On the Beach Brighton 2026: Tickets, Lineup, Dates

If you’ve been watching Brighton’s seafront fill up with stages each summer, you already know On the Beach has grown into a significant annual event. Now in its sixth year, the festival is back for 2026 with a lineup that reads like a nostalgia trip with a modern edge. The question on everyone’s minds: can you still get tickets?

Event Dates: July 2026 · Location: Brighton Beach · Headliners: Fatboy Slim, Madness, The Maccabees, Moby · Format: 2 weekends · Tickets: Available via AXS and official site

Key facts

The following details summarise the essential information for planning attendance at On the Beach 2026.

On the beach brighton tickets

Tickets for On the Beach Brighton 2026 went into pre-sale on Wednesday 4 February 2026 at 10am, with general availability following on 5 February 2026 at 10am via Official Charts announcement. The festival operates a tiered pricing system that escalates as different sections sell out, making early purchase the most cost-effective approach for those still hoping to attend.

Ticket availability

Both Fatboy Slim’s three-date residency (16–19 July) and Moby’s solo show (26 July) are officially sold out, according to Official Charts. The Madness and The Maccabees shows still have tickets available, though remaining inventory is limited.

Where to buy

The only official ticket outlets are Skiddle and AXS, as confirmed by the festival’s own information page. Tickets are sold per-day only—there’s no weekend package option, so each day requires a separate purchase. All tickets are non-refundable.

Pricing info

The festival hasn’t publicly disclosed exact price points, but the tiered structure means prices increase as sections sell. VIP tickets are available for those seeking premium experiences—these include access to a dedicated lounge, private bar, and elevated platform viewing area, though all VIP tickets are 18+ only, per the official event information.

The implication: anyone targeting a specific weekend should treat ticket purchase as time-sensitive, given the tiered pricing model rewards early buyers.

On the Beach Festival 2026

What started as a pandemic-era replacement for missing festivals has become Brighton’s defining summer music event. Now entering its sixth year, On the Beach 2026 runs across two consecutive weekends on Brighton Beach, delivering eight days of shows from 16 July through 26 July 2026.

Event overview

The festival’s roots trace back to 2022, when organizers created a beachfront alternative when traditional festival circuits were disrupted. Past lineups have included electronic heavyweights like Chase & Status, Above & Beyond, Eric Prydz, and Carl Cox, alongside indie favourites such as Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, The Libertines, and Bloc Party, according to the official site.

Dates and schedule

The first weekend (16–19 July) belongs to Fatboy Slim’s Big Beach Boutique 7, with the legendary DJ performing on Thursday through Sunday. The second weekend (23–26 July) features Madness (Thursday and Friday), The Maccabees (Saturday), and Moby (Sunday), as detailed in the official schedule.

Brighton Beach concerts 2026

The 2026 lineup represents a compelling mix of nostalgia and significance. While Fatboy Slim has become something of a festival regular (his Big Beach Boutique concept has run multiple years), Moby’s appearance marks something genuinely special: his first Brighton show in 25 years, per Skiddle festival listing.

Confirmed artists

Four headliners have been officially confirmed across the eight-day run. Fatboy Slim occupies the first weekend entirely, Madness headlines Thursday and Friday of the second weekend, The Maccabees take Saturday, and Moby closes the festival on Sunday. Each artist has a distinct history with the festival or with Brighton itself.

Headliners

Fatboy Slim’s three-night residency (16–19 July) is 18+ only, with shows starting as early as 1pm on Saturday 18 July and running until 10:30pm. Moby’s 18+ show on 26 July runs 2pm–10:30pm. In contrast, Madness (23–24 July) and The Maccabees (25 July) are 16+ events, meaning 16 and 17-year-olds can attend if accompanied by a responsible adult, as confirmed by the official event information.

“Pack your flip flops” – The Nutty Boys are hitting the seaside!

— Madness announcement via Official Charts

The catch: Moby’s first Brighton appearance in a quarter-century makes Sunday’s closing show the most symbolically weighted date of the festival, even if tickets remain available.

On the beach brighton kaiser chiefs

Rumours about Kaiser Chiefs appearing at On the Beach 2026 appear to stem from confusion with previous years. One secondary source listed them alongside Bloc Party as potential headliners, but neither artist has been officially confirmed for the 2026 lineup. The FabFestivals listing that mentioned these acts carries medium confidence and likely reflects past appearances rather than future announcements.

Lineup details

The four officially confirmed headliners are Fatboy Slim, Madness, The Maccabees, and Moby—three of whom represent either first-time appearances or long-awaited returns. Madness brings their Madrophenia show with support from David Rodigan and Hot 8 Brass Band, adding reggae and brass elements to the beach lineup, per Skiddle.

The pattern: festival lineups often recycle popular acts from prior years, but confirmed 2026 bookings should be verified directly against onthebeachbrighton.com before making travel plans.

On the beach brighton finish time

Each day’s schedule varies by artist and day of the week. The earliest start belongs to Fatboy Slim’s Saturday show (18 July), which kicks off at 1pm, while the latest overall finish is 10:30pm across multiple evenings. Understanding these timings matters for planning, especially given the festival’s strict last-entry policy.

Event timings

The official schedule breaks down as follows: Fatboy Slim runs Thursday 16 July 2pm–10pm, Friday 17 July 2pm–10:30pm, Saturday 18 July 1pm–10:30pm, and Sunday 19 July 2pm–10:30pm. Madness performs Thursday 23 July 4:30pm–10pm and Friday 24 July 2pm–10:30pm. The Maccabees take Saturday 25 July 1pm–10:30pm, and Moby closes Sunday 26 July 2pm–10:30pm, per the official information page.

Last entry is strictly enforced: 8pm for Thursday shows and 6pm for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday events. Once you leave, re-entry is not permitted. This makes it essential to arrive before the cutoff and plan accordingly for the full duration of your chosen day.

What this means: attendees should treat the last-entry cutoff as a hard deadline rather than a suggestion, given the no-re-entry policy means leaving early forfeits the rest of the day’s programming.

What to bring

The venue is Brighton’s famous pebble beach, so flip-flops and beach footwear aren’t just encouraged—they’re practical. The festival operates entirely cashless, so contactless payment is essential. Photo ID is required for entry, particularly for the 18+ shows. A reusable water bottle is recommended, though food and drink vendors will be available throughout the site, per the official event information.

Summary

For anyone who missed the pre-sale window, the situation is straightforward: Fatboy Slim and Moby are gone, but Madness and The Maccabees tickets remain available through AXS and Skiddle. The festival’s deliberate split between an electronic-focused first weekend and indie-leaning second weekend gives different audiences their best shot at attendance. With eight days of programming and tiered pricing that rises as sections sell, the smart move is acting now rather than waiting for announcements that may never materialise.

Related reading: Royal Albert Hall Events 2026 Tickets

On the Beach Brighton marks its sixth year in July 2026 with headliners Fatboy Slim, Madness, and Moby, as detailed in this festival lineup and tickets guide spanning eight days on the iconic seafront.

Frequently asked questions