News: Brighton & Hove Pride Announces First Wave Of Artists For 35th Anniversary Pride on the Park
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righton & Hove Pride announces its first wave artists for this year’s 35th anniversary Pride on the Park. The two-day community fundraiser will take place at Preston Park on Saturday August 1st and Sunday August 2nd, 2026.
On Saturday August 1st, Mother will arrive in Preston Park as global icon RuPaul makes their Brighton Pride debut for an exclusive DJ set in the Icons slot. A queer pioneer and a true original, RuPaul is the force behind RuPaul’s Drag Race and one of the most influential voices in LGBTQ+ culture. Multi-platinum pop artist and vocal athlete Jessie J is returning to Pride on the Park to blow the crowd away with a mammoth run of back to back anthems such as ‘Price Tag’, ‘Domino’ and ‘Bang Bang’. Also taking to Saturday’s main stage is one of the UK’s most vital and fearless voices, Self Esteem who encapsulates everything that Pride is – bold, brilliant and unapologetically honest. From huge, heart-on-sleeve anthems to pure collective joy, her shows turn ‘Prioritise Pleasure’, ‘I Do This All The Time’ and ‘You Forever’ into full-crowd, shout-it-back moments and we are so here for it on this year’s main stage.
On Sunday August 2nd, after 25 years apart, multi-platinum selling band Five are back, bigger and better than ever and ready to party with us this Summer. Following a huge comeback tour in 2025, the five bad boys with the power to rock you are set to keep us all movin’ as they perform hits such as ‘Everybody Get Up’, ‘Got The Feelin’ and ‘Slam Dunk (da Funk)’ – let’s dance indeed!
Over in the dance arena, Saturday’s headliner will be Grammy-winning disco wizard Purple Disco Machine. Hitmaker of ‘Hypnotized’ and ‘Dished (Male Stripper)’ and trusted remix sorcerer for Lady Gaga and Dua Lipa, he will strut in for his Pride on the Park debut, ready to serve beats, bass, and pure main-character energy. And if that wasn’t enough, Sunday will see House legend Armand Van Helden, creator of huge club anthems including ‘You Don’t Know Me’ and ‘My My My’ will take to the decks to whip pride-goers into a kaleidoscopic frenzy.
This announcement follows last week’s announcement that UK favourite RAYE, and global superstar Diana Ross will headline the event on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd August.
This year is a huge moment, as Brighton and Hove Pride turns 35! 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 us 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 our 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 our community felt safe enough to march in 1973, and Pride did not return again until 1991. This anniversary invites us 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. We honour those early activists, and acknowledge how their bravery and unity carried us all forward.
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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