Brighton Pride saturday: raye, rupaul and leigh-anne on the main stage

Brighton Pride’s Saturday bill put pop heavyweights and drag royalty on the same bill. Raye headlined after the parade, with RuPaul on DJ duty and Leigh-Anne joining the lineup.

Told by Paige Turner · 2 August 2026

Brighton Pride’s Saturday programme saw Raye close out the main stage after the parade. RuPaul turned up behind the decks for a DJ set. Leigh-Anne also appeared on the bill.

Raye took the headline slot. She delivered a set built for singalongs and big choruses. It was pop confidence on a shoreline stage — glitter, immediacy, and a clear crowd focus.

RuPaul’s DJ slot brought a different energy. Less confetti-show diva, more club selector. The presence of a global drag icon at the decks reminded everyone how performance and party overlap in queer spaces.

Leigh-Anne added pop solo heat to the afternoon. Her set felt like part celebration and part arrival — an artist staking a new claim outside group identity.

The parade still mattered. It fed the stage. Pride in Brighton remains a mix of protest, visibility and party. Saturday’s line-up reflected that: music as joy, and joy as politics.

This was a day about being seen. About making room. About loud pop choices and louder community beats. And yes, also about a good soundtrack while you dance on the seafront.