Brighton & Hove Pride has unveiled RAYE and Diana Ross as the headline acts for its 35th anniversary celebrations in 2026.
The two-day event, known as Pride on the Park, will take place at Preston Park on August 1 and 2. RAYE will be headlining Saturday night and Diana Ross will close the festival on Sunday with a UK-exclusive live performance.
RAYE’s headline slot comes as the London-born singer-songwriter prepares to release her second studio album, This Music May Contain Hope, on March 27. The album follows her 2023 debut My 21st Century Blues, featuring acclaimed single “Where Is My Husband!.”
While RAYE has previously appeared at Brighton Pride in 2018 and 2022, this will mark her first time topping the bill.
On Sunday, music icon Diana Ross will return to the UK stage with a career-spanning set celebrating her decades-long legacy.
Rising to fame as the lead singer of The Supremes before launching a hugely successful solo career, Ross is known for timeless hits including “I’m Coming Out”, “Upside Down” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”.
Her appearance is expected to be one of the festival’s most significant moments.
Managing Director of Brighton & Hove Pride Paul Kemp said the announcement marked a “truly momentous” year for the festival, describing Ross’s booking as “a dream come true” while praising RAYE’s “extraordinary journey” since first performing at Pride.
The 2026 theme, The Power of Love, reflects the festival’s ongoing focus on solidarity, community and resistance. Brighton Pride remains the UK’s largest Pride festival and a major fundraiser for local LGBTQIA+ groups.
Tickets go on general sale at 10am GMT on Friday, February 13, with pre-sale access available from February 12.
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