October Unpacked: 1–31 Oct 2026
October might traditionally be the month when summer is officially packed away, but in Brighton there’s no chance of things going quiet. In fact, October is shaping up to be one of the busiest months of the year, with food, comedy, beer and Italian culture giving us plenty of reasons to get out and about and support local businesses.
October Unpacked brings together some of the city’s biggest autumn events, making it the perfect excuse to explore Brighton, try somewhere new and make the most of everything happening across the city.
First up is the Taste Trail, giving food lovers the chance to discover some of Brighton’s best restaurants, cafés, bars and independent food businesses. Whether you’re looking for somewhere new for dinner, fancy discovering a hidden gem or simply need an excuse to eat your way around the city, the Taste Trail is a brilliant way to experience Brighton through its food scene.
Then there’s the Brighton Dome Comedy Festival, returning from 16–25 Oct in partnership with Komedia. The programme brings together stand-up, live podcasts and workshops across both venues, with some seriously big names on the bill. Expect Brighton favourites alongside established comedians and rising stars, making this one for anyone who believes that autumn is considerably better when accompanied by a few belly laughs.
If beer, bratwurst and a bit of Bavarian-style partying sound more appealing, OktoberFest brings another reason to raise a stein. Expect the traditional combination of beer, food, music and plenty of good-natured revelry.
And then there’s Brighton Italian Festival, celebrating all things Italian with food, drink, culture and that unmistakable Italian flair. From
delicious food to the chance to discover more about Italian traditions and businesses in the city, it’s another reason to embrace October rather than hibernate.
Organiser of BIF William Ranieri says: “I’m really proud of what the festival has achieved in such a short time. The support from local businesses has been amazing, and we hope to keep this momentum going, expanding to become an established Italian Festival in Brighton. We are already in talks with other International Fringe Festivals that represent Italy abroad.”
So grab your diary, round up your friends and start planning. October in Brighton is looking anything but dull.
www.discoverbrighton.org/october-unpacked
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