Zones

From spoken word to new music commissions, First Light performances stimulate and excite.

Meet us at Aurora to get into a summer state of mind with back-to-back and international diverse sets all weekend. 

Blast off to Cosmic Pirates! It’s going to be out of the world this summer with storytelling, craft workshops, activities and opportunities to play!

As well as a hub of delicious food and drink, our East Point Pavilion Festival base comes alive with live music, cabaret and Silent Disco.

Our First Word programme is much loved and brings you the best in poetry, spoken word, and comedy, curated by award-winning poet, Luke Wright. 

See and hear some of the work being executed by our partners in science and climate and authors in multiple fields. Cutting edge science, talks, climate, art and more.

The Victorian jewel Kensington Gardens hosts the Gardens Stage, canoeing pond, and Easterly Artists collection of fine arts and crafts and more.  

DanceEast return with an exciting line up of dance partners in the MoonDance tent. From Ceilidh to Hip Hop to African Dance bring the family and make some shapes at Baby Loves to Boogie.

Joining forces with Access Creative College, BBC Introducing, and NMG Awards, First Light Festival’s New Dawn Stage has  gained a reputation for being the place to see the hottest young music acts from East Anglia.

Not to be missed! The Opening Parade starts the whole thing off! Be the Moon that shines so bright and dance the Big Bang Boogie! It’ll be out of this world!

Back on the beach this year for a 2026 programme of conversation, exploration, and absorbing science.  

Try something new, stay active and challenge yourself in our family-friendly sport zone. With the teams from Everyone Active, Access Sport and Delta Fitness delivering a range of activities throughout the Festival.

As the sun goes down and the moon rises the free programme on the beach finishes, and we move to venues in the town. 

The main stage is the biggest musical hub of First Light – enjoy international names, emerging talent, and many epic, festival moments.

Pay a visit to our town centre case on London Road North; home to the Natural History Museum and Leviathan.

The destination to eat, drink, and shop along with our new Suffolk Sound stage.

Vertical Space is a free new zone for young people offering drop-in creativity, games, DJ sessions and activities on the beach.

Benefit from our free Wellbeing programme of yoga, breathing, drumming, and holistic wellbeing practices.