Brighton Pride has been a fixture in the city's calendar since 1973 and this year is set to be bigger and better with events spread across the first weekend in August from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th.

It launches with the parade from Hove Lawns to Preston Park, where the Pride Festival takes place and this year is headlined by The Pet Shop Boys and Years and Years on the main stage.

Pride attracts an estimated 300,000 to the Brighton and Hove over the weekend, and with the festival getting bigger every year, the organisers are getting ahead of the curve.

Along the parade route will be market stalls and live street events to dive into.

Brighton Pride Festival is a celebration of our city’s diverse community, with visitors from across the globe enjoying its spectacular celebrations.

When should I arrive and what time does it start?

Brighton Pride runs from Friday August 4th until Sunday August 6th with events happening all over the city, all weekend. The Pride Festival will be held in Preston Park from 12:30pm on August 5th. Tickets can be found on the Pride website, although hurry because they are selling out quickly.

The Pride parade will start on August 5th at 11am in Hove Lawns, named the Diversity Carnival. The carnival will fill the streets of Brighton and Hove with love, light and colour, to celebrate fifty years on from the decriminalisation of homosexuality, proving, Love wins.

The Pride Village Party sees St James's Street and Marine Parade closed to traffic from Saturday 6pm until midnight and on Sunday between 3pm and 9pm.

What’s the theme?

The theme this year is Summer of Love.

Who will be performing?

At Preston Park the main acts will be The Petshop Boys and Years and Years who will headline the festival in Preston Park with supporting acts such as: Louisa Johnson, Becky Hill and Fickle Friends.

In the Pride Pleasure Garden at Victoria Gardens artists such as Lucy Spraggen, Frankie Furlow and DJ Sean Quinn will grace the stage.

What else will be happening?

Brighton Palace Pier will be holding the Pride fireworks display on Sunday August 6th at 9:30pm.

The Old Steine and Victoria Gardens will be transformed into a unique Pride experience for three days and nights of cabaret, live music and saucy wonders.

In Preston Park you will find: The Main Stage, The Wild Fruit Dance Tent, The Legends Cabaret Tent, Bears and Men’s Dance tent and many more like this to choose from. 

On the Friday will be the S Club Party opening proceedings with the official pride warm up party. Join the Sultan-Of-Smut and Master-Of-Bates Boogaloo Stu for an evening of festive frivolity and surreal shenanigans. Then Saturday will see legendary 80s mega club night It Is Still 1985 and the universally acclaimed self declared chaos of alt.drag superstars Sink The Pink’s Club Tropicana Takeover deliver must-do clubbing and cabaret.

Where does the Brighton Pride Parade start?

The Parade will start at Hove Lawns at 11am and then end in Preston Park, passing all the major attractions on the way.

How much are the tickets to the Pride Festival at Preston Park?

Tickets are £27.50 per person and you will be given a wristband for the day to guarantee entry to all attractions. Once third release tickets have run out the fourth release will go out to £30. You will need to buy a separate ticket for Pride Village Party tickets starting at £15 but will rise to £20 at the weekend. You will be able to buy tickets online or alternatively you can buy them from the Pride Box Office and Shop on the day, located at Victoria Gardens.

Where can I stay?

Brighton Pride have partnered up with Hilton Metropole as their official hotel sponsor. Alternatively there are many B&B’s around Brighton. Pride also have a campsite, for £15 a night, per person. The campsite will be open from 4pm on Friday August 4th at Waterhall Road, Brighton. There will also be a bus service to take you too and from the events.

How do I get there?

Rail Unions have suspended their strikes for this weekend. Access is easy alighting the train at either Hove, Brighton or Preston Park. There is also a variety of buses that will take you in either direction. Please check Sunday train times from where you will be travelling from, to make sure that you have plenty of time. For suggested train times from all UK stations, please visit nationalrail.co.uk.

Bus services may be subject to diversion, so please do continue to check the Brighton & Hove Bus Company website for the most up to date travel information and full timetables.Maps can be downloaded from the website detailing locations and times, this can also be picked up from the Pride Box Office.

For residents, when will the roads be closed?

As part of our ongoing work with Sussex Police, SeacAmb, East Sussex Fire and Rescue and Brighton & Hove City Council for a citywide counter terrorism plan it has been agreed that Preston Road is closed to general vehicle access during the following times SOUTHBOUND 10am–midnight NORTHBOUND 1pm–midnight. There will be no vehicle access at all to properties between 1pm–3pm while the parade arrives.

After 3pm if you require vehicle access to your property you will need to come northbound from Preston Circus and present ID to the security. This must show your name and address (a drivers license is best for this).

Do I have to buy a ticket to come along?

No. Not all the events are ticketed. There will be certain events that you do not have to buy tickets for. But for the big events such as major artists and club events you will have to buy tickets.

I am in a wheelchair can I still come?

Of course. Brighton & Hove’s LGBT Community Safety Forum volunteers work alongside Brighton Pride to ensure Pride is an accessible event that everyone can enjoy. Sign up to make your day as inclusive and enjoyable as possible!

Via this service you can reserve a parking space in our accessible car park, request Viewing Passes, Freedom Passes for accessible toilets or book a one to one service with our British Sign Language Interpreters. There are many different options available.