Raye and Diana Ross lead Brighton & Hove Pride's 35th celebration

Brighton & Hove Pride has announced music legends Diana Ross and multi-BRIT-winning artist RAYE as the headliners for its 35th-anniversary event in 2026, promising a weekend dedicated to celebrating love in all its forms.

RAYE, the acclaimed London-born musician, is set to top the bill at Preston Park on Saturday, August 2. Her performance will feature material from her anticipated second album, ‘This Music May Contain Hope,’ slated for release on March 27. This marks RAYE's return to Brighton Pride, having previously graced its stage in 2018 and 2022.

The following evening, Sunday, August 3, global icon Diana Ross will deliver a UK-exclusive performance, an event highly anticipated by fans as reported by NME. Paul Kemp, Managing Director of Brighton & Hove Pride, expressed profound excitement, stating, "We are beyond thrilled to welcome the phenomenal RAYE and the iconic Ms. Ross. Having RAYE return and securing the incomparable Diana Ross for a UK exclusive is a dream come true, promising an unforgettable moment in Brighton Pride history."

Kemp further discussed the relevance of the 35th anniversary, describing it as "a joyous celebration of inclusivity, unity, and pride." The annual LGBTQ+ Community Parade will launch the festivities, aligning with the 2026 theme: ‘The Power Of Love.’ This theme aims to foster "solidarity, resistance, and community" in the ongoing pursuit of equality.

Organisers reflected on the historical context of the event, noting, "This special 35-year celebration is a chance to look back at where our march first began… We honour those early activists, and acknowledge how their bravery and unity carried us all forward." The anniversary serves as a powerful reminder of the courage required for visibility and the collective resistance that has shaped the LGBTQ+ movement.

RAYE recently previewed new tracks from ‘This Music May Contain Hope’ during the initial leg of her 2026 tour in Poland. The forthcoming album is the successor to her critically acclaimed 2023 debut, ‘My 21st Century Blues.’