Artists and makers across Brighton and Hove will welcome visitors into homes and studios over three weekends for the 2026 winter Artists Open Houses festival.
The dates are 28–29 November, 5–6 December and 12–13 December. The festival is announcing 70 venues across the city and surrounding area, with its full winter listings due online on Monday 26 October.
At a glance
| Festival weekends | 28–29 November; 5–6 and 12–13 December 2026 |
|---|---|
| Where | Participating homes and studios across Brighton and Hove |
| Opening hours | Check each venue’s own listing |
| Full programme | Due online on 26 October |
Meet the makers in their own spaces
The Open Houses format connects visitors with artists where they work and exhibit. It gives browsing an informal, neighbourhood setting and offers a way to discover work beyond the usual gallery circuit.
For anyone considering original art or handmade presents, the useful distinction is the opportunity to talk to exhibitors directly. Buying something is a separate decision from planning which houses to explore.
What is different about this winter’s programme?
The festival’s current announcement points to flight-themed work at Shoreham Airport, Winter Stories and images from the Brighton and Hove calendar. Those highlights extend the offer beyond a conventional gallery visit, from an Art Deco airport setting to storytelling and recognisable local scenes.
The programme spans ceramics, textiles, painting, jewellery and original prints, alongside smaller seasonal gifts. Use the individual winter venue entry to establish where an artist is showing, rather than relying on an address from a previous festival.
Festival director Judy Stevens describes the open-house format as connecting artists and makers directly with art lovers and buyers. Its appeal is the chance to ask about a process, material or place in a work while seeing it in a home or studio. Visitors can browse without deciding to buy something.
Choose a neighbourhood before building a trail
Choose a manageable group of nearby venues and check their individual dates before setting off. A festival weekend does not mean every house will open on both days or keep the same hours.
The Hove Arts trail also confirms the three winter weekends. Wait for the winter programme when choosing venues, rather than relying on addresses or opening information from the May festival.
One confirmed Hove starting point
The Hove Arts trail’s current feed highlights Dion Salvador Lloyd’s winter open house at 18 Goldstone Villas, Hove, BN3 3RQ. It advertises the painting Murmurations for the opening weekend, 28–29 November, from 10am to 6pm. That is a named starting point with its own hours, not a claim that every house follows the festival’s usual 11am–5pm pattern.
For a short outing, choose one neighbourhood such as the area around Hove station, then use the winter listings to add two or three nearby venues that open on the same day. Leave time to talk to exhibitors and check each building’s entrance information. The Hove Arts site also retains May and previous-winter pages, so check the year before adding another stop.
What if I need step-free access?
Ask the individual host about entrances, stairs and toilets. The festival uses different buildings, so one venue’s arrangements should not be taken as a guide to another.
For more local planning information, see our Sussex Christmas markets guide.
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