A guide to Brighton Pride: one of the largest and greatest pride events in the world

An unmissable highlight of the event is, of course, the parade which spans over a major part of the city. Starting in Hove, the parade makes its way along the seafront, through the town centre, past St Peter’s Church and ends in Preston Park. Our most important tip is to arrive early, whether you’re participating, or simply watching. 

Some of our favourite spots to watch the parade from include the iconic i360, which will give you an impeccable birds eye view of the event, Hove Lawns give you a great front-row seat to the very start of the parade, and then either St Peter’s Church gardens or Preston Park are great green spaces to enjoy as you wait for the parade to walk past. 

There’s so much going on at Pride beyond just the parade and it’s wide to be familiar with them before you head to the event and have time to think about what you want to prioritise. 

Fabuloso in the Park is one of the most popular events in the country. A fundraiser concert that takes place in Preston Park every year and is the highlight of pride weekend. Featuring some iconic headliners in previous years, it’s well worth booking your tickets in advance and securing your spot ahead of time. 

The Pride Village Party takes place in Kemptown and is a weekend-long celebration of Pride which takes over the neighbourhood. Local businesses get involved and serve as venues for drag shows, DJ sets, cabarets, musical performances and much more. The celebration also helps raise further funds for the Pride Social Impact Fund and the Brighton Rainbow Fund. It’s worth keeping an eye out for when tickets go on sale.

Pride at the Ironworks brings visitors a season of cabaret, live music and comedy which celebrates LGBTQ+ culture and diversity. The venue showcases many local talents and engages with local communities to further Pride’s message. With a programme full of variety and diversity, there's bound to be something for everyone. 

Navigating the city can be somewhat tricky when attending the event. There are some key areas you should familiarise yourself with ahead of time so you’re able to get around the city a bit more comfortably. Preston Park is obviously the place where the parade finishes and where Fabuloso in the Park takes place. Get familiar with the space, as it can be a little overwhelming if this is your first time going. It’s also helpful to know your way around Kemptown, especially if you plan on attending the Pride Village Party. Just having a minimal sense of the narrow streets of the area can help your overall experience. Knowing the way from Preston Park to the beachfront is also helpful because that will serve as a basis for getting to and from anywhere else in the city.

• Dress up but wear some comfortable footwear! You’ll more than likely be on your feet for hours so make sure you’re wearing shoes that make you feel as comfy and cosy as possible. 
• Tickets sell out very quickly so be sure to secure yours ahead of time. 
• Wear sunscreen! Lots of it! Shockingly, Pride won’t be fun if you’re burnt to a crisp. 
• Pack your own snacks and food if you want to save money on food during the weekend. 
• Do not forget to bring water, hydration is key, people!
• Pace yourself, there’s so much going that there’s no way you can comfortably do everything you want to in a single day. 

Staying in the town centre is the best way to go if you want a convenient place to stay throughout the weekend. Hotels tend to fill up quickly ahead of time to be sure to book your room well in advance. Prices also tend to increase for the dates of the event so be sure to bear that in mind. Here are a couple of our favourite hotels for an easy stay during the event.

As an alternative to hotels, Pride also organises a campsite, the Brighton Pride Camp Camp, where guests can spend the weekend and is open from the Friday at noon until Monday at 10am. Located at Waterhall, the campsite retails for £14,50 per night usually fills up fast so be sure to secure your spot in advance. 

As much as planning things in advance is a major part of making your Brighton Pride experience the best it can be, don’t forget to have fun over the weekend and to take the time to just enjoy being there and to take it all in. It’s a wonderful time, full of joy, sparkly and colourful everything and an undeniably warm and comforting sense of community.