Event Dates
From: Monday, December 21, 2026
To: Monday, December 21, 2026
The Burning of the Clocks is a celebration of The Winter Solstice on 21st December when Brighton city centre lights up
The Burning of the Clocks is a celebration of The Winter Solstice on 21st December when Brighton city centre lights up the darkest, shortest day of the year with a unique festival.
- Visiting Brighton? Book your hotel well in advance, it is one of the most popular weekend escapes in UK, even during the Winter. Stay on the beachfront at Jurys Inn, a 4 star hotel with large rooms and great views.
The Procession
- Next Edition: Monday 21st December, 2026.
- Burning the clocks, Brighton is a magical procession which winds its way through some of Brighton’s oldest streets and lanes.
- In this community event people hold handmade willow lanterns aloft in the air, in a parade that heads down to the sea.
- The glowing lanterns are made from willow canes, traditionally called withies, and white tissue paper. The parade ends at the seafront by Marine Parade for a stunning finale featuring the burning the clocks on the beach.
- Clocks and lanterns and set upon a blazing beach bonfire followed by a burning the clocks firework display. Many people dress up, and each costume must include the image of a clock face to represent the passage of time.
- Drummers and musicians accompany the group, and the party atmosphere is hard to resist, with passers-by stopping to snap photos of the black-and-white display or dance along with them.
- For a “Fabulous” stay during the event, check in to Drakes Hotel, a boutique hotel offering stylish rooms and seafront location. Highly-recommended.
The Route
- The parade leaves from New Road at 6.30pm and arrives at Madeira Drive at approximately 7.15pm, when lanterns are passed onto the bonfire and the fire-show begins.
- The event finishes at around 8pm. The fire show and pyrotechnics will take place on the beach.
- Grab the best viewing spots along Madeira Drive and the Upper Terrace of Marine Parade. VIP viewing tickets are available.
- A simple lantern pack is available so that people can make and hang a lantern in their window to mark the winter solstice on 21st December and show their support.
- Burning of the Clocks is created by Same Sky a Brighton Community Arts charity group.
- Stay close to the parde on the Seafront at the Lanes Hotel, right on the seafront, just a short walk to the parade fishing point on the beach.
Recommended Hotels in Brighton
The following hotels are all close to the centre of Brighton, the gay bars & parade festivities
Where to stay close to all the gay bars.
Our top 4 selections with the best rates.
Our editors have been to Brighton
many times and stay at Drakes
For further information and advice on
The Burning of the Clocks The Website
Most of the Brighton gay bars and pubs are located in the city’s ‘Gay Quarter’ in Brighton’s Kemp Town – a compact strip of pubs and clubs just moments from the seafront.
Address:Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 2FU, United Kingdom
Address: 6 Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 2GS, United Kingdom
Address: 149 Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 2PP, United Kingdom
Address: 97-99 Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 2FW, United Kingdom
Address: 43-44 Marine Parade, Brighton, BN2 1PE, United Kingdom
Address: 75-76 Grand Parade, Brighton, BN2 9JA, United Kingdom
Address: 129 St James's Street, Brighton, BN2 1TH, United Kingdom
Address: 10 Steine Street, Brighton, BN2 1TE, United Kingdom
Address: 75 St George's Road, Brighton, BN2 1EF, United Kingdom
Address: 13 Broad Street, Brighton, BN2 1TJ, United Kingdom
Address: 129–130 St James's Street, Brighton, BN2 1TH, United Kingdom
Address: 7–8 George Street, Brighton, BN2 1RH, United Kingdom
Address: 33 St James's Street, Brighton, BN2 1RF, United Kingdom
Address: 2-3 High Street, Brighton, BN2 1RP, United Kingdom
Address: 4 Prince's Street, Brighton, BN2 1RD, United Kingdom
Address: 30–31 Camelford Street, Brighton, BN2 1TQ, United Kingdom
Address: 8–9 Marine Parade, Brighton, BN2 1TA, United Kingdom
Address: 5-7 Marine Parade, Brighton, BN2 1TA, United Kingdom
Address: 32-34 Old Steine, Brighton, BN1 1EL, United Kingdom
Address: 31–34 Marine Parade, Brighton, BN2 1TR, United Kingdom
Address: 30 Western Street, Brighton, BN1 2PG, United Kingdom
Address: 16 Western Street, Brighton, BN1 2PG, United Kingdom
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