Diana Ross and RAYE announced as headliners for major UK Pride festival
This looks like it will be an amazing festival.
Mark
Brighton & Hove Pride, on England’s south coast, has announced the headliners for its 2026 festival.
The two-day park event will feature British singer RAYE, who won her first Grammy last weekend, on Saturday, August 1, followed by the legendary Diana Ross on Sunday, August 2.
“We are beyond thrilled to welcome the phenomenal RAYE and the iconic Ms. Ross as our Pride on the Park 2026 headliners,” says Brighton & Hove Pride managing director Paul Kemp in a statement issued today.
“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.”
Pack your bags, we’re going on an adventure
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for the best LGBTQ+ travel guides, stories, and more.
Subscribe to our Newsletter today
Announcing Diana Ross on social media, the festival said, “Expect a career-spanning set of timeless classics, including ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’, ‘Endless Love’, ‘Stop! In The Name Of Love’ and ‘I’m Coming Out’.”
The Power of Love
The theme for this year’s Brighton Pride is ‘The Power Of Love’. It marks the festival’s 35th anniversary. In that time, it’s raised over £1.5 million for the city’s LGBTQ+ charities, community groups and projects.
In recent years, Brighton Pride has made a name for itself by featuring some big name acts. This includes the likes of Britney Spears and Mariah Carey. The latter headlined in 2025. Besides RAYE and Diana Ross, expect the festival to announce many other acts over the coming months to fill out its program.
Preceded the park festivities on the Saturday (8/1) is the annual parade, which is free for all to attend.
For those wanting park tickets, a presale goes live at 10am (GMT) on Thursday, February 12. The general sale begins at 10am on Friday, February 13. Check prideonthepark.co.uk for more details.
Why visit Brighton?
The city of Brighton and Hove is approximately a one-hour train journey south of London. It has a reputation as being the UK’s queer seaside capital, with a higher than average LGBTQ population.
Its Pride festival each August is one of the biggest in Europe, drawing over 300,000 attendees.
The thriving gay village in the city’s Kemp Town neighborhood features dozens of LGBTQ+ bars, clubs, and cafes along St. James’s Street. The iconic pebble beach, Victorian Royal Pavilion, quirky independent shops in The Lanes, and legendary nightlife at venues like Revenge create an irresistibly eclectic atmosphere. As a destination in its own right, or as an addition to a visit to London, Brighton offers authentic British coastal charm, and never more so than in the balmy months of summer.
UPDATE 02.06.2026
RuPaul has confirmed he will attend Brighton Pride on Saturday, Aug. 1, and will take to the decks for a DJ set.
Related
Things to do when visiting the LGBTQ+ capital of the UK
There is no better place for LGBTQ+ peopl to live than Brighton. Spend a few days and explore!
Join the GayCities newsletter for weekly updates on the best LGBTQ+ destinations and events—nearby and around the world.
