The UK's largest Mardi Gras celebration spreads over 350 gigs across 30 plus venues in Hastings and St Leonards each February. The 2026 edition ran from Friday 13 to Fat Tuesday itself on 17 February, mixing a grassroots music conference, the ticketed Grand Mardi Gras Ball, a Sunday umbrella parade and a mostly free pub-to-pub programme. Youth bands and community projects sit at the heart of it.
Hastings Fat Tuesday returns in 2026, running 13-17 Feb at Venues across Hastings Old Town and St Leonards, Hastings. It is set up to work for families, so all ages are welcome.
Expect a mardi gras, town-wide, free gigs feel. Multi-genre, jazz, brass fans will feel right at home, with past lineups featuring Republica, The Brass Funkeys, Saidi Kanda & Mvula-Mandondo.
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