Welcome!

Welcome to the website of Hailsham Festival of Arts and Culture. 2026 is our 20th birthday year and although the festival is now over you can still see the events which took place by clicking on the Festival At A Glance menu..

This year’s theme was The World Around Us and within our usual wide range of events we focused on the environment and ways in which we can live more sustainably and protect the world around us for future generations.

We are particularly proud of the fact that in line with our commitment to inclusivity, over half of our 30 events were free of charge and that a significant proportion of the remainder cost £5 or less.

Please do visit the Artists’ Bridge where nearly 80 pieces of art created by members of the local community are now permanently displayed. You can find more information here: The Artists’ Bridge.

The Virtual Art Gallery and the Children’s Virtual Art Gallery are open all year and contain some wonderful art by predominantly local artists – do please click on the links to visit them. In addition, we will be highlighting one of the artists from the gallery every week for the next 20 weeks on Facebook and in our newsletter. Please subscribe or follow us.

The festival is held annually in September and represents a celebration of both professional and amateur  talent, creativity and imagination centred in the market town of Hailsham and its surrounding area. Events include art, music, dance, drama, creative writing, poetry and film.

Performances and exhibitions are held in venues including the iconic Hailsham Pavilion, Summerheath Hall and Hailsham Parish Church among many others.

The arts represent a vital component of our culture, enriching our community and creating a vibrant landscape from which we all benefit. Recent research from University College, London reveals that engaging with arts and culture can slow biological ageing as much as exercise. Increase your life expectancy with Hailsham Festival!

Thank you for all your support over the years. Please watch this space or follow us on Facebook or Instagram for details.

Tony Biggin

Chair, Hailsham Festival

Hailsham Festival Committee