Until 2016 the Adur Festival was a beloved annual celebration of arts and community in the Adur district of West Sussex. For nearly three decades, it brought together residents and visitors to experience visual arts, music, theatre, literature, dance, and more.

We think it is time the Adur Festival came back! And a collective of local groups and residents are working to make this happen: from Saturday 23rd May until Sunday 7th June 2026 with the theme of 'Revival'. Any individual, group or business will be able to put on an event aligned with the festival’s values under the festival banner, provided it takes place within the district during festival dates. The festival will be run with an open access ethos that empowers anyone with a passion for the arts to participate. The registration process will open in November 2025.

The aim is to create an inclusive annual platform that sparks curiosity, ignites collaboration and showcases the very best of Adur's talent. This will range from schools and amateur artists to seasoned professionals and be spread across Fishersgate, Lancing, Shoreham, Sompting and Southwick.

The festival is being organised by a group representing all parts of Adur in public planning meetings. Community input is actively invited at every stage, so that the festival truly belongs to those it celebrates.

We are relying heavily on volunteer time and also applying for grant funding. As this is not guaranteed, we are also looking for sponsorship and crowdfunding to support at the very least, a platform and promotion on and offline for the festival and as much as funds permit, an expanded program of subsidy and curated activities to supplement the core program of events coming under the festival umbrella.

Through this collective endeavour, our goal is to not only enrich Adur's cultural life but also to strengthen civic pride, foster social cohesion and drive local economic vitality, drawing visitors into our high streets, supporting small businesses and placing Adur firmly on the cultural map. Our enduring vision is a festival that grows ever more vibrant each year, united by the shared belief that arts and community flourish best when they flourish together.

We are starting to build an Adur Festival website and have Facebook and Instagram pages @adurfestival.