The Royal Pavilion: Midnight Masquerade of the Damned
Dates
October 20, 2026
Doors
Early evening
Where
Royal Pavilion
Tickets from
£25.00
Inside the venue
Gallery
Instant e-ticket
In your inbox the moment you pay
Secure checkout
Encrypted card payment
Guide-supervised
Every vigil led by experienced staff
Date changes
Move night up to 48 hours before*
About this
Event Description
A masked Halloween ball inside George IV’s extraordinary palace, with live music, cocktails, and roaming performers until 1am. Daytime family garden trail from 4pm.
- Format: A masked Halloween ball inside George IV’s Royal Pavilion with live music, cocktails and roaming performers until 1am — plus a daytime family garden trail from 4pm.
- Runs until 1:00am with a licensed bar; alcohol is served to 18+ only. Best suited to older teenagers with a guardian rather than young children, given the late finish. Not a paranormal investigation.
- No contact: Performers will not make physical contact with guests; please don’t touch performers, fixtures or historic fabric.
- Daytime option: a family garden trail runs from 4pm before the adult masquerade.
George IV’s extraordinary Indo-Saracenic palace, all domes and minarets on the Brighton seafront, becomes the setting for a two-part Halloween evening unlike anything else in the city. From 4pm, families and daytime visitors can explore a gentler, gothic-glam garden trail around the Pavilion grounds. Then, as the sun sets, the palace transforms: live string and electronic music trade off across the opulent state rooms, costumed performers weave through the crowd in character, and a candlelit banqueting hall bar service runs until the early hours for a proper midnight masquerade.
Why you should book this
There is nowhere else in the UK you can attend a masked ball inside a royal palace. Capacity is capped at 400 per night, and the daytime Garden Trail (included free) means the same ticket works for an afternoon family visit or a full 1am finish for adults — genuinely flexible value at £25.
What you’ll experience
- Midnight Masquerade Ball — the headline evening party (from 7pm) across the Pavilion’s ground-floor state rooms, with two live music stages
- Daytime Garden Trail — a free-flowing, family-friendly gothic-glam trail around the Pavilion gardens from 4pm, included with every ticket
- Mask-Making Workshop — an early-evening craft session (4:30pm–6:30pm) where guests decorate their own masquerade mask ahead of the party
- Candlelit Banqueting Hall Bar — an atmospheric cocktail bar open all evening, serving until 12:30am
- Roaming Costumed Performers — in-character actors mingling through the state rooms all evening, part of the ball’s storyline
Evening schedule
| Time | What’s on |
|---|---|
| 4:00pm | Garden Trail opens (family-friendly) |
| 4:30pm–6:30pm | Mask-Making Workshop |
| 7:00pm | Doors open for the evening Masquerade Ball, bar service begins |
| 7:30pm | Acoustic stage opens in the Music Room |
| 8:00pm | Canapé station opens |
| Masks mandatory from this point; electronic stage opens in the 9:00pm Banqueting Hall | |
| 11:00pm | Last entry to the evening party |
| 12:30am | Last orders at the bar |
| 1:00am | Event ends, doors close |
Before you visit
🚗 Getting there & parking
By car: NCP Church Street is about a 5-minute walk to the Royal Pavilion. By train: Brighton Station is a 12-minute walk to the Pavilion. Other: Taxis are recommended after midnight given the seafront location and late finish.
🕐 Entry & times
Daily 4:00pm–12:00am, 20 Oct–1 Nov 2026. A valid ticket for your chosen date admits you to the whole evening; the timed headline experience needs its booked slot. Arrive a little before your slot — late arrivals are accommodated in a later slot subject to availability.
⚠ Code of conduct
Prohibited at all events: real or imitation weapons, full-face masks that prevent ID checks, and glass containers. Costumes are welcome within those limits. Security searches may be carried out on entry. Abusive or threatening behaviour, or failure to follow venue instructions, means removal without a refund.
Content note: Standing event for the evening ball, no seating provided in main rooms (some perimeter seating available); masks required for entry after 9pm. This is a party/nightlife event rather than a scare experience — no jump scares or horror-actor content beyond in-character performers. Good for: Couples · Dressed-up nights out · Families wanting the daytime Garden Trail · Visitors wanting Brighton glamour over gore · Birthday and anniversary groups
Getting there
Where
Venue
Royal Pavilion
Please allow extra travel time — several of our venues are rural, with limited public transport. Parking details are on your ticket.
Event dates
October 20, 2026
Before you book
Good to know
Age policy varies by tier — check the ticket option you pick. Photo ID may be requested for age-restricted tiers.
Genuine historic buildings. Expect uneven floors and, at some venues, steep stairs and limited step-free access.
Bring a torch, warm layers and flat, sensible shoes. Venues are cold and dark.
No physical contact takes place. All vigils are guide-supervised and every activity is optional.
Still deciding
Questions
Is anything staged?
No. Nothing is staged and no outcome is ever promised. Genuine historic buildings, investigated with structured vigils and traditional techniques.
What happens after I pay?
Your e-ticket is emailed straight away, with a unique QR code per guest. Save it as PDF, add to Apple or Google Wallet, or resend from My Account.
Which ticket should I choose?
Twilight for families, Standard for the full after-dark tour, Premium for a small-group vigil with equipment, VIP for the extended late session on 31 October.
Can I change my date?
Yes, up to 48 hours before, subject to availability on the night you move to.
Do I need experience?
None at all. Guides run every session and stay with your group the whole time.
Book your experience
- Instant e-ticket by email, QR per guest
- Secure card checkout — total confirmed at checkout
- Every activity on the night is optional
£25.00
Early Bird — 20% off