The Snowman™ Flies Over Brighton in a Magical Tribute to Raymond Briggs

Last night The Snowman™ took flight across the Royal Pavilion, inspired by the unforgettable moment from Raymond Briggs’s beloved festive classic and celebrating the magic of illustration.

Copyright © Raymond Briggs, 1978, All rights reserved.

One of the most beloved moments in children’s literature was brought spectacularly to life in Brighton last night (Monday 2 November 2026), in a dazzling series of projections across the Royal Pavilion. Artwork inspired by Raymond Briggs’s timeless classic The Snowman and the book of the film, illuminated the landmark, recreating all the wonder of this beloved story – from the moment the boy and the Snowman take flight and the extraordinary friendship that unfolds over the course of one unforgettable night.

The event marked Briggs’s deep connection to Brighton and Sussex and the enduring power of illustration to tell stories, spark imaginations and transport readers to other worlds.

Snowman projections across Brighton’s Royal Pavilion.

Briggs, who died in 2022, lived and worked near Brighton for many years and had a long association with the area, including teaching illustration at Brighton College of Art, now the University of Brighton. The local landscape also found its way onto the pages of his work.

“Raymond had a deep affection for this part of the world and local landmarks frequently found their way into his art. One of my favourite sequences sees the boy and the Snowman soar over the South Downs, the Royal Pavilion and Brighton Pier, so bringing that flight to life here feels particularly special.  “It is also a wonderful opportunity, during the National Year of Reading, to celebrate the extraordinary power of illustration in the reading experience. Raymond famously chose to tell The Snowman entirely without words, trusting his pictures to carry us into the story and allowing every reader’s imagination to take flight. Almost 50 years later, it remains one of the most beautiful and enchanting examples of visual storytelling in children’s literature.” 

— Francesca Dow, MD, Penguin Random House Children’s

The spectacular projections were made possible through a special collaboration between Puffin Books, owner of The World of The Snowman™, and Brighton & Hove Museums, bringing together one of Britain’s best-loved stories with one of Brighton’s most recognisable landmarks – and sending The Snowman soaring across the city once more.

“We are absolutely delighted to partner with Puffin Books to bring such a magical piece of storybook history to life. For so many people across the world, seeing the Snowman fly over the Royal Pavilion in Raymond Briggs’s classic illustration was their very first introduction to our magnificent landmark. To see that legendary moment brought back home to our historic facade is an unforgettable way to kick off the festive season, celebrating both local creative heritage and the power of visual storytelling to spark the imagination.”

— Kate Turnbull, Head of Marketing at Brighton & Hove Museums