Shoppers and festivalgoers flocked to Preston Park as Brighton and Hove Pride kicked off its two-day Pride on the Park fundraiser, drawing headline acts, high-energy sets and a feel-good crowd , here's what made day one buzz, who played, and what it means for the local LGBTQ+ scene.

Essential Takeaways

  • Headline energy: Award-winning pop star Raye closed Saturday with a heartfelt set of her biggest hits, thanking the LGBTQ+ community.
  • Big names: Jessie J, Self Esteem, G-Flip, Moonchild Sanelly and Leigh-Anne were among the day’s main stage performers.
  • Icon moment: RuPaul delivered a lively DJ set in the icon slot with party anthems and a theatrical send-off.
  • Community focus: Pride on the Park serves as the event’s official fundraiser, supporting local LGBTQ+ groups and activities.
  • Festival feel: Sunny Preston Park, buzzing crowds and an accessible layout kept the day sociable, colourful and celebratory.

Raye closed the night with gratitude and pop power

The best moment of the evening felt like an emotional exhale , Raye thanked the crowd and launched into a crowd-pleasing run of hits with a warm, intimate touch. She spoke directly to the audience about the support she'd found in the LGBTQ+ community, and that gratitude landed: the songs felt celebratory and personal rather than purely theatrical. For anyone choosing setlists for festival closers, this was a reminder that connection outshines pyrotechnics.

Big-stage variety kept the day moving

From soulful pop to indie-fused attitude and dancefloor-ready tracks, the line-up showed the organisers balancing familiar chart acts with alternative voices. Jessie J brought powerhouse vocals to the main stage, while Self Esteem and G-Flip offered distinct flavours and charisma. Moonchild Sanelly injected bold, kinetic energy, and Leigh-Anne rounded out the variety with slick performance polish. Variety like this keeps different parts of the crowd engaged across long festival days.

RuPaul’s icon slot was a theatrical club set

The icon slot leaned into performance and nostalgia: RuPaul DJed an hour of unapologetic party anthems, opening with their own track and weaving in classics such as Respect and throwback club hits. The set’s theatrical close , a remix of a Whitney Houston staple and a cheeky, on-stage exit , gave the crowd a performative, cathartic finish. It’s the sort of slot that proves Pride can be both a concert and a communal dancefloor.

Why Pride on the Park still matters locally

Preston Park’s role as the fundraiser hub means the festival is more than headline names; it’s a vital engine for local support projects. The event channels ticket sales and attention into community services, outreach and safe-space initiatives across Brighton and Hove, keeping the festival rooted in practical impact. If you’re choosing which days to attend, remember that being there helps sustain local groups beyond the weekend’s glitter.

Tips for next time: how to enjoy Pride like a local

Plan your day around the acts you really want to see and leave time to wander the stalls and community spaces , that’s where you’ll find smaller charities and grassroots projects doing vital work. Bring sun protection and layers; Preston Park can be warm midday and breezy by evening. If you’re travelling in, allow extra time for public transport and pick meeting points with mobile signal in mind.

It’s a vivid, noisy, generous kind of celebration , and a weekend that leaves you feeling part of something that matters.

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