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You are here: What's On

Brighton & Hove’s calendar is literally bulging with entertainment and events of every kind imaginable, all year round. So no matter when you plan to visit, there’ll always be plenty of interesting and exciting things going on all over town.

For starters, two of Brighton’s biggest events, the art-and-culture-packed Brighton Festival (May) and the world-famous Brighton Pride (August) attract thousands of visitors every year and offer stunning parades awash with colour and creativity. In fact barely a week goes by without a festival taking place in Brighton or elsewhere in Sussex. From the Great Escape (May) to Burning the Clocks (Dec) to the Brighton Kite Festival (July), you can find festivals celebrating photography, science, comedy, beer, and much, much more.

Festivals aside, live music lovers will never go hungry in Brighton. The Brighton Centre  &  Brighton Dome , Komedia , Ironworks Studio and The Old Market are just a few of the venues where you can catch performances from both world-famous artists and up-and-coming talent in all genres of music. There are pubs, clubs and grassroots music venues all over the city hosting live music from jazz and rock to punk and folk, to country and R&B, almost every night of the year, as well as club nights of all varieties.

Comedy & Cabaret 

Brighton & Hove has a vibrant and thriving entertainment and alternative cabaret scene and at venues like Komedia , Ironworks Studios and The Old Market you are guaranteed belly laughs and spectacles beyond your wildest imagination.

If it’s theatre you’re after, there’s no shortage of performances to choose from at venues including the Theatre Royal , Brighton Dome and Brighton Open Air Theatre in Dyke Road Park, as well as at many smaller venues throughout Brighton and Hove. Plan your visit during Brighton Fringe (early May to early June) and you’ll find a dizzying array of every type of artistic expression you can think of. Meanwhile, you can also find comedy acts of all shapes and sizes, plus open-mic nights, poetry slams, pub quizzes, drag nights and karaoke. You’ll find events where you can take part and those where you sit back and watch.

Brighton is well-known for being a creative hub, so if you’re interested in art, then a good time of year to visit is during the Artists Open Houses Festival (May and also Nov/Dec) where you can follow trails in all corners of the city, leading you into artists’ houses where you can buy art, photography, ceramics, textiles and jewellery direct from the artists themselves. If you’re planning to visit in September, then don’t miss the Brighton Art Fair at the Brighton Dome Corn Exchange, and be sure to check out what’s on at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery , where you can find new and exciting exhibitions throughout the year.

Sports & Activities

Brighton’s sports calendar is also jam-packed with cricket, rugby and premier league football matches. Alternatively, you can also go to the races – horses or greyhounds – or take a stroll along the seafront where you can watch beach volleyball, sailing or windsurfing – or have a go yourself!

Last but not least, if you’re looking to widen your horizons or gain some new skills while you’re here, you can find talks and discussions, plus classes and workshops of all kinds. From art and literature to cooking and upholstery, there’s plenty to sign up for that’ll give you food for thought and get your braincells buzzing.

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Inspiration

• 18 May 2024 19 May 2024

Earlier this week I shut down the laptop and enjoyed a delightful morning in Lewes exploring the new exhibitions at Charleston.

• 29 Jun 2024

What's On Highlights

Ceremonial Laptop welcomes back Helen Anahita Wilson to the Rose Hill after her incredible solo…

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Rich Hall - Shot From Cannons

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Sussex take on Glamorgan in this County Championship Division Two fixture.

County Championship Division Two: Sussex Vs Glamorgan

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Two new and upcoming bands from Brighton KnownToCause and JeanJacquet.

KnownToCause, JeanJacquet & The Initials

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One Night In Nashville is the UK's first downtown Nashville Honkytonk Live Experience.

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terrace cred. presents: a very welcome return to Brighton for Iain Matthews, who has teamed up with…

Iain Matthews & Plumhall: Live At The Folklore Rooms

• 1 Ceremonial Laptop: Plant Composition
• 3 Extra Topping Comedy Showcase
• 4 Rich Hall - Shot From Cannons
• 5 The Weeping Willows: Live
• 7 County Championship Division Two: Sussex Vs Glamorgan
• 8 Nubiyan Twist
• 9 No Jacket Required
• 10 Clue The Looking Glass: Outdoor Escape Room, Brighton
• 13 Beat Inflation with Sue the Cleaner
• 14 Adele Tribute Show
• 15 Sam Campbell: Wobservations
• 16 KnownToCause, JeanJacquet & The Initials
• 17 An Evening with Willy Vlautin
• 18 Brighton Fringe Comedy Showcase
• 19 Sundae Club
• 20 Maisie Adam: Appraisal
• 21 One Night In Nashville
• 22 Music for Cats
• 23 Couples Cook – Wine & Dine – Seafood Paella
• 24 Iain Matthews & Plumhall: Live At The Folklore Rooms

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Number of results: 1840

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English rap music project led by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Mike Skinner.

[email protected]

In 2024, Brighton Festival - the largest annual curated multi-arts festival in England - will be curated by screenwriter and novelist Frank Cottrell-Boyce.

[email protected]

The Great Escape is the festival for new music, showcasing 500 emerging artists from all over the world in 30+ walkable venues across the city and a pop-up festival site on Brighton Beach. It’s the first place to discover your new favourite artist…

Pop rock trio, reunited after more than a decade for some UK shows. You'll remember them from their masterpieces 'Year 3000', 'What I Go to School For' and 'Air Hostess'.

[email protected]

During May & June, Brighton Fringe welcomes international performers and audiences as it showcases the creative heart and soul of the city and its unique cultural heritage.

Foodies Festival returns to Preston Park across the May Bank Holiday Weekend from 4th – 6th May 2024, with brand-new features and a star-studded line-up of celebrity chefs and chart-topping music stars, including: Scouting For Girls, Sister Sledge…

Performance

Forbidden Nights is made up of a male vocalist, aerial artist, pole performer and fire act all with an element of strip tease -- think Cirque du Soleil meets *Magic Mike*.

Join us at Ibiza Proms this June 2024 as we come to Brighton Seafront for the first time with the 50 piece orchestra to take you on a musical journey to the White Isle!

The Artist Open Houses offer festival–goers the chance to meet the artists and to view locally made, seriously good arts and crafts.

Lewes, Lewes

Discover the extraordinary story of Dorothy Hepworth and Patricia Preece – a duo whose secret artistic collaboration and lifelong romantic partnership remained hidden for decades.

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Marija Kovaevi: Music for Broken Violins

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Sporting Event

Brighton & Hove Albion take on Manchester City in this Premier League fixture.

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Brighton & Hove

General event

Unearth Wonderland’s Secrets in "Clue the Looking Glass": Brighton’s Ultimate Outdoor Adventure! Rated 5 stars on TripAdvisor.

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Midway Still are back on their travels and returning with excellent support from Dealing With Damage.

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Vocalist Shireen Francis and her band combine Caribbean rhythms and contemporary jazz harmony in a uniquely sophisticated way, breathing new life into jazz standards as well as incorporating their own material. With Mark Cherrie (steel pan), Dominic…

The UK's premier Eric Clapton Tribute act, playing the very best of the great man's music.

Join us Christmas 2024 for our genie-us pantomime adventure – Aladdin!

We’ll take you on a magical journey of adventure in our laugh-a-minute extravaganza with stunning sets, musical hits, fabulous costumes, special effects and of course a magic…

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An LGBTQ+ guide to Brighton & Hove: the events, venues and areas to visit

By Torsten Højer

The latest England and Wales census data revealed what many have known for many moons and rainbows: Brighton and Hove is one the gayest places in the UK. According to the statistics, more than one-in-10 people city-wide identify as LGBorT, and the highest of the wards is Kemptown, at a staggering 20.2 per cent. Unsurprisingly, it’s here that the majority of the gay attractions reside: bars, clubs, restaurants , hotels , and beach areas are designated as primarily aimed at our LGBTQ+ communities.

The city is in the midst of a welcome urban regeneration and new-openings boom. The brand-new Valley Gardens scheme has spruced up the main artery into town, leading you swiftly to the famous Brighton Palace Pier and up into Kemptown, where the last year has ushered in a transformation of the famous be-pebbled shoreline.

Soho House ’s Brighton Beach House is open for business, with direct views over the sea and pier, where guests can dip into the saucy banana-shaped pool specially designed by artist David Shrigley. Further along Kemptown seafront, new fishing hut-style kiosks have been completed, housing everything from yoga studios to paddleboarding outlets, the Bison Beach Bar to art galleries. The other side of the super-cute Volks electric railway line, which runs from the Pier to Black Rock for access to the Marina, is the new Sea Lanes 50-metre swimming pool which is heated. Sitting atop the beach’s famous pebbles, it’s adjacent to the Yellowave Beach Sports volleyball courts, which have been laid with sand. Well-considered marine planting and the fabulous on-beach boardwalk have made this area, on a sunny day, stunning. And, of course, Brighton’s nudist beach (which attracts many a gay man) is just a flip-flop skip away.

Despite all the refreshments, echoes of Brighton’s gay and lesbian past are palpable. Passing the India-inspired Brighton Pavilion, one can imagine The Prince Regent’s indulgent dos that kickstarted the city’s reputation for carefree cavorting around 200 years ago. The ghosts of Pride protest marches in the days of Section-28 legislation are apparent, and the shadows of Brighton’s fierce fightback against HIV and Aids during the eighties and nineties can be felt. Ever-increasing numbers of people still move here to find the freedom to be themselves, and the city is now seemingly more eager than ever to live up to its London-by-the-Sea label.

The Queer Quarter

Brighton’s gay village is nestled around Kemptown’s St. James’s Street, which runs one-block-back parallel to Kemptown's seafront. It’s here you’ll find the majority of the LGBTQ+ bars and pubs, including on-trend Charles Street Tap , live singer- and drag queen-focused Centre Stage (formerly The Amsterdam) with its sea vista terrace, the Miami Queer-themed R-Bar , a glittery stalwart of the drag scene, the Queens Arms , the karaoke-keen and bear-baiting Bulldog, the tiny, traditional Marine Tavern and the ‘underwater’ Nautilus Lounge , which offers table service cocktails and pianist nights. Notable is the sleek cocktail space Affinity Bar , which offers Icelandic ice bar-like lighting, a friendly mixed crowd and a penchant for quality spirits (try the new Tom of Finland vodka), as well as drag cabaret. A new venue, Glamorous Bar , is due to open on the site of Lé Village gay pub later in 2023. Further into Kemptown, The Camelford Arms is metres from the sea and serves giant portions of pub grub in bare brick, warm surroundings; Fallen Angel is gay-owned and cosy; and the new Malta -inspired Arcobaleno is on a mission to ‘redefine queer culture’ (more on that in a bit).

It’s a testament to the city’s gay friendliness that the venues opposite Brighton’s Grade I-listed Pier are floor-to-ceiling windowed, out and proud and prominently positioned.

And there’s more, over towards Hove, where you’ll find the cosy Bedford Tavern , snug drag venue The Grosvenor (cue Sondheim and sequins!), which has recently undergone a major refurbishment, and lesbian-oriented Velvet Jacks, which runs regular girls-only nights.

The new LGBTQ+ hub, The Ledward Centre , is now open on Jubilee Street in the centre of the city with a street level café and gallery, and more on the way, including a 70-seat cinema, a public meeting room and performance space, radio studios and a library and bookshop. On St. James’s Street, The Trans Pride Centre is run by trans people, for trans people, and offers a hub for advice and support.

Where to eat and drink

Sister restaurant to the famed Burnt Orange, The Coal Shed, and The Salt Room, Tutto is the city’s swankiest new Italian and offers a sense of grandeur, with its old bank exterior and smart outside terrace. The long, gorgeous bar is perfect for a cocktail starter, and their Café Negroni, which adds Café Borgetti to the gin, Campari favourite, is divine. Tutto has launched a new weekday lunch and early evening set menu, which is a great way to sample some of the best Italian dishes their chefs have to offer. There’s sardine fish & chips, and the giant raviolo is filled with pea, spinach and mascarpone with runny egg yolk that spills out onto the plate to mix with the olive oil, roasted pine nuts and fried sage leaves.

Amy Abrahams

Olivia Morelli

Connor Sturges

Gary Shteyngart

Address: Tutto, 20–22 Marlborough Place, Brighton BN1 1UB Website: tutto-restaurant.co.uk

Slap bang in the heart of St James’s Street, Block is Ben Gill and Kim Doherty’s ‘urban day club’ decked out with pink furniture and walls, and artworks of gay icons, including Freddie Mercury and Grace Jones by The Postman. Inspired by the owners’ globetrotting, it evokes Miami glamour alongside Ibiza DJ vibes with regular afternoon parties that whip you away from the bustle and into, well, a better one. It offers frozen cocktails, a carefully curated wine list, and the elevated burgers and snacks will keep you fuelled all day. Block also hosts one of the biggest street parties during Brighton Pride – the party at the centre of the party.

Address: Block, 101 St James’s Street, Brighton, BN2 1TP Website: blockbar.co.uk

Walking into Arcobaleno is like entering a colourful other world where rainbows shimmer across walls, plants sprout from walls, and neon signs glimmer with comforting words. ‘No place like home’ beams a pink one, neatly summing up the concept of the venue: a space where everyone is welcome, and you can simply be yourself. But there’s much more to rejoice about: it’s the city’s proud Maltese cuisine food spot; it creates unique, in-house conjured cocktails with themes including Mean Girls and ABBA ; and there are float-loads of entertainment that mainly involve drag, dress-up, and letting go. You’ll feel like you’re not in Kemp-sas anymore (just ask the pair of Dorothy-Wizard-of-Oz glittery ruby slippers poking out from the wall).

Address: Arcobaleno, 120 St George's Road, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1EA Website: myarcobaleno.com

Brighton Beach House by Soho House

Brighton Beach House stands proudly on the seafront, overlooking Brighton Palace Pier. Set across two floors, it draws inspiration from Art Deco architecture and is finished with beautiful vintage furniture, specially designed pieces, and contributions from local craftspeople and artists. Nodding to the city’s LGBTQ+ communities, it hosts Drag Bingo nights and a large collection of queer art as a ‘love letter to Brighton’, including pieces by David Hockney and Maggi Hambling. Restaurant Club Cecconi’s serves authentic Venetian-inspired dishes that rotate with the seasons.

Address: Brighton Beach House, The Terraces, Madeira Drive, Brighton BN2 1AY Website: sohohouse.com

Burnt Orange

The evocatively named Burnt Orange burst onto the Brighton scene in June 2021 as the latest offering from restauranteur Razak Helalat, purveyor of steak-focused The Coal Shed and fish-fancy The Salt Room. It has a sleek interior, plus a bijou cobbled outdoor terrace perfect for summer days. In a 16th-century coach house slap-bang in the famous Lanes, the team slings out a range of small plates. Top tries are the smoked miso aubergine, and crispy smoked lamb shoulder cigars with Padron yoghurt. And for pudding, you can’t go wrong with the Sparkling Sorbet, made with Grey Goose L’Orange, Cointreau, elderflower cordial, and prosecco, with a plop of Lemon Sorbet dunked in to absorb it all.

Address: Burnt Orange, 59 Middle Street, Brighton, BN1 1AL Website: burnt-orange.co.uk

Fresh on the scene, Tørstigbar is Brighton’s low-alcohol bar , conjuring quite incredible cocktails from the best low and no-ABV bottles on the market (Tørstig means thirsty in Danish). Although not strictly a gay bar, it’s in the heart of the gay village and supports the LGBTQ+ community with regular donations to local charities.

Address: Tørstigbar, 45 George Street, Brighton BN2 1RJ Website: torstigbar.com

DaddyLonglegs

Head Chef Adam Janman is on a mission to elevate gastropub food and he’s working his magic - DaddyLonglegs is now a destination foodie paradise. Located on the outskirts of Kemptown, adjacent to the beautiful Thomas Cubitt-designed Lewes Crescent, the pub is named after inventor Magnus Volk’s long-derelict in-sea electric railway. The Daddy, as it’s known to locals, offers small plates of pure joy that change regularly, alongside a carefully curated wine list featuring essentials from local estates as well as global producers. The venue recently launched Yakatori Fridays, celebrating delicious Asian nibbles and cocktails.

Address: DaddyLonglegs, 1 Arundel Road, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 5TE Website: daddylonglegs.co.uk

If you’re visiting Brighton’s famous Lanes, Embers is a great new stop-off for supper. It offers small plates of beautiful, glazed meats and earthy vegetables cooked over a spectacular medieval wood-fire cage in the middle of the restaurant floor. Headed up by city chef royalty Isaac Bartlett-Copeland and Dave Marrow, it’s a revelation. The team even plays the sound of crackling embers to the narrow street outside, luring you in. And these are some of the best cocktails in town, with theatrics aplenty.

Address: 42 Meeting House Lane, Brighton BN1 1HB Website: embersbrighton.co.uk

Legends Resort

A sun trap queer bar thanks to its large sea-view terrace, Legends Resort Brighton is now under new ownership, sporting a new wood-panelled décor and a refreshed seating and bar area. A popular afternoon drinking destination, its cavernous Basement Club is the after-dark party spot, offering resident nights including the eclectic tunes of Glitter Curious (often mixing Dua Lipa with Dolly Parton, Beyoncé with Blondie) and Friday Night Shift with more upfront dance anthems.

Address: Legends Resort, 31-34 Marine Parade, Brighton BN2 1TR Website: legendsresortbrighton.com

Club Revenge

Opened in 1991, Club Revenge is arguably the most famous LGBTQ+ nightclub in Brighton, hosting shows from the biggest stars from RuPaul’s Drag Race to international pop stars and DJs. Spread out over three floors, the nightclub offers a large main room with state-of-the-art LED screens and lighting systems, themed VIP booths, and a magic mirror photo booth. The upper-level dancefloor is equipped with a breathtaking LED lighting array, Berlin -inspired décor, dancing cages and more VIP areas. To top things off, their amazing roof terrace has spectacular views over the city, the sea, and the pier. Its sister venue, Bar Revenge, is just around the corner.

Address: Club Revenge, 32-34 Old Steine, Brighton BN1 1EL Website: revenge.co.uk

The Plotting Parlour

This atmospheric, gothic-dream-décor speakeasy-style cocktail bar is perfectly placed in a side street near the entrance to the Gay Village for a fill of sensational, mixologist-designed drinks. The focus is firmly on the customer and the unique cocktails created in-house, including the chocolate-covered-glass Tumi (with Pisco and Mezcal) and Flight of the Buffalo, which showcases the ageing process of bourbon. The best seats are the vintage cinema chairs at the back – but don’t forget to explore upstairs.

Address: The Plotting Parlour, 6 Steine Street, Brighton, BN2 1TE Website: theplottingparlour-brighton.co.uk

The Kemptown Klub

Tucked away on an unassuming residential road, The Kemptown Klub is a small private members venue , open to new members at no charge, and to over-25s only. The ground floor offers a tranquil lounge bar, serving up cocktails, a good selection of continental beers as well as Cornish cider. Downstairs is a small nightclub where 80s and 90s-themed nights run regularly. Owners Peter and Rachel are known faces on the Brighton scene, having run LGBTQ+ venues across the city over many years, and they trade on a warm welcome.

Address: The Kempton Klub, 75 St George’s Road, Brighton, BN2 1EF Website: facebook.com

What to see

Ironworks studios.

Just a short hop from the main station and bordering the famous  North Laine  quarter, Ironworks is the city’s Brighton Pride-owned, 170-seater LGBTQ+ performance space and TV studio. It offers a frankly incredible programme of musicians, comedians, drag queens and poets alongside emerging theatre productions. Frequent highlights include Cabaret Boheme’s burlesque from the mistress of ceremonies Veronica Blacklace and burlesque Diva extraordinaire, Allegra Rose. All productions also support LGBTQ+ charities and community groups, including the  Brighton Rainbow Fund , the Pride Community Foundation and Pride Cultural Development Fund. Address: Ironworks Studios, 30 Cheapside, Brighton, BN1 4GD Website: ironworks-studios.co.uk

LGBTQ+ Walking Tour: Piers and Queers

Gender-bending doctors, Regency Dandies, drag kings, and a host of fabulous fancies spring to life as this 90-minute, time-travelling guided tour immerses you in 200 years of Brighton’s colourful LGBTQ+ history. Follow in the footsteps of the early Gay Liberation Front members, stand where some of the first legal civil partnerships took place, and explore the oft-forgotten stories of figures including author Aubrey Beardsley, 19th-Century trans man Colonel Barker and Anne Lister, known as ‘the first modern lesbian’.

Website: onlyinbrighton.co.uk/piers-queers

Brighton Museum’s Queer the Pier exhibition

Brighton’s beautiful  museum , housed in the Pavilion’s old stables, hosts an array of curated LGBTQ+ memorabilia inspired by the queer writers, artists, performers, activists and everyday people of the town’s past. Highlights include the rusty Adler typewriter on which the godfather of gay journalism Peter Burton documented decades of queer history for  Gay Times  and clothing worn by artist and gender-fluidity trailblazer Gluck. Check out the  Queer Looks  exhibition too, which gathers together the outfits of LGBTQ+ identities from the 1960s to today.

Website: brightonmuseums.org.uk

Where to stay

Drakes of brighton.

Since opening in 2004 across two Georgian  townhouses , Drakes has been a consistent favourite in town, conjuring Prince Regent-like living with views of the pier, in-room roll-top baths and fancy curved panelling and stucco cornicing. A short skip from the Gay Village, it’s where Kylie stays when she’s in town and from where actor Cate Blanchett live-streamed her Oscar acceptance speech in 2005.

Address: Drakes of Brighton, 43-44 Marine Parade, Brighton, BN2 1PE

The Artist Residence

Set in Regency Square with views of the derelict West Pier and the  i360 tower, this hotel cleverly condenses the creative, bohemian and eccentric spirit of Brighton into its 24 rooms. It was the first project by founders Charlotte and Justin Salisbury, who have since taken their ethos around the country.

Address: The Artist Residence, 33 Regency Square, Brighton, BN1 2GG

Hotel Pelirocco

Something of a jewel on Brighton’s hotel map, Pelirocco is famed for its 19 individually designed, rock ‘n’ roll-themed rooms. Housed in a double-fronted Regency townhouse in Regency Square, opposite the city’s i360 attraction and West Pier ruins, it screams Brighton and is designed for weekend fun and sauciness (much like the city itself). New for 2023 is the Salon Rouge, loosely based on Moulin Rouge with French glamour and theatrics. Bettie’s Boudoir is Jackie Collins leopard print kitsch and dedicated to American pin-up Bettie Page; The Leigh Bowery room celebrates the gay performance artist’s image; and the Dollywould room immerses you into a Ms Parton country cabin, with memorabilia complete with oversized wigs and boots. Dressing up and quirky fun is encouraged.

Address: Hotel Pelirocco, 10 Regency Square, Brighton BN1 2FG UK

LGBTQ+ events

Brighton Fringe

Almost every spot in the city becomes a venue for the largest open-access arts festival in  England , with more than 1,000 events and a sparklingly large amount of LGBTQ+ content at venues across the city.

When: May and June Website: brightonfringe.org

Brighton Bear Weekend

Brighton Bear Weekend focuses on our furry friends and their fans. Events include cabaret, garden picnics, a Mr Brighton Bear contest and an ‘UnderBear’ night, where Y-fronts and hairy chests are king. Or queen.

When: July Website: brightonbearweekend.com

Trans Pride

Trans Pride is where the trans, intersex, gender variant and queer communities come together to celebrate unique histories and promote visibility. Trans activists adding prominence to the event include writer Juno Dawson, historian E-J Scott and children’s author Sarah Savage. The seafront march is a colourful, banner-waving highlight.

When: July Website: transpridebrighton.org

Brighton Pride

The UK’s biggest Pride event attracts more than 300,000 to parade, party and perform. Recent headliners include Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue and Pet Shop Boys. In a world of Pride events, Brighton’s stands out, and the festival encompasses almost the entire city in rainbows and joy. The truly unmissable weekend (usually the first in August ) starts with an enormous parade along the Regency seafront before snaking directly through the centre of the city and ends with street parties in the gay village.

When: August Website: brighton-pride.org

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Getting ready to welcome back Pride!

With just under a month to go, we’re getting ready to welcome back Brighton & Hove’s fantastic Pride celebrations!

Brighton & Hove Pride is one of the city’s largest events, drawing thousands to the city to celebrate and take part in the parade and party.

Saturday 6 August is the main day of celebrations, with the Pride Community parade progressing through the city centre, the ‘We Are Fabuloso’ celebrations in Preston Park and the Pride Village Party (PVP) in St James’s Street.

The We Are Fabuloso Pride Festival and the PVP celebrations continue on Sunday 7 August.

This will be the first full Pride weekend in the city since 2019, and we’re anticipating a very busy weekend.

For anyone unfamiliar with Brighton & Hove Pride, it’s on a huge scale and takes over much of the city centre for the weekend.

Roads will be closed in the city centre on Saturday for the community parade and for the Pride Village Party on Saturday and Sunday.

Buses will be rerouted and, if you’re travelling by train, please do plan ahead to get here and home again!

Take a look at Pride’s travel advice . You can also see  information on trains on Govia Thameslink Railway’s Brighton & Hove Pride update  and Brighton & Hove Buses  update on buses over the Pride weekend .

We’ll be publishing full information on road closures in the lead up to the weekend.

What’s happening over Pride weekend

The Pride Community Parade passes through the city centre from 11am to 4pm on Saturday 6 August.

The route starts at Hove Lawns and goes through the city centre to end at Preston Park.

As in previous years, the We Are Fabuloso party in Preston Park will be ticketed and runs from 12 noon until 10.30pm on Saturday and Sunday.

The festival is the primary fundraising and campaign event for the Pride weekend, with a number of world class acts performing over the weekend.

The PVP is held in St James’s Street and Marine Parade plus adjoining streets. It’s a ticketed event with entry by wristband.

The PVP takes place from 5pm to 11pm on Saturday, with roads closed for wristband checks from 12 noon. The Sunday PVP runs from 3pm to 9pm.

The Pride box office and wristband collection for PVP will be on Victoria Gardens.

Residents and local businesses based in the PVP area are issued with free wristbands in advance upon proof of residency.

Roads will be re-opened as they are cleaned once the barriers are removed. Roads around St James’s Street are due to reopen at 2am on Monday 8 August.

A Pride campsite will be set up at Waterhall, open from 12 noon on Friday 5 August until 9am on Monday 8 August.

Visit the Brighton & Hove Pride website for full detail of what’s planned.

Supporting City Angels

We’re supporting Pride’s City Angels initiative promoting civic pride and a closer working partnership between Brighton & Hove Pride and local retailers, restaurants, hotels and other businesses.

City Angels commit to uphold the Pride City Angel pledge. which includes helping keep business area clean, tidy and litter free and encouraging customers and staff to dispose of their litter responsibly.

It also pledges supporting businesses to be vigilant to hate crime incidents and actively report incidents to police.

Please visit WeAreCityAngels.org for the full details and to register your interest.

Welcome back Pride

Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty, leader of the council, said: “With Pride just one month away, it’s fantastic to welcome back this vital celebration of our city’s identity.

“It’s when Brighton & Hove is at our bubbly, bohemian best as we see visitors return from near and far. As we all make Brighton & Hove proud for the weekend this year we also belatedly celebrate Pride’s 30th birthday.

“Pride still very much stands for continuing the struggle for LGBTIQA+ equality and this is aptly reflected in the theme: Love, Protest & Unity. And as hate crimes based on sexuality and anti-trans crimes continue to increase there is still much work to do.

“Of course Pride is also a vital part of the cultural and community calendar and a special moment to celebrate with friends and loved ones. 

“For months we’ve been quietly planning alongside Pride and our police, health and transport partners for the return of the main events.

“After a 2-year absence, let’s ensure we all are able to enjoy a proud and safe weekend!” 

Paul Kemp, Managing Director of Brighton & Hove Pride, said: “Pride is an important event for our city with visitors coming from across the UK, Europe and the rest of the world to visit Brighton & Hove and the whole of East Sussex, and we are really excited to be back after a two-year break. 

“Brighton & Hove City Council are one of our key partners helping to deliver our Pride events that are an essential fundraising mechanism for many of the city’s charities, community groups and projects. 

“This year’s parade theme of ‘Love, Protest & Unity’ will see us continue our commitment to fight for the global rights of the whole LGBTQ+ community whilst celebrating the advances we have made in diversity, inclusion and equality

“Have a fantastic Brighton & Hove Pride.”

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Thousands celebrate Pride in Brighton after two-year hiatus

One of UK’s biggest LGBTQ+ parades returns to mark 30th anniversary after Covid cancellations

Thousands of people were expected to fill the streets of Brighton on Saturday to celebrate the return of one of the UK’s biggest Pride events.

The parade and concerts, headlined by Christina Aguilera to a sold-out audience on Saturday and Paloma Faith on Sunday, mark the return of the LGBTQ+ celebration for the first time in three years after the last two were cancelled due to Covid.

The event, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, was expected to attract as many as 300,000 people on Saturday.

The parade started at Hove Laws at 11am, winding through the city’s streets with rainbow flags. There were also people wearing yellow and blue flags calling for peace in Ukraine.

Among them was the gay rights activist Peter Tatchell , who tweeted : “At @PrideBrighton in solidarity with #Ukraine against Russian aggression.”

He also spoke out against the Commonwealth, which he said is a “bastion of homophobia”, calling for “an end to the criminalisation of LGBTs in 35 Commonwealth countries”.

Aguilera, who also performed at Los Angeles Pride in June, is among dozens of acts who will take to the stage at Preston Park over the weekend for We are Fabuloso.

Other performers include Ella Henderson, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Björn Again and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK stars Tia Kofi and Bimini.

A spokesperson for Brighton Pride said: “2022 will be a joyous commemoration of the brave trailblazers, campaigners and supporters who shaped the Pride movement in the city and helped us achieve the LGBT+ equality we all enjoy today.”

Brighton’s first Pride was held in 1973 but it did not return until 1991. It usually draws crowds of about 250,000. This weekend also marks the 50th anniversary of the city’s first march, organised by the Sussex Gay Liberation Front.

Paul Kemp, organiser of Pride, told the BBC: “It has been a very long wait but we’re finally here. We’re very excited to be back.”

Previous headliners at the event, which includes a community parade and village party, have included Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue and, due to Covid, two cancelled appearances by Mariah Carey.

Peter Kyle, the Labour MP for Hove and Portslade and shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland, tweeted : “The #BrightonPride parade was amazing!”

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26 May 2022 2:50 PM

Brighton Pride 2022: Everything you need to know

From the parade to christina aguilera's headline festival performance, here's what you need to know about brighton pride's return..

By Will Stroude

Words: Brian Leonard

Brighton Pride is back for the first time in three years this August, as the world continues to reopen following a tough two years of lockdowns, restrictions and uncertainty around large events.

That will all seem a distant memory when the LGBTQ community comes together on the Sussex coast for one of the UK’s most famous Pride events,, with organisers promising that “normal service will be resumed.”

Brighton Pride 2022 is set to take place over the weekend of 5-7 August for a (delayed) 30th anniversary celebration, with a variety of fabulous events that deliver Pride, protest and world-class pop performances.

With Grammy Award winner Christina Aguilera following in the footsteps of Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue as Brighton Pride’s Saturday night headliner,anticpation for Brighton Pride 2022 is already at fever pitch. 

From dates and locations to the festival line-up, here’s everything you need to know…

Pride Community Day and Dog Show – Sunday 24 July

Taking place a week before the main event, Brighton Pride’s annual community day and dog show in Preston Park sees pooches and their owners show their pride with awards for numerous categories.

The event will see retail stalls, a glamorous catwalk doggy fashion show, and bar and refreshments spring up to enjoy throughout the afternoon from 12-5pm.

The annual canine highlight where we pamper those pooches and paw our way to one of Brighton Pride’s most wonderfully accessible events. Join us as we celebrate our four-legged best friends with a day of fun and barking frolics, as dogs and dog lovers come together and shine with Pride.

Pride LGBTQ+ Community Parade – Saturday 6 August

The Brighton Pride parade will kick off at Hove Lawns at 11am before winding its way to Preston Park throughout the afternoon. This year’s theme is ‘Love, protest and unity’.

It’s one of the biggest and brightest events in Brighton & Hove’s calendar, with over 300,000 people descending onto the city’s streets to participate in and watch the parade of community and campaign groups in a euphoric carnival of colour.

WE ARE FABULOSO supported by yahoo! – Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 August

This year, Brighton Pride’s famous music festival goes by the moniker of ‘WE ARE FABULOSO supported by yahoo!’

The two-day festival in Brighton’s Preston Park will welcome world-class pop stars to the stage, with Saturday’s line-up featuring Christina Aguilera, Ella Henderson, Todrick Hall, Raye, Bimini and L Devine.

Sunday’s bill is just as strong, with Paloma Faith, Jake Shears, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Cat Burns and Björn Again set to light up the main stage.

More than 100 LGBTQ artists set to appear at the festival, which will see the return of the Pride Dance Big Top headlined by Gorgon City, the Legends Cabaret Big Top, the QTIPOC Stage hosted by The Cocoa Butter Club and a host of other dance tents, cabaret stages, amazing live music and community areas.

Pride Village Party – 6 and 7 August

The Pride Village Party in Brighton’s famous Kemptown serves as the after-party for the parade and music festival.

Businesses across St James’ Street and Marine parade come together to celebrate Pride and raise extra funds for the Brighton Rainbow Fund and Pride Social Impact Fund.

For more information and for tickets, visit brighton-pride.org .

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Covid: Brighton Pride 2021 cancelled for second year over virus 'uncertainty'

• Published 5 May 2021

Brighton Pride has announced this year's event is cancelled due to uncertainty over Covid-19.

It is the second year in a row that the event has been axed , and August's festival was to see Mariah Carey headline the 30th anniversary celebrations.

In February, organisers announced the event would go ahead , following the government's roadmap out of lockdown.

That decision has now been reversed due to concerns over safety.

Organisers said they "cannot risk the health and safety" of visitors, residents, staff and volunteers.

Paul Kemp, director of Brighton Pride, said while the vaccine rollout continues to be successful, it was proving "impossible to deliver a safe event with any certainty".

He added: "We are devastated at having to make this decision and recognise the huge impact on local businesses, charities and community groups who rely on the fundraising potential of the Pride weekend.

"We can't wait to bring Pride back in 2022 better than ever."

Around 250,000 people traditionally visit Brighton during Pride weekend.

The weekend-long festival includes a community parade and village party.

Previous headliners include Kylie Minogue and Britney Spears.

Nick Hibberd, Brighton & Hove City Council's head of economy, environment and culture, said he was "sorry" to see "very important" community events, which promote equality and inclusion not going ahead.

However, he said he "fully supported" the decision, because "keeping everyone safe and Covid rates low remains our priority".

There will be smaller pop-up cultural events throughout the summer which can run within Covid-safe guidelines, as well as online events, organisers said.

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More on this story.

Brighton and Hove Pride to go ahead

• Published 26 February 2021

Brighton Pride 2020 cancelled 'with heavy heart'

• Published 3 April 2020

Mariah Carey to headline Brighton Pride

• Published 14 February 2020

Brighton’s epic 25th Pride Festival: Carnival of Diversity

Categories England , LGBT

Last Updated on June 26, 2023

Where to stay during Brighton Pride

If you want a B&B experience that’s a bit different from the traditional British B&Bs, I highly recommend staying at the funky Snooze , conveniently located in Kemptown – close to the Village Street Party, but still far away enough to get a good night’s sleep.   If you are on a tighter budget, the newly opened YHA Hostel is the perfect choice, located a 1-minute walk from the beach, right in the center of the action, and a 2-minute walk from the Kemptown Village Party.  

View from my room at the YHA Brighton – love it!

Additional information about Brighton Pride

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Kathryn Burrington

Tuesday 29th of September 2015

I love Brighton, on so many levels, and it's just an hour on the train from me but once again I realised it was Pride weekend a week too late. Fingers crossed I'll make it next year as I'd love to blog about it and in doing so take my stand against every regime, country or individual that doesn't believe in diversity.

It would be a very boring world if we were all the same.

Off to check out their site to see if there's a newsletter to sign up for, then I make actually make it next year.

Wednesday 30th of September 2015

Kat - great to hear that! I might be there as well :)

Saturday 12th of September 2015

Sounds amazing! You were SO lucky with the weather! I've never been to a pride in the UK. I'm not gay, but would still love to get involved! Have you been to Love Box?

Sunday 13th of September 2015

In all those years living in London I never made it to Lovebox, can you believe it, Ari?! Colleagues and friends of mine went every year - I think I would love it!

Globetrotter Girls - Brighton Pride, A Carnival of Diversity | Purple Roofs Gay Travel Blog

Wednesday 9th of September 2015

[…] By Dani – Full Story at Globetrotter Girls | Sussex Gay Travel Resources | Other Gay Travel Events […]

Victoria@ The British Berliner

Tuesday 8th of September 2015

Pride Week has been absolutely brilliant in Europe this year. And so it should! Everywhere was sunny and bright except for Berlin. Boo Hoo!

Brighton is one of my favourite cities in the UK. It's so young and very, very vibrant!

Victoria - I remember a rather cold Berlin Pride.. and a rainy Cologne Pride.. and an even rainier London Pride :D I definitely did NOT take the fabulous weather for granted :D

Monday 7th of September 2015

Wow, that looks like one big party! I've never been to Brighton Pride (or any pride in the UK for that matter!) but it looks like I definitely should. What a fantastic opportunity to attend its 25th year as well! The route being altered due to a "suspicious package" is so British to me (would that happen in Germany? Surely not!) and I do really like the idea of the park being more of a funfair with a festival going on, than just a park with the occasional live music act like what they do in Stockholm.

It's such a great party, Sam! If you end up going to Brighton Pride, I'd love to join you :)

Welcome to FilmPride!

Submissions are now open for FilmPride 2024!

Brighton & Hove Pride is one of the biggest Pride festivals in the world, and The Guardian describes it as “The country’s most popular LGBTQ+ event”. FilmPride is part of Fabuloso in the Park – Brighton & Hove Pride’s official fundraiser for the Brighton Rainbow Fund. As well as public screenings before Pride, during Brighton & Hove Pride weekend, the FilmPride festival will take place in Preston Park, the beating heart of every year’s event. If your film is selected, you will be included in our weekend programme and belong to something truly fabulous: Brighton & Hove Pride is the biggest LGBTQIA+ event in the UK! Furthermore, if your film is selected, you will also be invited to join us in the Pride parade on the Saturday morning of the Pride weekend. This is completely optional, but it’s a truly wonderful experience! FilmPride is run on behalf of Brighton & Hove Pride by The Latest Music Bar. To find out more about Brighton & Hove Pride, visit brighton-pride.org/pride-festival

FilmPride 2023

Last Summer, we hosted screenings at The Ledward Centre, Duke’s at Komedia, and We Are Fabuloso. Missed our events? You could also catch a selection of our films in our TV festival!

FilmPride on TV 14th – 27th August

The Leward Centre 29th & 30th July

Duke’s at Komedia 1st, 2nd & 3rd August

We are Fabuloso Brighton & Hove Pride 5th August

We are Fabuloso Brighton & Hove Pride 6th August

Past Events

Pride25 – The History of Brighton Pride

When do you think Brighton held its first Gay Pride march … 2000? 1990? You might be surprised to hear it was 1973. You probably won’t be surprised to hear it was a very small affair, certainly not the big parade with carnival floats and huge crowds we’re used to today.

Organised by the Sussex Gay Liberation Front, it was a brave thing to do at the time. Only seven years before that and gay men simply getting it on together would’ve ended in a gaol sentence. The first Pride march may have been small in numbers but they did it in style ending the day with a Gay Dance at the Royal Albion Hotel.

It wasn’t until 1991 that Pride came back to Brighton. It was born out of political objection to the government passing laws to ban the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality. Pride in 1991 was very homemade but very ambitious with a festival of events around town over the May bank holiday, ending in a Pink Picnic in Preston Park.

The political Pride marches lasted four years struggling against a homophobic local press and pitiful financial support from the local council. Pride 1992 returned to Preston Park but Pride 1993 ended with a Pink Picnic in Queens Park. A taste of the march through town and after-party on the Level in 1994 can be seen in this film – how times have changed…

The following year saw the start of the party Prides, though once again Pride took place on the relatively small space at the Level. The organisers managed to convince local businesses and performers that it was a good thing to be associated with and slowly Pride began to grow and change. The classic format of parade/park/street party is now something we all expect.

The organisers have changed regularly over the years and financial problems never seemed far away, yet Pride has endured. In 1996 it returned to Preston Park where it has remained ever since. In a controversial move at the time, the date for Pride in 1997 was moved from the May bank holiday to early August. However, being an outdoor event it has always been hostage to weather conditions and some years have seen merry revellers happily rolling around in mud lakes Glastonbury style.

Over the decades Pride has seen a couple of ‘weddings’, ever more outrageous floats and the odd anti-gay demonstrators who have been booed out of the park. In 2004 it was awarded charitable status, and as the crowds grew so did the scale of the celebrity appearances from Lisa Stansfield to Barbara Windsor, and more recently (2012) local talent The Freemasons and Fatboy Slim.

Things came to a head in 2010 when a record-busting estimated 160,000 people celebrated Pride in Brighton, yet it was still dogged by money worries. The following year saw the controversial introduction of charged entry to the park celebrations. Previous Pride management ran up over £200k and in 2011 and Subsequently went bankrupt. Under new management from 2012 Pride has raised over £110k for local LGBT community groups.

The diversity of tents in the park has expanded to reflect the attendees, including specific spaces for women, people of colour, trans folk, bears, cabaret and more, until it was acknowledged to be the largest free Pride event in the UK.

From its birth last century to the present day Brighton Pride has meant many things to many people. It has played its part in changing attitudes and promoting acceptance and equality, and of course that being LGBTQ or whoever you are, is something to be proud of. As with most histories of lesbian and gay Brighton, thanks must go to the work of Brighton Ourstory.

Alf Le Flohic

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