Lots of great events are taking place in East Sussex during the first month of 2026.
Whether it’s tea dances and exhibition viewings or light festivals and birdwatching, there’s something for everyone this new year.
To make it easier to brave the cold and head out, we’ve pulled together a roundup of some of the events and activities happening county wide this January.
New Year’s Day Steam Up, Bluebell Railway, Sheffield Park, 1 January
Celebrate the start of 2026 in style and welcome in the new year with the Bluebell Railway’s New Year’s Day Steam Up.
This special mini-gala event marks the start of the 2026 season in true steam-powered fashion!
In addition to the regular passenger trains, visitors can also enjoy viewing a vintage goods train in operation. And for a unique travel experience, take a ride on the beautifully restored Observation Car.
Afternoon Tea Dances, East Sussex National Hotel, Uckfield, 4 and 25 January, from 3pm
Come and enjoy an afternoon of ballroom and popular sequence dancing at the East Sussex National Hotel.
Waltz around the floor to the sounds of the UK’s largest Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ played by one of the hotel’s resident organists.
Relaxed morning exhibition viewing and workshop, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill, 11 January
Relaxed mornings at the De La Warr Pavilion are for anyone with access requirements, complex needs, anxiety or those who would feel more comfortable in a quieter environment.
Visitors do not need to be quiet and are encouraged to be themselves. Additional staff are available to provide support.
The Learning Team will host an accessible introduction to the current exhibition, Betty Parsons: Sheer Energy. There’s an optional drop-in creative workshop for people that would like to respond to the exhibition’s work in a sensory way.
Lewes Speakers Festival 2026, All Saints Centre, Lewes, 16 to 18 January
This annual speaking festival brings leading thinkers, authors and public figures to Lewes for inspiring talks and debates on politics, culture, history and ideas.
This year, speakers include Sir Ed Davey, Dame Penny Mordaunt, Jeremy Corbyn and Claudia Hammond amongst others.
Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton – a rehearsed reading, Grove Theatre, Eastbourne Library, Eastbourne, 18 January, 3pm to 5pm
“When a woman begins to distrust her own senses, she is in mortal danger.”
Before the word gaslighting existed, one play exposed it all.
Patrick Hamilton’s Gaslight is the original psychological thriller – a chilling study of trust, control, and the quiet terror of losing your grip on reality.
Admission to this rehearsed reading is free with a retiring donation in aid of MIND.
RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, your own garden, 23 to 25 January
The Big Garden Birdwatch returns in the new year. Sit back, relax and watch your garden birds for an hour over the weekend of 23 to 25 January.
Whether you’re a newcomer or a regular, it all counts. The RSPB would love to know what you see so please remember to report your sightings online.
Register from mid-December to take part in the world’s largest garden wildlife survey.
Bexhill After Dark 2026, Bexhill, 31 January 2026, from 5pm
Bexhill After Dark, the much-anticipated light festival will once again light up the streets of Bexhill at the end of January. The event is produced by well-established local events company 18 Hours.
Come along to watch a fantastic display of visual and performance art. When the sun sets, the streets light up with multicoloured marvels and exceptionally made sculptures which are animated as they move, lighting up the darkness.
If you’re still looking for festive fun, don’t forget some of the fabulous pantomimes in East Sussex taking place in January.
If you fancy some fresh air to blow away the new year cobwebs, check out these ideas in our Where to walk this autumn in East Sussex article.
