Eastbourne Carnival 2026

The Eastbourne Carnival 2026 is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 23 May 2026.

As the largest seafront carnival in the South East, it is expected to draw approximately 25,000 spectators and feature over 1,500 participants. 

Event Theme: "Lights, Camera, Action"

The 2026 theme celebrates Eastbourne's identity as a theatre town, drawing inspiration from film, television, theatre, and musicals. Participants are encouraged to bring their favourite stage and screen productions to life through creative costumes, props, floats, and dance. 

Schedule of Events:-

• Opening Procession (Midday): Officially launched by the Mayor of Eastbourne, starting from the Enterprise Shopping Centre.
• Main Carnival Parade (2:00 pm): The highlight of the day begins at Fisherman's Green and travels nearly a mile along the seafront to the Wish Tower Slopes.
• Carnival Street Party (4:30 pm – 8:00 pm): Located at Victoria Place (the seafront end of Terminus Road), featuring live DJs, carnival-themed music like Soca, and a vibrant community atmosphere.
• Carnival Market: Held in the Town Centre, featuring local and international traders selling food (such as jerk chicken), clothing, and art. 

Participation & Awards:-

• Free Entry: The event is free to enter and open to the entire community. Interested groups can register via the Official Entrants Form.
• Public Vote: Spectators can vote for their favourite parade entries following the event.
• New Award Categories: 2026 introduces two new awards: Best Community Entrant and Best School Entry, alongside existing categories like Best Costume and Best Float.
• Creative Workshops: Lightning Fibre is sponsoring free creative workshops starting in March to help participants build costumes and floats. 

Volunteering & Sponsorship

The carnival is organized by a Community Interest Company (CIC) and relies on volunteers for marshalling and bucket collection. Sponsorship tiers are available starting from £250 for "Carnival Supporters" up to £2,000+ for "Platinum Sponsors".