The Brighton & Hove festival roster has grown: G Flip and Bimini are now confirmed to perform at Pride On The Park, joining a wide array of artists scheduled for the community weekend. Other names newly announced include Melanie C, The Blessed Madonna and Girls Don’t Sync, expanding a bill designed to appeal across generations. This outdoor celebration returns to the familiar green of Preston Park, creating a central gathering place for the city’s LGBTQIA+ community and visitors who travel in for the music, performance and atmosphere.
Headliners already set to appear include RAYE and a very special performance by Diana Ross, ensuring the festival retains its reputation for high-profile draws. The two-day event runs on 1-2 August, with programming across a main stage, a busy Dance Arena and several curated performance spaces. The weekend is planned as both a celebration and a communal moment: part live music showcase, part cultural gathering, and part family-friendly weekend in the park that has hosted Pride activity for decades.
Line-up highlights
The announced roster blends contemporary chart-toppers with veteran names and cutting-edge DJs. Alongside G Flip and Bimini, attendees will see performances from Leigh-Anne and South African artist Moonchild Sanelly, while electronic and dance-focused acts such as The Blessed Madonna and Girls Don’t Sync bolster the festival’s club-ready credentials. This mixture aims to reflect the intergenerational nature of Brighton’s scene: seasoned performers who helped shape queer music culture and newer voices who bring fresh energy and different perspectives.
Stages, activations and family spaces
The weekend offers more than headline sets. In addition to the main stage and the Dance Arena, programming includes cabaret from Legends Cabaret, comedy and community performance from The Cocoa Butter Club, queer theatrical work via Queer Town, and the lively pop-up spirit of Party Bag. Organisers say the festival will also provide dedicated family zones to create inclusive, multigenerational spaces where children and adults can enjoy activities together—an important aspect of modern Pride programming designed to welcome diverse attendees.
Parade and theme
The weekend’s public procession, known as the Community Parade, will once again kick off the celebrations and this year carries the theme “The Power Of Love”. Organisers explain that the theme is intended to unify participants around solidarity and resistance, celebrating affection, chosen family and political resilience. The parade and park programming are framed to honour both the joy and the ongoing activism that underpin Pride, reinforcing the event’s dual role as party and platform.
History, impact and community funds
Brighton & Hove’s roots in Pride activism run deep: the city’s first Gay Pride took place in 1973, organised by the Sussex Gay Liberation Front, which itself formed in 1971 through student and local activist networks. After a hiatus, the parade re-emerged in 1991 and has since grown into one of the UK’s most prominent Pride gatherings. This iteration marks a milestone as the festival celebrates its 35th birthday, reflecting decades of social change, campaigning and cultural development in the city and beyond.
Funds and local benefit
The festival’s organisers also highlight the social impact of their work: Brighton & Hove Pride has generated more than £1.5 million for local causes via the Pride Social Impact Fund, the Pride Cultural Development Fund and the Pride Solidarity Fund. These streams support grassroots groups, cultural projects and solidarity initiatives that benefit the wider LGBTQIA+ community. Grants and funded initiatives aim to strengthen community infrastructure and ensure that some of the festival’s revenue is reinvested where it matters most.
Leadership and messages
Managing Director Paul Kemp described this year’s edition as a moment for both reflection and forward-looking ambition, noting the breadth of talent across generations and emphasising the importance of highlighting progress while recognising ongoing challenges. The organisers invite Pride-goers to embrace the festival’s message and join in a weekend that combines entertainment with civic purpose—celebrating love, creativity and collective action in equal measure.
Support for queer media
For readers who follow community press, DIVA—a long-standing magazine for LGBTQIA+ women and gender-diverse people—continues to spotlight the community’s voices. Operated by the DIVA Charitable Trust, the magazine now exists within a charitable framework that aims to sustain queer media into the future. Supporters can learn more about the organisation and ways to contribute at divacharitabletrust.com, helping to maintain an independent platform that amplifies stories and events such as Pride On The Park.