Brighton Open Air Theatre 2026 1 May – 20 Sept 2026 | Brighton’s only outdoor theatre, BOAT, opens for 2026 Summer Season
Brighton’s famous open-air theatre opens its gates on Friday 1 May for a jam-packed summer programme. With dozens of performances across artforms including theatre, music, comedy, drag, dance, improvisation, opera and more, BOAT offers fascinating options for residents and visitors alike.
As always, the season opens with a bang on bank holiday weekend, with Drag in the Park hosted by Alfie Ordinary, Brighton Fringe improvisation favourites Impromptu Shakespeare and even a hearty dollop of high-flying wrestling action. Several Brighton Fringe productions feature through May, as well as family hits such as Alice in Wonderland: The Ballet and one of the UK’s premier touring companies The Duke’s Theatre Co, returning to BOAT with their new production of Romeo and Juliet.
June kicks off with the ever-popular Summer Comedy Festival from Funny That Comedy, featuring a host of A-list names including John Bishop, Kerry Godliman, Ed Byrne, Sara Pascoe, Stephen K Amos and more.
Drama, opera and circus follow, with Tower Theatre’s production of ‘the great play of the century’ (WhatsOnStage 2022) Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem, before local legends Cue Fanfare arrive in July with Michael Frayn’s classic farce Noises Off.
August sees BOAT and The Conor Baum Company’s co-production of Arthur Miller’s A View From The Bridge as well as Quantum Theatre’s Peter Rabbit, and a host of other touring titles. The season closes out in September with music, comedy and opera.
Returning visitors will be delighted to see on-site improvements, such as a new astroturf stage and a brand new bar with a fabulous range of drinks, snacks and treats.
BOAT’s General Manager Will Mytum says: “This is an incredibly exciting season for BOAT. Not only do we have a marvellous programme of cutting-edge productions, but our site has never been better equipped to support our audience. Thanks to the donations of so many generous patrons, we’ve been able to upgrade our facilities and deliver a daring and unique assortment of shows which rivals any other venue in the South East in its diversity. Grab your suncream and a bottle of fizz and join us this summer.”
BOAT’s 2026 Summer Season runs from Friday 1 May to Sunday 20 September. Tickets for all performances are available at www.brightonopenairtheatre.co.uk
View more articles here
