In Pictures: 2026 South Downs Music Festival

This year’s event, which took place on Friday, September 11 to Sunday, September 13, saw multiple acts perform at venues across the seafront, town centre, Waterloo Square, and Venue 24 on Bognor Pier.

Organised by the team from South Downs Music Festival, the 13th such festival saw great performances from the Friday headliners, Megson & Phil Beer at Venue 24 on the Pier, plus on Saturday, the Roving Crows and the sensational Sorrel Nation Band On Sunday evening, the return of local performer Ed Goodale supported 3 Daft Monkeys.

The ever popular Ukulele Festival under marquee in Waterloo Square was packed to the rafters with jams and live performances from The Mighty Lemons, Only Ukes, Sputnick Weazel and many others.

There were also some dance displays from festival regulars Knickerbocker Glory, Elmer English and Chameleon Dance.

No fewer than eleven shanty groups sang in various town centre venues on Saturday and Sunday to much acclaim, with many people joining in with well known sea songs.

Seven different venues were used for the festival including the RAFA Club, The Lamb, The Alex, Bonito Lounge, The William Hardwicke, Venue 24 and the Green Dragon which hosted the hugely successful Rox/ Bognorphenia stage.

Chairman of the Festival Committee, Roger Nash said: “Once again, we’ve proved that if you put the right things on, people will support you, and they did that in spades with packed out venues and a real buzz around the town. We hope to be back in 2027 and using the new Alexandra Arts Centre which opens in Spring next year.”