Brighton Psych Fest 2026

Multi-venue festivals can be a great way to explore a city. At the tail end of summer, with a cool sea breeze offering a welcome respite from record-breaking heatwaves in London, I found myself getting stuck into Brighton’s excellent local and independent live music venues at the third edition of Brighton Psych Fest.

I kicked off proceedings with Anna von Hausswolff in the Corn Exchange at Brighton Dome, the festival’s main venue for the day. Her powerful, anthemic voice filled the room, leaving the audience captivated. Clever lighting, angled from below, projected giant silhouettes of the band onto the venue’s church-like windows and wooden panelling, complementing the gothic elements of the songs and creating an awe-inspiring atmosphere. In contrast to the seriousness of the music, it was great seeing von Hausswolff smiling and bouncing around between songs — something that recurred with the bands I saw throughout the day. 

From there, it was a brisk but short stroll down to the seafront and Patterns for The Belair Lip Bombs, the Aussie rock four-piece offering a more laid-back change of pace. Their melodic riffs and easy-listening sound suited the afternoon, the band bringing a welcome sense of summer relaxation to the day.

There was a real buzz around the city. Groups huddled over the festival map, deciding where to head next and calculating the best way to maximise bands seen against steps walked. With the venues dotted around the heart of the city, you’re never more than 15 minutes from the next one — and, crucially, never too far from food either.

Next up was Komedia, the independent comedy and cabaret club, where I caught Night Tapes. Their ethereal, dream-like sound was fronted by the excellent Iiris Vesik. ‘Drifting’ was a real highlight, with Vesik commanding the crowd before jumping into the middle of it and directing a full-blown dance party, the audience gleefully abiding. It was one of those moments that captured what makes smaller festivals like this so enjoyable.

I ended my day with Mandy, Indiana, again at Komedia. A few sound issues at the start were quickly sorted, and what followed was one of the best sets I’ve seen all year. Visceral, raw and industrial, the sounds pierced the room, transporting me from the basement of a comedy club to an apocalyptic rave. The crowd moved almost on pure instinct, led by the incredible Valentine Caulfield on vocals. ‘I’ll Ask Her’, ‘Magazine’ and ‘Cursive’ left me shell-shocked in the best possible way.

In sharp contrast to the huge crowds of the summer day festivals in London parks I’ve attended this year, Brighton Psych Fest offers a more grounded, community-focused approach that lets you go with the flow. You can choose to dive into frenetic bands in sweaty rooms, or see a chill act a stone’s throw from the beach. Either way, the festival has you covered.

At a time when bigger festivals can feel increasingly difficult to navigate, Brighton Psych Fest’s compact, city-wide format feels refreshing. A great way to round off another excellent summer of festivals.