One of The Great Escape Festival week’s most talked-about unofficial hotspots is officially back. Planetary Group and Impressive PR return to Brighton this May for the third edition of Alternative Escape 2026, taking over the Secret Comedy Club for a full day of cutting-edge global new music discovery.
Running across two sessions — 12pm–4pm and 6pm–10pm on Thursday 14 May — the event has quickly built a reputation as one of the essential destinations for tastemakers, media and industry insiders looking to catch future breakout acts before the wider festival catches on.
Hosted at Secret Comedy Club, the showcase brings together an international lineup spanning Australia, Canada and the UK, curated by US tastemakers Planetary Group alongside leading UK music publicity agency Impressive PR.
Among this year’s standout names are Australian indie-rock trio Fool Nelson, Canadian experimental rock duo Yoo Doo Right, Welsh alt-rock firebrands CHROMA and London underground favourites Sweet Unrest.
The event also promises a major surprise with an as-yet-unannounced “Very Special Guest” slot already generating serious speculation ahead of festival week.
Blending indie, post-punk, shoegaze, garage rock and experimental sounds under one roof, Alternative Escape 2026 looks set to continue its rise as one of Brighton’s most exciting Great Escape week showcases.
