Brighton & Hove Pride 2025 Dazzles As Community Comes Together To Celebrate 'Ravishing Rage'

(c) Sam Hussein

Brighton & Hove Pride 2025 took place over the weekend for two unmissable days of vibrancy, music and joy, lighting up the city with an array of unapologetic and electrifying celebrations.

The annual Pride parade kicked off a ravishing weekend from Hove Lawns on Saturday morning.

Leading the procession in the glorious sunshine was an array of familiar faces, including The Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Amanda Grimshaw BEM, alongside Leslie Clarke CEO of Pride Community Foundation, and veteran activist Ted Brown.

With this year's theme of ‘Ravishing Rage’, the city came together to show their solidarity and allyship, assembling community groups, small businesses, the emergency services, the NHS and representatives of other Pride organisations, for a protest and party like no other.

(c) Chris Jepson

Over at Pride on The Park supported by Hayu, the official Pride community fundraiser, Party Bag warmed up the crowd with their fabulous alternative drag show filled with laughs, chaos and fun. Boyband newcomers ABSNT MIND brought their heartthrob energy to the stage, closely followed by an iconic performance by Sister Sledge ft Kathy Sledge, whose discography of hits including ‘Greatest Dancer’ and ‘We Are Family’ got the colourful crowd on their feet!

American singer and rapper Slayyyter turned the heat all the way up for an energetic performance, which included new single ‘BEAT UP CHANEL$’, followed by electro-pop duo Confidence Man, who brought their bonkers, irresistible vibes to the party.

Ashnikko brought their weedkiller universe to Pride ahead of two-time Eurovision winner Loreen, who stunned with her faultless vocals and dazzling stage presence.

Global superstar Mariah Carey lit up Saturday night as the main stage headliner, head to toe in bespoke creations by Julian Mendez Couture and Rey Ortiz - both celebrated designers and outspoken allies of the LGBT+ community.

A standout piece was her bedazzled bomber jacket, emblazoned with PROTECT THE DOLLS to show her support and allyship to the trans community.

“I just want you to know that I’ll always, always be there for you," the certified icon told an emotional crowd at Preston Park. 

A 1.5hr jam-packed show of non-stop hits, the setlist was immaculate and included ‘Fantasy’, ‘Obsessed’, ‘My All’, ‘Always Be My Baby’ and the international live debut of new single ‘Sugar Sweet’, lifted from her forthcoming sixteenth studio album ‘Here For It All’.

With three incredible outfit changes, Mariah brought her signature glitz and glamour to the Pride stage, also paying homage to the UK in a stunning custom Alexander McQueen ensemble.

An impressive array of ensemble vocalists and dancers added a high energy spectacle, with an appearance from Mariah’s long standing music collaborator and close friend Trey Lorenz.

Mariah brought the show to an unforgettable close in true Mimi style, providing fans with all the nostalgic hits and major superstar sparkle. The chart topper drew a jaw-dropping crowd, which included many familiar faces such as Dame Kelly Holmes, Alan Carr, The Real Housewives of London cast, Cat Burns, Munroe Bergdorf, Romy Madley-Croft and Rob Rinder.

Sunday saw Sugababes wow the crowd on the main stage, and although the sun of the previous day was replaced by blustery winds, the streets, parks and bars were still full of ecstatic revellers.

Sunday kicked off in style at Preston Park with hotly tipped newcomers Fred Roberts, NXDIA and Lyvia warning up the early pride-goers with their future headliner potential hits.

Making her Brighton Pride debut, Grammy nominated Natalie Imbruglia serenaded the crowd with hits such as ‘Wrong Impression’, ‘Big Mistake’ and the anthemic ‘Torn’.

Will Young gave an incredible performance with a jam packed set that included ‘Leave Right Now’, ‘All Time Love’ and ‘Jealousy’. Sunday’s Icon’s slot went to the inimitable Andy Bell of Erasure, who has been an LGTBQ+ trailblazer since the 1980s.

Wearing a bespoke suit covered in pink mirrors, Andy’s set was a Sunday highlight and featured a catalogue of songs including Erasure classics and songs lifted from his new album ‘Ten Crowns’.

As well as taking over this year’s dance tent, False Idols brought their legendary Closing Ceremony to the Main Stage on Sunday with special guests Beth Ditto, Sonique and Ultra Naté for a confetti canon conclusion to the weekend’s epic celebrations ahead of the headliners.

Having cemented their place as one of the most successful and critically acclaimed British girl bands of the 21st century, Sugababes were Pride on the Park’s Sunday headliners.

(c) Chris Jepson

The image and harmonies made their 90-minute set an unforgettable one, with anthems sych as ‘Round Round’, ‘Push The Button’, ‘Hole In The Head’, ‘Freak Like Me’, ‘About You Now’ and the one that started it all - ‘Overload’.

Following afternoon sets from Jodie Harsh and Eliza Rose, Brighton’s very own Fatboy Slim praised the crowds into Sunday evening and took to the False Idols dance tent for an incredible ride.

Packing out the tent for a high energy performance, ​​the set delivered a seamless mix of tracks, peppered with some of Fatboy’s most well-loved hits such as ‘Praise You’ and ‘Right Here, Right Now’.

Pride on the Park hosted an additional array of diverse and inclusive stages, immersive experiences and entertainment zones across the park including Queertown, The Cocoa Butter Stage, The Pleasuresome, Legends Cabaret Stage and more. Master of music, TV and fashion, Gok Wan will headlined Saturday’s Pleasuredome stage, which will also saw performances from Russell Small, Beefmince, Wildblood & Queenie + many others.

Over in Kemp Town the Pride Street Party was pulsating all weekend.

The new location on Marine Parade featured multiple stages and areas, including fierce and fabulous stages, music zones, bars and food catering.

Artists frenzying the party crowd across the weekend included RPDRUK royalty and Celeb BB’s Danny Beard, 80’s icon Sonia, Freemasons, Tayce, Jaguar, Booty Luv, Livin’ Joy feat. Luhzann, Chico and many more.