Brighton & Hove Pride marked its 35th anniversary with a dazzling weekend that reaffirmed why it remains one of the world’s most celebrated LGBTQIA+ festivals. Attracting more than 300,000 people to the city, the landmark event balanced joyous celebration with a reminder of Pride’s enduring roots in protest, visibility and equality, all under this year’s fitting theme, The Power of Love. British soul jazz sensation RAYE gave a stellar performance to a massive crowd on Saturday night, with legendary American singer Diana Ross headlining Sunday night. Other standout performances came from Self Esteem, Jessie J and RuPaul on Saturday and Melanie C and Paris Hilton on Sunday.
The weekend began with the annual LGBTQIA+ Community Parade, where more than 125 community groups transformed Brighton’s streets into a sea of colour, creativity and activism. Equal parts carnival and demonstration, the parade reflected the resilience, diversity and solidarity that continue to define Pride 35 years after its inception. Alongside the exuberant costumes, music and choreography was a clear message: while much has been achieved, the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights remains as vital as ever.
Yet the weekend unquestionably belonged to RAYE, who delivered a career-defining headline performance. Returning to Brighton Pride a decade after first appearing on its stage, she demonstrated just how far her remarkable artistic journey has taken her. Wearing a shimmering red sequinned gown that channelled classic Hollywood glamour, she commanded the audience with extraordinary confidence and vocal power.
Supported by an exceptional live big band, RAYE moved effortlessly between intimate ballads, jazz-inflected vocals and soaring pop anthems. Her performance combined the theatrical grandeur of Shirley Bassey with the emotional honesty and wit that have become her trademark. An emotionally charged rendition of Prince’s Purple Rain provided one of the evening’s most memorable moments before the atmosphere shifted dramatically as her illuminated stage backdrop transformed from RAYE to RAVE, unleashing pulsating dance beats, spectacular lasers and bursts of pyrotechnics. It was a thrilling finale that cemented her status as one of Britain’s most compelling live performers.
Sunday maintained the momentum with performances from Pale Waves and Caity Baser before Melanie C delivered an energetic DJ set featuring the debut of her new single A Place Where We Belong. Holly Johnson received one of the weekend’s warmest receptions, performing Frankie Goes to Hollywood classics including Relax, Two Tribes and a moving rendition of The Power of Love. Paris Hilton embraced the festival’s flamboyant spirit in a crystal-encrusted Union Jack dress, while Five brought a welcome dose of nostalgia with a high-energy set of late-1990s favourites.
Closing such a significant anniversary required an artist of genuine cultural stature, and Diana Ross proved the perfect choice. Opening with the anthem I’m Coming Out, the legendary singer captivated the audience through a series of elegant costume changes and timeless classics including Chain Reaction, Upside Down, You Can’t Hurry Love and Where Did Our Love Go. Her performance served as both celebration and tribute to the generations of LGBTQIA+ communities who have embraced her music for decades.
Beyond the main stage, Brighton Pride once again demonstrated the breadth of its cultural offering. Legends Cabaret, The Cocoa Butter Club, Queer Town, Party Bag and new additions including Bears in the Woods, Queer Soap Box and Outro showcased the diversity of contemporary queer performance, while the State of Us dance arena featured standout DJ sets from Purple Disco Machine, Armand Van Helden, HAAi, Daniel Avery, Girls Don’t Sync and I. Jordan.
Meanwhile, Kemptown’s Pride Street Party transformed Marine Parade into one enormous open-air celebration, with Brighton’s iconic LGBTQIA+ venues hosting performances from Gok Wan, Bimini, Freemasons, Woody Cook and many more, reinforcing Brighton’s reputation as one of Europe’s great queer cultural capitals.
The city’s anniversary celebrations extended beyond the festival itself through Proud Brighton – We Are Community, a powerful photographic exhibition by award-winning photographer Chris Jepson of Proud Studios CIC. Displayed across Brighton’s streets and at Jubilee Library until 15 August, the portraits celebrate the individuals whose stories have shaped Brighton Pride over the past 35 years, highlighting voices that have too often been overlooked.
Brighton & Hove Pride 2026 was more than a spectacular music festival. It was a powerful reminder that Pride’s greatest strength lies in its ability to unite celebration with activism, creating space for visibility, solidarity and hope. Thirty-five years on, Brighton continues to set the benchmark for what a modern Pride can be: inclusive, joyful, politically engaged and unapologetically vibrant.
