Brighton Dome 2026: a run of gigs that covers shanties, synths, swagger and symphonies
Brighton Dome’s upcoming diary reads like someone spilled a record collection down a staircase and decided to book the whole thing. There’s post-rock you can get lost in, dancefloor royalty, literate indie, big-voiced pop-soul, folk with a horn section the size of a small village, and a few nights that promise to be loud enough to rearrange your hair parting.
The fun bit is the variety. Some of these shows are anniversary moments (albums turning 15 or 20, bands marking big chapters), some are new-era tours, and others are pure “you had to be there” bookings where the room and the crowd do half the work. Brighton Dome is especially good at that: it’s big enough for communal lift-off, still intimate enough to feel like you’re inside the sound rather than watching it from the outside.
February 2026
Mogwai + Forest Swords (Friday 20 February 2026, 7pm–11pm)
Mogwai do atmosphere like a weather system: slow-building pressure, sudden downpours of distortion, and the kind of melodies that hang around for days. Expect a set that can pivot from bruising volume to fragile detail in a heartbeat. With Forest Swords in support, this one leans cinematic, immersive and properly transportive.
March 2026
Scouting for Girls: Everybody Wants To Be On TV (15th Anniversary Tour) (Monday 2 March 2026, 7pm–11pm)
A nostalgia hit with a pulse, this tour puts Scouting for Girls’ breakthrough era front and centre, celebrating an album that arrived with chart power and singalong hooks baked in. Expect the anniversary record to get a proper spotlight, plus the big crowd-pleasers that turned the band into a festival-friendly, hands-in-the-air staple.
Franz Ferdinand + Home Counties (Wednesday 4 March 2026, 7pm–11pm)
Franz Ferdinand still sound like a band built for movement: sharp guitars, sharp turns, and choruses that kick like a door to a better night out. This date is tied to their newer era (with The Human Fear in the frame), but the live set inevitably pulls from the catalogue of precision-tooled indie bangers. Bring dancing shoes, even if you plan to pretend you don’t dance.
Fisherman’s Friends (Thursday 5 March 2026, 7pm–11pm)
Sea shanties with the warmth of a pub fire and the heft of tradition, Fisherman’s Friends have turned community singing into a national event without sanding off the edges. Expect big choruses, plenty of humour, and that particular kind of catharsis that happens when a roomful of strangers all sing the same line like they’ve known it forever.
Sleaford Mods + Heartworms (Friday 6 March 2026, 7pm–11pm)
Sleaford Mods live is a bracing reset: minimal beats, maximal bite, and an accuracy of observation that lands like thrown gravel. With Heartworms on the bill, the night tilts dark and propulsive. Go expecting intensity rather than polish, and you’ll get the full charge: funny, furious, and weirdly uplifting in its refusal to flinch.
Jazz Connections: Ant Law’s Unified Theories (Friday 20 March 2026, 8pm–11pm)
For anyone who likes their musicianship with both brains and blood, Ant Law’s work sits in that sweet spot: intricate without turning cold, adventurous without losing the groove. This show spotlights Unified Theories and the kind of ensemble interplay that rewards close listening. A great “lean in” night, with plenty to chew on.
April 2026
Happy Mondays + The Farm + Northside (Thursday 2 April 2026, 7pm–11pm)
This is an all-killer line-up for anyone who likes their guitars with swagger and their grooves with a grin. Happy Mondays remain an evergreen live proposition: ragged joy, rolling rhythms, and songs that still trigger instant recognition. With The Farm and Northside stacked in, it’s a full night of Northern attitude and singalong history.
Cat Burns + Nxdia (Tuesday 14 April 2026, 7pm–11pm)
Cat Burns has the rare ability to make intimate feelings feel arena-sized, without losing the details that make them real. Expect a show built around big melodies and direct emotional connection, with the polish of a modern pop set but the honesty of a songwriter gig. Nxdia adds extra bite and edge to the night’s shape.
African Night Fever presents BCUC + DJs (Friday 24 April 2026, 8:15pm–11pm)
BCUC’s sound hits like a live wire: percussion-forward, politically charged, and built for bodies in motion. This is the kind of gig where the groove isn’t a background feature, it’s the main character. Add DJs into the mix and you’ve got a night that’s less “watch a band” and more “join a moving crowd”.
The Charlatans + The Cords (Saturday 25 April 2026, 7pm–11pm)
The Charlatans are one of those bands with a catalogue that quietly built a whole landscape: anthems that still feel bright, plus deeper cuts that reward long-term fans. Live, they’re reliable in the best way, delivering classic moments without turning into a museum piece. The Cords in support keeps the bill rooted in guitar-pop immediacy.
May 2026
The Adam Buxton Band (Tuesday 12 May 2026, 8pm–11pm)
This one’s for people who like an evening that’s heartfelt, funny and a little sideways. Adam Buxton’s live show leans into the album Buckle Up and the kind of storytelling that makes you feel like you’re in on the joke, even when the joke is on him. Expect warmth, musical craft, and left-field charm.
Kingfishr (Thursday 14 May 2026, 7pm–11pm)
A Great Escape Spotlight Show booking at the Dome gives Kingfishr a bigger canvas, and they’re the kind of band that benefits from space: emotive indie-folk with lift, momentum and chorus payoffs. If you like your gigs with rising-band electricity and a crowd that feels like it’s discovering something together, this is your night.
Aldous Harding + Support (Monday 25 May 2026, 7pm–11pm)
Aldous Harding’s songs often feel like strange little films: gothic, funny, unsettling, and oddly tender. Live, that translates into a set that’s more spellcasting than performance, with the room held in a careful kind of attention. This tour run is a notable return, so expect a crowd that’s there to properly listen.
June 2026
James Morrison: 20 Years of Undiscovered (Monday 1 June 2026, 7pm–11pm)
Anniversary shows can be tricky, but Morrison’s voice and songwriting have always been about clarity and connection, which suits a “play it in full” approach. Expect the album material to land with a new weight after two decades, plus a run through the hits that followed. A strong pick for fans of soulful pop and classic songwriting craft.
Ray LaMontagne + Natalie Jane Hill (Friday 5 June 2026, 7pm–11pm)
LaMontagne’s Trouble anniversary tour is built for anyone who likes their gigs simmering rather than exploding. The set promises the album in full, plus extra songs from across a deep catalogue. Expect a focused, resonant night where the room goes quiet at the right moments and the applause does the talking.
Anna Lapwood (Wednesday 10 June 2026, 6:30pm–11pm)
An organ tour is a glorious curveball, and Anna Lapwood leans into it with flair: film themes, classical pieces, and a sense of fun that makes the instrument feel freshly alive. With a bespoke touring organ in play, this is part concert, part spectacle, part “how is this even possible?”. Expect a wide audience: classical heads, soundtrack lovers, and the curious.
Beverley Knight: Born to Perform Tour (Wednesday 24 June 2026, 7pm–11pm)
Beverley Knight on a big stage is an event in itself: power, presence and a voice that can go from velvet to thunder without warning. This tour mixes hits with personal stories and musical-theatre favourites, which suits her perfectly. If you want a show that feels celebratory and big-hearted, put this high on the list.
10cc in Concert (Tuesday 30 June 2026, 7:30pm–11pm)
10cc’s legacy is clever without being smug: immaculate pop craft, playful songwriting, and a knack for shifting style mid-song like it’s nothing. With Graham Gouldman at the helm, this show leans into the “greatest hits” spirit while reminding everyone how weirdly influential the band’s DNA has been. Expect a multi-generational crowd and plenty of “I forgot how much I love this one.”
September 2026
Marillion + Haunt The Woods (Sunday 13 September 2026, 7pm–10:30pm)
Marillion remain a cornerstone for progressive rock fans who want emotional scale as much as musical complexity. Live, they’re about atmosphere and journey: long arcs, deep cuts, and moments that feel properly communal. Haunt The Woods makes a strong support choice, setting a textured tone before the main set stretches out.
Michael Ball: Glow UK Tour 2026 (Tuesday 22 September 2026, 7:30pm–11pm)
Not strictly a “band” night, but definitely a live-music night with big-room energy. Michael Ball’s shows balance musical theatre showmanship with the warmth of an entertainer who knows how to work a room. Expect the high notes, the stories, the polished arrangements and that sense of occasion that Dome audiences do so well.
Saint Etienne + Support (Friday 25 September 2026, 7:15pm–11pm)
A farewell show at the Dome carries its own electricity, especially for a band like Saint Etienne whose music has soundtracked decades of city nights and headphone afternoons. Expect a crowd with long memories, plus the bittersweet buzz that comes with a “last chance” gig. This one will feel less like a normal date and more like a chapter ending.
November 2026
The Proclaimers + Support (Wednesday 11 November 2026, 7:30pm–11pm)
The Proclaimers have that rare thing: songs that sound like they belong to everyone. Live, it’s equal parts precision and joy, with harmonies that cut through and choruses that the audience takes over without being asked. With a new album in the picture, expect fresh material alongside the classics that still land like a pint on the table.
Bellowhead: Burlesque 20th Anniversary Tour (Monday 16 November 2026, 7pm–11pm)
Bellowhead are “big folk” in the best sense: huge band, huge arrangements, huge lift. The Burlesque anniversary is an excuse to revisit the record that kicked the doors open for their brass-and-strings exuberance. Expect a show that feels like a dance, a singalong, and a slightly tipsy parade, all at once.
Ben Folds: The Paper Airplane Request Tour + Lindsey Kraft (Thursday 26 November 2026, 7:15pm–11pm)
Ben Folds is a natural live communicator: piano-led songs that can be hilarious, cutting, tender, or all three in one verse. The “request” angle makes each night feel unique, and the Dome is a perfect room for that kind of audience-artist feedback loop. Expect musicianship, quick wit, and a setlist that can swerve from grand to intimate in seconds.
