Brighton was awash with colour, music, and celebration as hundreds of thousands of people from across the globe descended on the city for the Brighton Pride 2025 Parade, one of Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ events.
The iconic procession began on Hove Lawns at 11:30am on Saturday (2 August), weaving its way through the heart of the city. Floats, dancers, drag artists and community groups made their way up West Street, along North Street and down London Road before arriving at Preston Park nearly four hours later—where global superstar Mariah Carey headlined the evening’s main concert.
This year’s theme, “Ravishing Rage,” captured the spirit of defiant joy, resilience, and fierce unity that has become the hallmark of Brighton Pride. From rainbow flags to powerful protest slogans, the message was clear: love, identity, and equality remain worth marching for.
Organisers reported no major incidents, and the atmosphere throughout the day remained vibrant, peaceful, and inclusive. Locals and visitors lined the streets, cheering on the participants in what has become one of the UK’s most anticipated summer festivals.
From protest to pride: A legacy of resilience
Brighton Pride has come a long way since its roots in a 1972 gay demonstration organised by the Sussex Gay Liberation Front. After the first full pride march in 1973, it wasn’t until 1991 that Pride made a firm return to the city, catalysed by opposition to Section 28.
Since then, the event has grown in size, scope, and significance, becoming a cornerstone of the UK’s LGBTQ+ calendar. In 2002, the parade officially embraced the full LGBTQ+ spectrum, and in 2004, Pride became a charity, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for local community groups.
Under new management since 2012, Brighton Pride has flourished—drawing international talent, thousands of visitors, and consistently reinforcing its dual mission of celebration and activism.
A march, a message, and a memory
This year’s theme, “Ravishing Rage”, stood as a passionate response to ongoing struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community worldwide. Organisers urged participants to march not just in celebration, but in protest: “We dance in protest, we march in celebration. Fury never felt so fierce.”
The streets of Brighton bore witness to that fury—fierce, fabuloushttps://youtu.be/zoHmRTgv36I, and proud.
As the sun set over Preston Park and Mariah Carey took to the stage, the message of Brighton Pride 2025 was unmistakable: through every struggle, we shine.
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