Brighton and Hove is set to welcome hundreds of thousands of people for the 50th anniversary of Pride.

Festivalgoers are prepared for a weekend of celebration and protest with the city’s annual Pride parade, village party in Kemp Town and headline performances from Black Eyed Peas, Steps and Zara Larsson at a festival in Preston Park.

Organisers have vowed not to let travel disruption caused by train cancellations on Sunday stop the LGBTQ+ community from campaigning, protesting and celebrating, with all Pride events going ahead.

Here is everything you need to know about this weekend’s festivities, including all the events, how to get around the city amid Saturday’s train cancellations, and what you can’t bring with you to the festival in Preston Park.

Community groups and businesses to celebrate in Pride parade

The Argus: Thousands will pack the streets for Pride's annual community paradeThousands will pack the streets for Pride's annual community parade (Image: The Argus)

Today will see thousands of people take to the streets to celebrate diversity and inclusion and call for equal rights for LGBTQ+ people in a community parade across the city.

The parade, with the themes of Love, Protest and Unity and Dare to be Different, will set off at 11am from Hove Lawns, before heading along the seafront, passing by the i360 and the Brighton Centre, before heading up West Street and through North Street.

The parade will continue past the Royal Pavilion, Victoria Gardens and St Peter’s Church, ending at Preston Park - the site of the annual festival.

The Argus: A map of this year's Pride parade routeA map of this year's Pride parade route (Image: Brighton Pride)

One of the biggest and brightest events in the city’s calendar, over 300,000 people are expected to line the streets to participate in and watch the parade of community and campaign groups.

Businesses and residents along the parade route have already been preparing to celebrate in style, with Pride flags being flown from windows across the city.

Pride marking 50th anniversary

The Argus: Pride is marking 50 years since its first parade in Brighton in 1973Pride is marking 50 years since its first parade in Brighton in 1973

This year’s festivities mark 50 years since the first Pride parade in Brighton, with protesters taking to the streets of the city in 1973 to demand equal rights for LGBTQ+ people. However, the march would not return to Brighton until 1991, when Brighton Area Action Against Section 28 (BAAAS28) organised a weekend of events.

The event now attracts as many as half a million people each year - around two per cent of the city’s annual visitors, and contributes an estimated £30.5 million to Brighton’s economy.

Black Eyed Peas to headline Preston Park’s Pride festival

The Argus: Black Eyed Peas will headline the first day of Pride's festival in Preston ParkBlack Eyed Peas will headline the first day of Pride's festival in Preston Park (Image: Brighton Pride)

This afternoon will see the return of the city’s annual two-day festival in Preston Park, described as one of the country’s most popular LGBTQ+ events.

The Fabuloso festival will see world-class artists take to the stage, including Black Eyed Peas, Jax Jones, Ma Muller and Zara Larsson performing today, with B*Witched, Melanie C and Steps dazzling crowds on Sunday.

Bellah Mae will start festivities in Preston Park at 2pm this afternoon, followed by a performance by The Blackmorida at 2.40pm. Eurovision star Mae Muller takes to the stage at 3.20pm, followed by a set from Jax Jones at 4.15pm and Confidence Man at 5.30pm. Dylan will stun crowds at 6.35pm, with Zara Larsson performing at 7.35pm, before Black Eyed Peas’s headline set at 9.15pm.

On Sunday, Tom Aspaul will take to the stage from 2.30pm, followed by performances from Harley Moon Kemp at 3.05pm and B*Witched at 3.45pm. Winner of series one of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK The Vivienne performs at 4.35pm, with Louise at 5.25pm, Melanie C at 6.35pm and Steps at 8.15pm.

Set lists for other stages have also been revealed by organisers, with more than 150 LGBTQ+ artists performing across the park.

Kemp Town’s village party returns

The weekend will see businesses across Kemp Town come together to celebrate Pride for the annual village party, with gay bars and nightclubs among those raising money for the Brighton Rainbow Fund and Pride Social Impact Fund.

Entertainment zones, bars and venues, live performances and cabaret, DJs, drag artists, singers and musicians will provide an unforgettable weekend of fundraising celebrations.

How to get around Brighton this weekend

The Argus: Train services to and from Brighton are cancelled on SaturdayTrain services to and from Brighton are cancelled on Saturday (Image: Govia Thameslink Railway)

All train services to and from Brighton have been cancelled due to concerns over safety because of industrial action by train drivers. Coach services to Brighton have seen a surge in demand due to the disruption, with festivalgoers advised to find alternative routes to the city where possible.

Services on Sunday are unaffected by the train cancellations.

Bus services will be diverted as the city celebrates, with Brighton and Hove Buses urging passengers to check before they travel due to widespread changes to services over the weekend. A special shuttle service, routes 500 and 600, will operate to and from Preston Park from the Old Steine and the Waterhall Campsite.

For those hoping to travel by car, roads are also set to be closed across the city centre for the parade and village party in Kemp Town.

Rain and wind could dampen festivities

The current forecast for this weekend looks mixed, with strong winds and rain expected on Saturday. A yellow weather warning for wind has been issued by the Met Office for Saturday from 6am until 9pm, with a risk of “disruption to travel and outdoor activities”. Guests of around 40mph are expected in Brighton during the day.

The Argus: Crowds gathering at a rainy Pride in Brighton in 2002 Crowds gathering at a rainy Pride in Brighton in 2002 (Image: The Argus)

Sunday’s forecast looks drier, with sunshine changing to clouds by lunchtime and a risk of a light shower at around 4pm.

Prohibited items at Pride events

A range of items are banned from the festival in Preston Park and other Pride events this weekend. These include illegal or psychoactive substances, alcohol, fireworks, laser pens, chairs, air horns, water pistols and drones.

Small amounts of food for personal consumption and prescribed medication are permitted, along with pushcairs, re-usable non-glass drinks bottles and cameras with three-inch lenses or shorter.

Only small bags that are a maximum of 20cm wide, 30cm high and 20cm deep are allowed at Pride events, with those with larger bags facing the risk of being refused entry.