Diana Ross and RAYE to Headline Brighton Pride 2026

The news we’ve all been waiting for dropped this week, and it’s huge: Brighton & Hove Pride is celebrating its 35th anniversary this summer with two absolutely massive headliners. Get ready to mark your calendars for the weekend of Saturday, August 1st and Sunday, August 2nd, 2026, because the legendary Diana Ross and the phenomenal RAYE are taking over Preston Park for Pride on the Park.

This year’s festival is themed around ‘The Power of Love’ and promises to be a truly momentous occasion, not just for the music, but for the community. Brighton Pride is the UK’s biggest LGBTQ+ festival, and it’s also a vital fundraiser, having raised over £1.5 million for local LGBTQ+ charities and projects to date. The 35th anniversary is a chance to look back at the courage of the early activists who organized the first Gay Day in 1972 and the 1991 march that stood against the infamous Section 28 law.

Kicking off the main stage on Saturday, August 1st, is RAYE. While she’s performed at Brighton Pride before (in 2018 and 2022), this marks her first time headlining the event, and what a year it’s been for her. She made history in 2024 by sweeping six BRIT Awards in a single night, and her recent single “Where Is My Husband!” hit number one on the UK chart in January. Fans can expect a high-energy set packed with hits like “Escapism” and “Prada,” plus a sneak peek at tracks from her highly anticipated sophomore album, This Music May Contain Hope, which is due out on March 27th.

Closing out the weekend on Sunday, August 2nd, is the Queen of Motown herself, Diana Ross. This is a massive coup for the festival, as her performance is being billed as a UK live show exclusive. It’s also her debut appearance at Brighton Pride, and she’s set to deliver a career-spanning setlist of timeless anthems. Imagine singing along to classics like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Endless Love,” “Stop! In The Name of Love,” and the enduring queer anthem “I’m Coming Out” with thousands of people in Preston Park. Brighton & Hove Pride managing director Paul Kemp summed up the excitement, saying that welcoming the incomparable Ms. Ross was a “dream come true” and that her performance will be an “unforgettable moment in Brighton Pride history.”

With such iconic headliners confirmed for the 35th anniversary, demand for tickets is expected to be exceptionally high. If you’re planning to go, you need to be ready for the sales next week. Presale tickets will be available starting at 10 am on Thursday, February 12th, 2026. The general sale will then follow at 10 am on Friday, February 13th, 2026. Given the milestone year and the star power involved, securing your spot early is definitely the way to go.