The third edition Brighton Italian Festival returns from October 11 to 18, promising a packed week of food, music, theatre and cultural events across the city.
This year’s edition follows a successful May festival that attracted more than 1,000 attendees and continues the festival’s mission of blending Italian tradition with contemporary culture.
William Ranieri, founder and festival director, said: “The Brighton Italian Festival is creating and strengthening bridges between Italian and British culture.
“At the same time, it provides a welcoming platform for Italian creativity in all its forms, positioning itself as a hub – an umbrella where Italian and Italophile communities can come together and find fertile ground for new ideas, collaborations and cultural exchange.
“The Festival is already becoming an established part of Brighton’s cultural life – and the remarkable thing is that it is only one year old.”
The festival kicks off on Sunday, October 11, with a free street party in Jubilee Square featuring live music, comedy, family entertainment and an outdoor market serving authentic Italian street food.
Other highlights include the return of Spaghetti Disco at Hotel Pelirocco on Thursday, October 15, a night of Italo disco, funk and electronic music capped off with the festival’s signature midnight spaghetti.
On Saturday, October 17, Horatio’s Bar on Brighton Palace Pier will host Opera Viva, a semi-immersive operatic performance led by Simon Gray in a unique seaside setting.
The festival closes on Sunday, October 18, with Films of Sicily and Sardinia – in the footsteps of D.H. Lawrence, an evocative multimedia performance at Loreto Bar by artist Daniele Marzeddu.
The event blends spoken word, imagery and original music.
The week-long celebration will also feature Italian cooking workshops, cultural talks, live music and community pop-ups throughout Brighton.
