Monday 19th May 2026: Brighton came alive with the sound of new music this weekend as The Great Escape <\/strong><\/a><\/span>celebrated its landmark 20th anniversary with four days of discovery, connection, and unforgettable performances. <\/span>We were in attendance for the full duration and our staff Top 5 choices and concert reviews will follow over the course of the coming week. <\/b><\/p>\n Welcoming festivalgoers and music industry professionals from around the world, the festival once again transformed the city\u2019s seaside streets, venues and stages into a global showcase of emerging and established talent, with artists representing more than 50 countries performing across over 40 venues throughout Brighton alongside a packed and forward-thinking conference programme.<\/span><\/p>\n In collaboration with an expansive network of media and industry partners, this year\u2019s edition delivered one of the festival\u2019s broadest and most ambitious line-ups to date. At the Brighton Dome, Spotlight Shows from electroclash icon <\/span>Peaches<\/b>, and fast-rising Irish trio <\/span>Kingfishr <\/b>delivered some of the weekend\u2019s defining moments. Viral Qu\u00e9bec polkadot-clad duo<\/span> Angine de Poitrine<\/b> provided the soundtrack to a rollicking Opening Party on the Beach Stage, joined by Montreal rock outfit<\/span> Ribbon Skirt <\/b>and Cornish-Irish group <\/span>Girl In The Year Above<\/b> ensuring a riotous start to the festival.<\/span><\/p>\n Wednesday\u2019s opening day highlighted the breadth of talent on offer across the city. Netherlands-based neo soul artist<\/span> Bnnyhunna<\/b> impressed at Patterns Upstairs with a smooth and soulful set, while London dance-punk duo<\/span> The Itch <\/b>ignited the downstairs venue with frenetic energy and sharp-edged hooks. Over at Komedia Studio, New Zealand artist <\/span>Jude Kelly<\/b> delivered a standout headline performance as part of The Great Escape\u2019s Lead Country Partnership.<\/span><\/p>\n International showcases continued throughout the week, with partnerships including Sounds Australia, Flowing Water: China Sounds, Inspired by Tokyo and The Portuguese Discovery shining a spotlight on some of the most exciting emerging talent from across the globe, reinforcing The Great Escape\u2019s role as a vital meeting point for international music communities.<\/span><\/p>\n Thursday maintained the festival\u2019s momentum with another eclectic mix of performances. Margate collective<\/span> Pigeon<\/b> delivered a joyous, rhythm-heavy set, while <\/span>Dead Dads Club <\/b>\u2013 produced by Fontaines D.C.\u2019s Carlos O\u2019Connell \u2013 blended sharp songwriting with hazy indie textures. Experimental folk group <\/span>Madra Salach<\/b> captivated audiences with stirring, atmospheric performances that demonstrated the festival\u2019s continued appetite for genre-defying artistry.<\/span><\/p>\n Friday saw a series of high profile stage takeovers bring fresh energy across Brighton\u2019s venues. Notion\u2019s packed programme at Quarters featured compelling sets from <\/span>PVA<\/b>, <\/span>Sassy 009<\/b> and <\/span>The Orchestra (For Now)<\/b>, while NME\u2019s showcase at The Old Market brought together<\/span> Mandy, Indiana<\/b>, <\/span>Girl Scout<\/b>, <\/span>Chanpan<\/b>, and <\/span>Any Young Mechanic<\/b> for an evening of live music. DIY\u2019s takeover of Horatio\u2019s on Brighton Pier celebrated emerging alternative talent with performances from<\/span> M\u00ean An Tol,<\/b> Airfic<\/b>,<\/span> Y<\/b> and more.<\/span><\/p>\n Heavy music also had a strong presence across the weekend as Download Festival teamed up with Kerrang! to present The Download Stage at seafront venue Daltons. Rap-rockers<\/span> Native James<\/b> and <\/span>Frozemode<\/b> were joined by<\/span> Comastatic<\/b>,<\/span> Ally Nicholas<\/b>, <\/span>OVERSIZE<\/b> and many more ahead of the festival\u2019s return to Derbyshire next month.<\/span><\/p>\n Alongside the music programme, The Great Escape\u2019s industry-leading conference once again brought together the brightest talents from the international music sector to provide cutting edge insights for attendees. Highlights including keynotes from <\/span>Melanie C<\/b>, electroclash icon<\/span> Peaches<\/b> alongside<\/span> IL\u0100<\/b>, as well as two leading live agents,<\/span> Emma Banks<\/b> and <\/span>Natasha Gregory<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n Saturday\u2019s closing party, presented by Dork Magazine, brought the festival to a triumphant close as post punk favourites<\/span> Shame <\/b>delivered a characteristically lively post-punk performance with support from <\/span>Tooth<\/b>,<\/span> August<\/b>, <\/span>Goodbye<\/b>, and<\/span> Orchard<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n The Great Escape continues to be the UK\u2019s top destination for music lovers, industry professionals and new talent to explore, connect, and discover the power of new music alongside insightful discussions of the industry\u2019s most pressing issues at its picturesque home of the Brighton seaside.<\/span><\/p>\n Twenty years on, The Great Escape continues to stand at the forefront of new music culture, bringing together artists, audiences and industry leaders. With one of its most diverse and ambitious programmes to date, the festival\u2019s 20th anniversary proved a powerful reminder of why The Great Escape remains the UK\u2019s home of emerging music.<\/span><\/p>\n Super Earlybird festival tickets have already sold out, however Earlybird festival and Super Earlybird delegate tickets for The Great Escape 2027 are on sale now from HERE<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sussexonlinenews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Peaches-at-Brighton-Dome-15.5.26-pic-Cris-Watkins.jpg\")
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