Last Updated on 30 June 2026 by Dave King
The Brighton Chocolate Festival is one of the city’s nicer low-key days out, and one of the few where you can browse independent chocolate makers under one roof. It is a celebration of proper craft chocolate, the bean-to-bar makers and chocolatiers who do things the slow way, gathered under one roof for a weekend. This guide covers when it is on in 2026, where to find it, what tickets you do and do not need, and what the day is actually like.
Table of Contents
Brighton Chocolate Festival at a Glance
| Dates | 26 and 27 September 2026 |
| Times | Check the official ticket page before travelling |
| Venue | Wagner Hall, central Brighton |
| Entry | Ticket details available through the official festival site |
| What it is | UK craft and bean-to-bar chocolate makers under one roof |
| Best for | Anyone who likes good chocolate, supporting independents, a relaxed browse |
What is the Brighton Chocolate Festival?
It is a showcase of craft chocolate rather than a generic sweets fair, and that distinction is the whole point. The makers here work bean-to-bar, meaning they start from the cocoa bean and control the whole process, with an emphasis on ethically sourced cocoa and small-batch flavours you will not find on a supermarket shelf.
Chocolatiers and makers come from across the UK, so it is a rare chance to taste a lot of independent producers side by side, talk to the people who actually made the bars, and learn how single-origin and sustainably sourced chocolate is put together. If you only know chocolate as the stuff in the corner shop, a couple of hours here genuinely changes how you taste it.
It is on the smaller, friendlier end of the city’s events rather than a giant festival, which is part of the charm. For the bigger picture of what else lands across the year, our Brighton events calendar sets out the months worth planning around.
Dates, times and tickets
The festival runs on 26 and 27 September 2026. Check the official festival site before travelling for the latest opening times. It is built around makers’ stalls you can wander between rather than a fixed programme, so it is a relaxed event to dip into.
Ticket information is handled through the official Brighton Chocolate Festival website, which links out to the current booking page. Check there before travelling for the latest entry arrangements, timings and any paid add-ons.
Where it is and getting there
The festival is held at Wagner Hall, a central Brighton venue close to the station, which makes it one of the easier events to reach without a car. If you are coming in for the day, the train is the simplest option, and our guide to getting the train to Brighton covers stations and tickets. Driving in is doable, but central parking is limited and pricey, so given how close the venue is to the station, leaving the car at home is the easier call.
What to expect on the day
Inside, it is stalls rather than rides: tables of makers with their bars laid out, samples to try, and people happy to talk you through what you are tasting. Expect a wide spread of styles, from dark single-origin bars to flavoured and filled chocolates, and to come away having tried things you would never have picked up otherwise.
It is relaxed and browsable rather than rammed, though the middle of the day is busiest, so arrive earlier if you want a quieter wander and first pick of the popular makers. Bring a card and a bit of cash, since you will almost certainly want to buy, and it supports independent producers directly, much like the city’s independent shops. It is family-friendly too, and an easy add-on to a wider day in town.
Is it worth going?
For anyone who likes chocolate, yes. You get to taste a lot of independent makers side by side, you learn something about how good chocolate is made, and you support small producers in the process. Treat it as a relaxed couple of hours rather than an all-day event, pair it with lunch or a coffee nearby, and it is a genuinely lovely way to spend part of a September weekend.
If you want more ideas for the same weekend, our roundup of free things to do in Brighton is a good companion. The one honest caveat is scale: this is a friendly, focused festival, not a sprawling one, so go for the quality and the makers rather than expecting a huge fairground of an event.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Brighton Chocolate Festival 2026?
It runs on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September 2026 at Wagner Hall in central Brighton. Check the official festival site for the latest opening times before you travel.
Is the festival free?
Entry arrangements are confirmed through the official festival site, which links to the booking page, so check there for the latest before you travel.
Where is it held?
At Wagner Hall, a central venue close to Brighton station, which makes it easy to reach by train.
Is it suitable for families and children?
Yes. It is a relaxed, browsable indoor event, so it works well for families, though it is about tasting and meeting makers rather than rides or activities.
Do I need to book tickets?
Check the official festival site, which links to the current booking page and the latest entry details.
Final Thoughts
The Brighton Chocolate Festival is a small, genuine pleasure: full of independent makers and a proper education in what craft chocolate can be. Go in with an open mind and an empty bag, arrive earlier for a calmer browse, and build it into a wider day in the city. If chocolate is your weakness, this is one September weekend worth keeping clear.
