10:30 - 11:30
  6. Hey! Christmas Tree

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Chichester

    Enchanting, funny and heart-warming, this festive story about the importance of finding friendship and somewhere to call home, created especially for Chichester Festival Theatre by Michael Morpurgo, returns to the Minerva following its hugely…

    Venue

    Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester

    Dates

    From:
    5 Dec 2026to27 Dec 2026
  7. My Fair Lady

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Chichester

    Cockney Eliza Doolittle scrapes a living selling flowers on the streets of London. Her dream of being a lady in a florist's shop is out of reach unless she can speak 'proper English'. So when she encounters Henry Higgins, a professor of phonetics,…

    Venue

    Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester

    Dates

    From:
    6 July 2026to5 Sept 2026
  8. Nature Connect

    Type

    Type:

    Outdoor Event / Activities

    Haywards heath

    We'd love you to join us on a three month journey designed to help you feel comfortable and confident in Nature.
    Over three months you'll learn simple ways to connect, relax and engage in the natural world. Weather you are a parent, caregiver or are…

    Dates

    From:
    16 July 2026Open 14:00 - 16:30
    From:
    20 Aug 2026Open 14:00 - 16:30
    From:
    17 Sept 2026Open 14:00 - 16:30
  9. Bedgebury Forest 10 & 5 Mile

    Type

    Type:

    Sporting Events

    Goudhurst

    Experience racing perfection beneath the majestic pines at Bedgebury! If the weather has been inclement in the days leading up to race day, you can expect mud! mud! mud! - all adding to the joy of racing this iconic trail. You can expect a start…

    Venue

    Nice Work, East Sussex

    Dates

    From:
    7 Feb 2027Open 09:00 -
  10. Murder Mystery Dinner

    Type

    Type:

    Food

    Horsham

    Celebrate 15 years of The Velvet Rooms with an unforgettable evening inspired by the dazzling decadence of the Roaring Twenties. Slip into your finest flapper dresses, fedoras, and feathers, and prepare to become part of an immersive, interactive…

    Venue

    Leonardslee Wine Estate, Horsham

    Dates

    From:
    31 Oct 2026Open 18:00 - 21:30
  11. A Grand Doggy Day Out

    Type

    Type:

    Other

    Haywards Heath

    Join a tail-wagging day of fun at Borde Hill
    Bring your four-legged friends along for a day of fun on the Azalea Ring, with plenty of shady trees to keep everyone cool on warmer days.

    Browse a selection of pop-up shops from local independent…

    Dates

    From:
    23 Aug 2026Open 10:30 - 15:30
  12. Techy STEAM Explorers

    Type

    Type:

    Other

    Lower Beeding, Horsham

    Techy STEAM Explorers, part of the Techy Kids Group, offers creative hands-on sessions designed to introduce children to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths through imaginative play.

    Dates

    From:
    16 July 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
  13. South Farm Maize Maze 2026 - Family Day Out near Lewes, East Sussex

    Type

    Type:

    Outdoor Event / Activities

    Lewes

    South Farm is a family-run dairy and arable farm in the heart of the South Downs, near Rodmell. Every summer, seven acres of the farm are transformed into a maize maze — a bespoke design carved into the landscape and best viewed from the farm's…

    Dates

    From:
    18 July 2026to19 July 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    From:
    23 July 2026to26 July 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    From:
    30 July 2026to2 Aug 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    From:
    6 Aug 2026to9 Aug 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    From:
    13 Aug 2026to16 Aug 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    From:
    20 Aug 2026to23 Aug 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    From:
    27 Aug 2026to31 Aug 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
    From:
    3 Sept 2026to6 Sept 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
  14. Cool-Aid Comedy - New Material Comedy Night

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Brighton

    Brighton's longest running, and friendliest, new material comedy night.

    Dates

    From:
    8 July 2026to9 Dec 2026
  15. Live Music Thursday's at Bohemia

    Type

    Type:

    Music

    Brighton

    Brighton's most popular live music nights, last Thursday of every month at this popular city centre venue, with free entry.

    From cover pop, funk & soul bands, to rock covers and even steam punk and blues…there is something for everyone to tap along…

    Dates

    From:
    9 July 2026Open 21:30 - 23:30
    From:
    16 July 2026Open 21:30 - 23:30
    From:
    23 July 2026Open 21:30 - 23:30
    From:
    30 July 2026Open 21:30 - 23:30
  16. Curious About Chichester

    Type

    Type:

    Walking

    West Street, Chichester

    Have fun (re)discovering Chichester with two quirky treasure‑hunt walks that get you spotting things you’ve never noticed before.
    It’s a fresh‑air adventure that’s fun, affordable, and perfect for all ages.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Mar 2026to31 Mar 2027Open 10:00 - 16:00
  17. Bogan Bingo Bottomless Brunch

    Type

    Type:

    Comedy

    Brighton and Hove

    Bingo, bottomless brunch & the Bogan Bingo boys!

    What could be a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than a gloriously chaotic bingo and bottomless brunch session with Brighton’s no.1 comedy bingo show, Bogan Bingo!

    Tickets include:

    - 90…

    Venue

    Komedia, Brighton and Hove

    Dates

    From:
    21 Nov 2026Open 12:30 -
  18. Forest Bathing

    Type

    Type:

    Outdoor Event / Activities

    Lower Beeding, Horsham

    Emma Weaver leads regular soothing Forest Bathing experiences, guiding you on a slow-paced circular walk of around 5–5.5 km through our woodlands. In small, intimate groups, you'll pause at several points along the trail for sensory and mindfulness…

    Dates

    From:
    11 July 2026Open 10:00 - 12:30
  19. Silent Disco in Nature at Kew Wakehurst, Sussex

    Type

    Type:

    Dance / Dancing

    Haywards Heath

    Slip on your headphones and choose your channel as the music takes over Wakehurst's wild botanic landscape. Wander, dance or drift through the gardens as they light up after dark. Experience this unique opportunity to lace up your dancing shoes in…

    Venue

    Wakehurst, Mid Sussex

    Dates

    From:
    18 July 2026
  20. Special Event | Babes in Arms Guided Tours

    Type

    Type:

    Arts

    Chichester

    Bring your baby and enjoy a relaxed tour of the Gallery with a member of our curatorial team.

    Each tour will focus on a different theme, including the works in our permanent collection and our temporary exhibitions.

    Thursday 25 June 2026: Our…

    Dates

    From:
    3 Sept 2026Open 10:30 - 11:20
    From:
    22 Oct 2026Open 10:30 - 11:20