A Guide to Events & Festivals in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Surrey & Sussex
July 2026 Events in South East England
2-5: Hastings Beer & Music Festival (est. 1981)
Organisers: Hastings Round Table. Profits to charity.
3-5: The Kent County Show (est. 1923)
Showcase event for farming, countryside and rural life. The three day event brings together the very best of Kent with animals and food, and above all a sense of what ‘The Garden of England’ has to offer.
Kent Show ground, Detling, Kent, ME14 3JF map
11: St Leonards Festival (est. 2006)
Live music, dance, storytelling, crafting & more.
Warrior Square Gardens, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN37 6DF map
18-19: Hastings Pirate Weekend (est. 2009)
Europe’s largest pirate festival! Live bands, stall and more. Hastings holds the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of pirates — 14,231 costumed buccaneers on Pelham Beach in 2012, and still unbeaten. Founder: Roger Crouch. Organiser: Anton Burton-Windsor.
The Stade, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3FJ map
25-26: Bodiam Castle Re-enactment Weekend
See 15th century re-enactment groups visit Bodiam Castle and bring medieval history to life. Bodiam was built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge with the permission of Richard II.
Bodiam Castle, Bodiam, Robertsbridge TN32 5UA map
August 2026 Events in South East England
1-2: Pride on the Park (est. 1972)
Pride on the Park is the official Brighton & Hove Pride fundraiser for local LGBTQ+ community groups. Diana Ross headlines on Sunday.
Preston Park, Preston Road Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 6AU map
1-9: Hastings Old Town Carnival Week (est. 1968)
Organised by volunteers. Supports numerous local charities.
The Stade, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3FJ map
7-14: Broadstairs Folk Week (est. 1965)
Traditional folk music and dance festival with events held day and night all over Broadstairs throughout the week. Funded by Jack Hamilton who helped found Sidmouth.
Kent Innovation Centre, Millennium Way, Broadstairs, Kent, CT10 2QQ map
29-30: Brogdale Cider Festival
The Artisan Cider Festival returns with over 40 of the best local artisan ciders. The Cider trail crowns a favourite cider of the festival from the wide range of local ciders. Children's activities, crafts, artisan food stalls and more.
Free shuttle bus from Faversham.
Brogdale Farm, Eastling Road, Faversham, Kent, ME13 8XZ map
31: August Bank Holiday
The original August Bank Holiday was introduced in 1871 for the first Monday in August. On 1971 the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 moved it to the last Monday in August for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Train info
September 2026 Events in South East England
1-30: Coastal Currents Arts Festival (est. 1999)
An annual celebration of arts and culture across East Sussex. Based in Hastings and St Leonards but encompassing Battle, Rye, Robertsbridge, Eastbourne, Fairlight, Bexhill and many other towns and villages in between.
5-6/12-13: Hastings Open Studios
Part of the Coastal Currents Arts Festival. The festival encourages visitors to explore local artists' studios, meet the creators, and potentially purchase artwork.
Recommended: Katherine Reekie & Jane Higginbottom TN34 2AJ
22: Autumn Equinox
The Autumn Equinox indicates the end of summer For the northern hemisphere, it means the start of longer nights and colder days.
The Hampshire Guide
The Surrey Guide
Hampshire Guide
Surrey Guide
(c) South London Guide 2026