The Great Escape returns to Brighton, and our attention turns to the city’s own artists alongside a selection of standouts from across the wider programme.

From 13-16 May, the festival once again turns the city into four days of musical overstimulation and some of the best discoveries you’ll make all year. With more than 450 artists spread across clubs, pubs, cafes and seafront venues, alongside the ever-expanding ecosystem of unofficial Alt Alt Escape shows, there’s more than enough happening to derail even the most carefully assembled schedule.

Naturally, we’ll be spending a good portion of the week with Brighton’s own. The local scene keeps this city exciting long after festival season disappears, and much of the interest lies in tracing those emerging artists through the wider currents and colours of an international showcase festival.

Wednesday begins in the comfort of The Hope & Ruin, where The Wrong Trousers will bring their wiry, 60s-inflected punk grooves. Elsewhere, glittery math-rockers Slag continue carving out their own lane through big riffs and tender melodies, whilst Room Service’s genre-blurring fun feels tailor-made for festival energy. Lonnie Gunn will arrive with fuzz-heavy riffs and big-feeling indie-rock catharsis.

Thursday sees Big Long Sun soundtracking the city’s stranger corners with expansive psych-folk-rock to sing and dance to. Lime Garden taking over The Deep End at TGE Beach is a huge moment for the local beloveds, following the release Maybe Not Tonight, one of this year’s defining records. Bert’s lovely indie-folk and breakbeat combinations upstairs at Patterns will be the perfect stop off on the way back from the seafront.

Friday belongs to another run of Brighton artists, as Alex Amor’s dreamy alt-pop takes over One Church early doors. For those searching for the weekend’s folkier corners, Krumpets bring mellow country textures and introspective songwriting, whilst ladylike’s slow-burning post-rock movements continue to soothe and startle in equal measure. The evening shifts into darker territory with Everyday Saints’ gothic synth-pop textures. Later still, Call Me Franco’s sprawling prog-psych instrumentals threaten to melt whatever brains remain by that point.

On Saturday, Crafting Room Recordings take over Komedia’s basement from midday with Maximilian, Glasshouse Red Spider Mite, Yumi and the Weather and Opal Mag easing everyone gently into the festival’s final stretch. Later, My Precious Bunny, the solo project of Penelope Isles’ Lily Wolter, continues emerging as one of the city’s most exciting voices through a mix of sharp songwriting and fuzzed-out warmth, whilst last year’s favourite Cordelia Gartside returns to the pier’s infamous venue, Horatio’s. Shoegazers Goodbye hit a milestone at The Deep End, ARXX bring their riotous power-pop energy to the closing hours, and Bones Ate Arfa’s bass-heavy grunge arrives at 00:30 for anyone still standing.

Beyond Brighton-based artists, plenty of bigger names demand attention too. Angine de Poitrine have captured the zeitgeist with their art-punk and microtonal theatrics, whilst Heartworms bring gothic industrial intensity to the festival’s darker spaces. The Orielles remain one of UK indie’s most reliably joyous live bands and Westside Cowboy return for what’s sure to be another packed show.

International showcases are especially exciting this year too. Wall of Sound PR’s Inspired By Tokyo showcase promises a stacked selection of Japanese experimental pop, rock and leftfield electronics. Atlanta's Sword II offer effervescent psych-gaze, whilst Montréal’s La Sécurité bring wiry dance-punk tension, and French artist Vera Daisies delivers her incandescent blend of grunge, pop and shoegaze.

London’s underground spills heavily into the lineup as always. Just a few highlights include Borscht’s off-kilter folk-rock, Saint Clair’s shoegaze tinged alt-rock, MADMADMAD's rhythmic dancefloor electronics, and Natalie Wildgoose's ghostly folk that's set to soar from the Unitarian Church's piano.

A welcome addition for 2026 is the new press-hosted initiative, handing emerging independent publications their own stages. It’s an exciting idea that will see smaller media platforms curating bills that reflect the scenes they cover. All happening simultaneously on Saturday from 12-4pm, you’ll have to take your pick from: Brighton’s own Crafting Room at Komedia, The New Age Magazine x Still Listening at Horatio’s, and Kinda Weird at Patterns.

And this is all before even touching the Alt Alt Escape orbiting the official festival. Free shows spill out across the city, unofficial lineups appear a few days before doors and many “official” artists play additional sets during their seaside stay. Brighton feels most alive during these moments.

So yes, make plans, highlight acts and build those spreadsheets. But leave plenty of space for chance too. The Great Escape has always rewarded curiosity.

Plan your festival routes using The Great Escape app and the amazing new Spot BTN app for all your unofficial shows.