Brighton Fringe has announced that Amy Keogh will step down from her role in March 2026, concluding a period of leadership marked by recovery, stability, and renewed growth for the organisation.
During her tenure, Keogh has guided Brighton Fringe through a significant period of change, helping the festival recover and rebuild following the challenges of the Covid pandemic while remaining firmly committed to its open-access, artist-led ethos. Her leadership has focused on sustainability, opportunity, and strengthening the festival’s relationships with both its creative community and with audiences.
Among her key achievements have been the expansion of Brighton Fringe’s outdoor venue sites – such as The Revel Puck's Circus Yard in 2025 – broadening the festival’s presence across the city. Keogh also secured Arts Council England funding for The Junction – a networking event for creatives and producers as part of Brighton Fringe’s career development programme, Fringe Academy. This investment has reinforced Brighton Fringe’s role not only as a platform for performance, but as a year-round supporter of artistic development.
Responding to long-standing feedback from artists, venues, and audiences, Keogh oversaw the return of the printed Brighton Fringe brochure, restoring a valued and much-missed element of the festival experience.
Under her leadership, Brighton Fringe has achieved its highest ticket sales since 2019, signalling a recovery from the pandemic period and renewed confidence from audiences. This success has been underpinned by careful organisational work, including the restructuring of the staff team, creating a more resilient and future-focused organisation.
Speaking about her decision, Amy Keogh said:
“Leading Brighton Fringe has been an extraordinary privilege and an absolute delight, even at its toughest moment. The festival’s strength lies in its artists, venues, staff, volunteers, and audiences. As I look ahead to the next chapter, I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together and excited to see how Brighton Fringe continues to evolve.”
Amy will remain in post until March 2026 when she will start her new role as General Manager of Brighton-based community-led arts organisation SameSky. Over the next few months Amy will be working closely with the Board and team to ensure a smooth transition.
Duncan Lustig-Prean, Chair of Brighton Fringe commented:
“Amy has a wonderful way with the team, consistently demonstrating strength, energy, and generosity of spirit. She has made a significant difference to the relationships Brighton Fringe has built across the city and beyond, and her contribution to the organisation has been immense.
It has been a joy to work with Amy, and while she will be greatly missed, I wish her every success at SameSky and in all that comes next.”
Brighton Fringe have confirmed that recruitment for a new Managing Director will begin immediately with applications open from today and interviews to take place in early 2026
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