Brighton To Unveil Winter Solstice Effigy As Burning The Clocks Takes A Year Off

A large effigy will be unveiled in Brighton this weekend, marking the winter solstice in place of the city’s annual Burning the Clocks parade.

Organisers have confirmed the much-loved event is taking a fallow year, with the full parade set to return in 2026.

Same Sky, the creative team behind Burning the Clocks, says the installation will help keep the spirit of the celebration alive during the break.

Interim chief executive Jane McMorrow said the decision not to stage the parade this year was “tough but necessary”, allowing the organisation to focus on future planning while continuing its national events programme.

She confirmed there will be no street parade, performances, fireworks or beach bonfire this year.

The effigy has been commissioned to reflect next year’s theme, Magicada, symbolising a period of rest followed by a loud and joyful awakening.

The top-secret installation has been created by artist Nikki Gunson and will be revealed outside St Peter’s Church on Sunday.

A public event will take place between 4pm and 8pm, giving residents the chance to see the artwork up close and meet some of the artists and organisers behind Burning the Clocks.

Ms McMorrow said the effigy will play a central role in the parade when it returns next year.

Burning the Clocks typically attracts tens of thousands of people to Brighton each December and costs more than £50,000 to stage, with organisers saying costs have risen by more than 40 per cent since 2019.