Arts and culture net £184 million for Brighton and Hove every year, according to a report.
Research by Sussex Arts Marketing estimates 5.5 million people annually visit events and cultural venues in the city.
This provides £65 million while three million people visit local clubs, spending £60 million.
Festivals attract more than 600,000 people, bringing an estimated £7 million into the local economy.
Venues such as the Theatre Royal, the Brighton Centre and the Gardner Arts Centre generate over £19 million, plus £10 million from visitors spending elsewhere in the city.
The report for the city council says grants provided £14 million for creative projects over three years and these schemes are likely to generate an extra £36 million.
About 900,000 people visiting events in the city stay at least one night, bringing in a further £18 million.
Brighton and Hove has 1,800 businesses involved in the creative economy.
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