02-08-2025
Brighton Pride 2025 is here - what you need to know
Brighton is preparing to welcome hundreds of thousands of revellers for their annual Pride event this weekend.
Brighton & Hove Pride 2025 starts today with a parade, where hundreds wearing their brightest rainbow gear will march through the coastal city.
Pride-goers will then pack Preston Park to see none other than Mariah Carey, who was meant to headline in 2020 but couldn't due to Covid-19.
This year's theme is 'ravishing rage', with Pride organisers saying queer people uniting is more important than ever before.
'It's a celebration of resilience, spirit, passion, and unity,' the organisers said, adding that it's a response to the global pushback of LGBTQ+ rights.
From transport to whether you'll need a brolly or not, here's everything you need to know.
At 11am, the Brighton and Hove Pride LGBTQ+ Community Parade will set off from the beachside Hove Lawns and finish at Preston Park.
More than 100 charities, community groups, local businesses and blue light service workers will wrap themselves in LGBTQ+ Pride flags and march.
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Pride on the Park, a ticketed two-day festival, will take over Preston Park from 1pm.
The line-up includes: Mariah Carey
Ashnikko
Confidence Man
Loreen
Slayyter
Gokwan
Bimini
Katy B Fat Boy Slim
Sugababes
Will Young
Natalie Imbruglia
Ultra Nate
Andy Bell
Little Gay Brother
Ysanne
While Pride Street Party, hosted by the Revenge and Charles Street pubs, is at a new location this year on Marine Parade.
Drag queens, music zones and daytime clubbing – it's hard to ask for much more, to be honest. (We didn't ask, but there will also be food traders.)
Performners include RuPaul's Drag Race UK favourites, winner Danny Beard and season two star Tayce, as well as Sonia and Jaguar.
Centre Stage and Marine Tavern will host an outside stage, and The Camelford Arms will host a DJ bar on New Steine.
With hundreds of thousands expected to light up Brighton, transport services have been modified to help manage the crowds.
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) – which operates train services in and out of the city – is running more trains with extra carriages this weekend.
The railway operator urged Pride-goers to allow plenty of time to get to and from Brighton, given trains will likely be rammed.
Both Southern and Thameslink are at pains to stress in their travel guides for Brighton Pride that, no, you can't take glass bottles or containers onto trains or stations.
Preston Park and London Road will be closed – meaning only Brighton Station is open.
But a rainbow queue system has been established to help facilitate passengers as they leave the event. The green queue will lead to the East Coastway for trains towards Lewes, Seaford and Eastbourne.
The purple queue will be for West Coastway services towards Shoreham-by-Sea, Worthing and Chichester,
And the blue queue will be for trains on the Brighton Main Line heading up to Haywards Heath, Gatwick Airport and London.
Festival-goers can also board a bus shuttle service that loops through the Pride Campsite, Pride on the Park and the City Centre. Here's the timetable.
Though, as the council says, many buses will be diverted and timetables tweaked.
If you're driving, be aware that a multitude of roads near the main events are closed off with parking suspended.
There's no parking at Preston Park at all over the weekend, while parking around Madeira Drive will be limited.
London Road, Preston Road, Queen's Road and Grand Parade will be closed until this afternoon.
Many cab companies operate in the city and today, there will be a designated Pride taxi pick-up on Stanford Avenue. More Trending
Walking to the parade start and most major events will take less than 30 minutes from Brighton Station.
When it comes to the weather in the UK, you can never ask for too much. In 2023, Pride-goers were drenched in rain, while they were treated to sun last year.
This year is in the middle. The Met Office is forecasting a mix of cloud and sunshine, with temperatures peaking just over 21°C on today.
Sunday will be more of the same, though it will likely be a degree cooler.
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