Hello, Brighton & Hove!

Brighton Pride is officially here this weekend! We are right in the thick of summer, and this is easily one of the absolute busiest, most chaotic, and vibrant weekends on the entire city calendar. We’ll be breaking down the full weekend lineup in deep detail below.

If you're looking for a change of pace or want to duck away from the main Pride crowds, there are plenty of fantastic parallel events happening across town. You can catch an open-air screening of Dirty Dancing by the pool at Saltdean Lido, head up to Lewes for the World Pea Throwing Championship, or drop into Afrori Books for bottomless Pimm's with romance authors.

Pride or no Pride, grab your glitter, and enjoy this incredible weekend!

Here is what’s squawking this week:

🏃 Hove Park hosts the 5th annual Rainbow 5K run.
👑 Open-air drag party lands at Brighton Open Air Theatre.
✂️ Free Pride-themed collage night lands at The Joker.
🧘 Beach Box Spa hosts beachfront Pride warm-up sauna sessions.
🍿 Open-air movie screening of Dirty Dancing at Saltdean Lido.

🖼️ Whistleblower Gallery

Tucked into a quiet mews off St. John's Road, Whistleblower Gallery is one of our city's finest independent art spaces. It is a proper creative sanctuary that has spent years celebrating true craftsmanship and supporting emerging artists, keeping our local art scene brilliantly rebellious.

Most people don't know it was founded by director Dan Kitchener, who previously spent a decade running Brighton's iconic ink_d Gallery before launching this space. Instead of a stuffy, corporate environment, he built an inviting gallery focused on original prints, ceramics, and sculpture, complete with an active publishing arm that collaborates directly with makers. Currently, you can catch their stonking group show ‘Some…Err More’, running through August 25th.

What I love most is how Dan curates every exhibition to spark unexpected visual conversations and invite you to look a little longer. Skip the big commercial galleries this weekend, take a stroll down St. John's Road, and go support a true local treasure.

📍 14 St. John's Road, BN3 2FB
🕒 Tue: 3pm – 5pm, Wed-Sat: 10am – 5pm (Mon: CLOSED)
🔗 Explore Upcoming Exhibitions

🍺 The North Star

Hospitality has a magical way of changing lives, and nothing champions that mission quite like The North Star. Situated right by the Pavilion Buildings, this welcoming pub is far more than just a great spot for a drink; it’s a flagship training venue run by Team Domenica, a charity dedicated to helping adults with learning disabilities and autism gain meaningful employment.

Most people don't realise that in England, less than 5% of adults with learning disabilities are in paid work. The North Star actively breaks those stereotypes by offering candidate-led training, combining real-world pub, kitchen, and coffee roastery experience with classroom learning. The results speak for themselves: an impressive 76% of their candidates secure paid work, with 82% sustaining their roles for two years or more, and all profits go straight back into the charity.

What I love most is how they seamlessly pair an incredible social purpose with honest food, great local drinks, and stellar Sunday roasts. Skip the usual chain pubs this weekend, head down to the Pavilion Buildings, and go support a true local treasure.

📍 2-3 Pavilion Buildings, BN1 1EE
🕒 Mon-Thu: 10am–11pm, Fri & Sat: 10am–12am, Sun: 11am–9pm
💰 Pub classics, coffee, and drinks (All profits to charity)
🔗 Book a Table & Learn More

Fri

🎸 New Wave Breakers: Pride Opening Party | 8pm, Fri @ The Brunswick
Brighton's New Wave Breakers kick off Pride weekend with a set of late-70s and 80s new wave classics, deep cuts, and post-punk favourites. More Info

🎷 Chris Coull's Bluenote Sextet | 5:30pm, Fri @ St Andrew's Church
Trumpeter Chris Coull leads a Sussex line-up celebrating the 1960s Blue Note era with transcriptions of hard-bop gems from John Coltrane, Freddie Hubbard, and Art Blakey. More Info

💃 Dirty Dancing | 7:30pm (film 9:15pm), Fri @ Saltdean Lido
Poolside open-air screening of the 80s classic featuring pre-film swimming, live DJs, cocktails, and an optional beachside silent disco walk. More Info

👑 Drag in the Park: Family Edition | 2pm, Fri @ Brighton Open Air Theatre
An all-ages open-air party featuring pop and Disney sing-alongs led by top UK drag queens. More Info

🏒 Heated Rivalry Club Night | 9pm, Fri @ Concorde 2
A thematic club night inspired by the viral book and series, celebrating high-stakes chemistry, tension, and late-night energy on the seafront. More Info

🌈 Don't Tell Mama's Brighton Pride Summer Party | 6pm, Fri @ Brighton i360 Beach Terrace-Kick off Pride weekend with an open-air beachfront party featuring drag host Eileen Dover, a Dolly Parton tribute, high-energy DJs, and live vocals. More Info

📚 The Aesop Queer Library UK | Fri-Sun@ Aesop Brighton
A pop-up reading room offering complimentary books by LGBTQIA+ authors and allies with no purchase required, celebrating queer stories and voices. More Info

🧘 Pride Warm-Up Sauna Session | 6:30pm, Fri @ Beach Box Sauna Spa
Ease into the weekend with Pop Divas-inspired Aufguss sauna sessions, live organic house and afro beats from DJ Em Perrin, and complimentary local kombucha on the beach. More Info

🎉 Party Bag – Pride Edition | 7pm, Fri @ Ironworks Studios
Dick and Ophelia host the official pre-Pride warm-up show featuring drag performances from Rainne, Karma, and Jodi Summer, followed by a two-room DJ and karaoke after-party. More Info

Sat

🛍️ Makers.Bakers.Creators. Food & Makers Market | 10am, Sat & Sun @ The Open Market-Our beloved market stays open throughout Pride weekend with local independent traders, featuring an LGBTQ+ makers market on Sunday organized by Sock Goblin Yarn. More Info

💖 Gal Pals: Brighton Pride | 9pm, @ Komedia
Brighton's largest Pride after-party for queer women, trans, and non-binary folks features a venue takeover with resident DJs in Room 1 and a Pxssy Palace guest takeover in Room 2. More Info

👑 Breakfast of Queens | 9am, Sat & Sun @ Permit Room
Extended Bombay-style breakfast alongside £7 cocktails, Kingfisher beer towers, live DJs, and drag entertainment curated by Inga Rock. More Info

🌈 Fortune of War & Girl on Girl Collab | 6pm, Sat @ Fortune of War
A free-entry Pride party on the beachfront featuring a DJ collab with Girl on Girl delivering summer party vibes all night. More Info

🪩 Pride at The North Star | 1pm, Sat @ The North Star
Celebrate Pride with House of Disco DJs spinning feel-good classics, all-day food, takeaway burgers, exclusive cocktails, and a sun-soaked terrace. More Info

Sun

🌿 Sober Pride Party | 4pm, Sun @ Ironworks Studios
An alcohol-free day party to close out Pride weekend with uplifting house music sets from DJs Baroness, Jon Byrne, Ian Farrell, and Amyfist. More Info

🎷 Summer Jazz in the Park | 1pm, Sun (every Sunday in Aug.)@ St Ann's Well Gardens-Free live jazz performances on the Garden Café Lawn presented by the Friends of St Ann's Well Gardens in partnership with the Brighton Jazz Co-op, featuring an outdoor BBQ from midday. More Info

🍗 Moyo’s Reggae BBQ | 1pm, Sun @ Islingword
Escape the chaos of town for a Pride weekend celebration featuring Moyo's Reggae BBQ alongside DJ sets from The Tribulizations. More Info

🎤 Drag & Choir Performances | 12pm–4pm, Sun @ Dukes Lane
A free outdoor Pride afternoon featuring live entertainment from local favourite drag artist Lovinia Belle alongside the Actually Gay Men's Chorus amidst the lane's vibrant shops. More Info

Live Music

Freemasons Friday - Pride Pre-Party | 8pm, Fri @ OHSO Socail
Nick Cave | 1pm, Fri @ Preston Park
Vivaldi Four Seasons by Candlelight | 7pm, Fri @ Royal Pavilion
Candlelight: Hans Zimmer's Best Works | 9pm, Fri @ Royal Pavilion
Chris Coull's Bluenote Sextet | 5:30pm, Fri @ St Andrew's Church
False Futures | 7:30pm, Fri @ The Rossi Bar
FME HOUSE Pre-Pride Boat Party | 3:45pm, Fri @ Brighton Marina
Heated Rivalry Club Night | 9pm, Fri @ Concorde 2
Latino Fest Summer Terrace Party (Brighton) | 6pm, Fri @ Horizon Nightclub
New Wave Breakers: Brunswick Pride Opening Party | 8pm, Fri @ The Brunswick Pub
Pre Pride Party | 7:30pm, Fri @ The Hope & Ruin
Pride Pre-party at Black Lion | 6pm, Fri @ Black Lion
Pride Rock Feat. Cassyette | 6pm, Fri @ Chalk
Pride Terrace Party With Dj Du Jour | 6pm, Fri @ Patterns
Songs For Lughnasadh | 8pm, Fri @ The Folklore Rooms
80s RE-MIX | Fri @ Caroline of Brunswick
Heated Rivalry Club -Pride Edition | Fri @ Concorde 2
New Wave Breakers: Pride Opening Party | Fri @ The Brunswick
Songs for Lughnasadh | Fri @ Folklore Rooms
CLUB COLD BLOOD | Fri @ Alphabet
PRIDE @ DALTONS | Fri @ Daltons
Polyglam: Pucker Up Pride | Fri @ Quarters
False Futures | Fri @ Rossi Bar
RØRY presents BLOODLETTING: The Album Listening Experience | Fri @ The Old Market
Pride Party: Kylie Wears Berghaus & Jake Reed | Fri @ Patterns
Pride Terrace Party with DJ Du Jour | Fri @ Patterns
LADSCLUB - Pride Warm Up Party | Fri @ The Brunswick
Changing Currents Pride Weekend Special | Fri @ Fortune of War
Pride Rock | Fri @ Chalk
Pre-Pride Party with Not Richard & Her Majesty + More | Fri @ Hope & Ruin
Sub-Liminal - Sub Zero, Shabba D, Agro | Fri @ Volks

GENDER TROUBLE PRIDE | Sat @ Alphabet
THE BUTCHERS BAND ‘Woke up this morning ...’ | Sat @ The Brunswick
Soundworx – Pride DJs Upstairs | Sat @ Rossi Bar
Indie Rock Night: PRIDE AFTER PARTY | Sat @ Dust
Just Lust | Sat @ Rossi Bar
The Official Pride After Party | Sat @ Concorde 2
LOST AT SEA (like they used to) | Sat @ Caroline of Brunswick
PRIDE AT THE ROSE HILL | Sat @ Rose Hill
Pride After Party: Horse Meat Disco | Sat @ Patterns
Moon Mother | Sat @ Folklore Rooms
Girl on Girl Pride Weekend Special | Sat @ Fortune of War
Quarters Presents Pride | Sat @ Quarters
Tragedy: All Metal Tribute to the Bee Gees & Beyond | Sat @ Quarters
DAYTIME PRIDE PARTY | Sat @ Caroline of Brunswick
Cheap Dirty Pride III | Sat @ Hope & Ruin
GDS Pride Party | Sat @ Green Door Store
Brighton Pride with Flava D | Sat @ Volks

Forgotten Coast! | Sun @ The Brunswick
Robb Johnson & The Irregulars + Les Thomas | Sun @ Prince Albert
Lowlife + Not without Punishment | Sun @ Prince Albert
Pride at Patterns: Sunday Sundae | Sun @ Patterns
SUNSET SOUNDS (FREE!) | Sun @ Caroline of Brunswick
Queer House Party Pride Closing Party | Sun @ Concorde 2
Hiraeth Folk Club’s 2nd Birthday | Sun @ Green Door Store
Cryptopsy | Sun @ Chalk