In celebration of its 35th anniversary, Brighton and Hove Pride 2026 has announced its most iconic headliners yet: RAYE and Diana Ross!
Brighton and Hove Pride is no stranger to huge headliners, with global superstars and beloved artists including Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Kylie, and Britney Spears headlining the two-day event in recent years. However, 2026 is the year of the pop queen of the moment, RAYE, and music legend Diana Ross.
Taking place at Preston Park on Saturday August 1 and Sunday August 2, 2026, the Saturday night will be headlined by RAYE who has previously performed at the event in 2018 and 2022. She will be lighting up the stage with her incredible run of hits including ‘WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!’, ‘Escapism’, and ‘Prada’, alongside showcasing tracks from her highly anticipated new album, This Music May Contain Hope.
RAYE is the UK name on everyone’s lips at the moment, with a huge 10 billion streams globally. In 2024 she made history by winning 6 BRIT Awards, the most ever in one year, and also was awarded the Harry Belafonte Best Song for Social Change Award Grammy for ‘Ice Cream Man’. She is currently performing across Europe on her This Tour May Contain New Music, before heading to the UK and North America.
In a UK live show exclusive and making her Brighton debut, the Sunday headliner is no other than music legend Diana Ross. Celebrating a career-spanning journey through her greatest moments, this highly anticipated show from the iconic performer is not to be missed. Fans can expect to hear some of her most beloved anthems including ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’, ‘Endless Love’, ‘Stop! In The Name of Love’, and queer disco anthem ‘I’m Coming Out’.
During her unprecedented career, the fierce LGBTQ+ icon has acquired over 100 million streams, downloads and sales around the world. Diana also has over 19 major awards under belt including two Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards, a Golden Globe, a Tony Award, 7 American Music Awards and a Guinness World Record for having more hits than any other female artist on the charts, with a career total of over 75 hit singles. Ms. Ross is also one of the few celebrities to have two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
This year is a huge celebration for Brighton and Hove Pride as it turns 35 years old. The annual and much-loved LGBTQ+ Community Parade will once again kickstart Pride weekend under this year’s theme, The Power Of Love. The Power Of Love will bring people together in solidarity, resistance and community, as we strive for equality for all. This special 35 year celebration is a chance to look back at where the march first began.
Brighton’s first Gay Pride took place in 1973, organised by the Sussex Gay Liberation Front, formed in 1971 by students and local LGBTQ+ activists. The group even staged a “Gay Day” in 1972 to test the waters. Brighton was ready but only just. Only a small part of the community felt safe enough to march in 1973, and Pride did not return again until 1991. This anniversary invites you to remember the courage it took to be visible, during years when showing up at all was an act of resistance. Pride grew because people stood together, united. Determined and unapologetic. This is a celebration to honour those early activists, and acknowledge how their bravery and unity carried us all forward.
Managing Director Paul Kemp comments: “We are beyond thrilled to welcome the phenomenal RAYE and the iconic Ms. Ross as our Pride on the Park 2026 headliners. Having first graced our stage in 2018, RAYE’S journey over the past nine years has been nothing short of extraordinary. Welcoming the incomparable Diana Ross as our Sunday headliner as a UK live show exclusive is a dream come true. Her legendary voice and catalogue of hits will be an unforgettable moment in Brighton Pride history. As we proudly celebrate 35 years of Brighton & Hove Pride, we look ahead to an unforgettable weekend that honours the power of love in all its forms. This year promises to be truly momentous – a joyous celebration of inclusivity, unity, and pride, and one we cannot wait to share with you.”
Further information and more artists announcements are set to follow in the coming weeks. You can sign up for pre-sale tickets here.
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