Rainbow balloons at the pride parade in Brighton, East Sussex, England

Bright-on with pride. Brighton Pride

One weekend. Hundreds of thousands of people. One shared message: everyone deserves to be seen, heard and celebrated. That's the spirit of Brighton Pride, where celebration and activism go hand in hand.

It is widely recognised as one of the United Kingdom's largest LGBTQIA+ Pride events, welcoming more than 500,000 visitors to the city each year. Its roots, however, are far humbler. The first event took place in 1973 as a small march organised by the Sussex Gay Liberation Front. After a hiatus, Pride returned in 1991 in protest against Section 28 and has since grown into one of the country's best-known festivals.

The free Community Parade winds from Hove Lawns to Preston Park, filling the streets with colourful floats, music and messages of inclusion. The Fabuloso festival has featured stars such as Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue and Dua Lipa, while the quirky Pride Dog Show adds an extra dash of fun. Moreover, the event gives back, raising millions of pounds for charities and community groups every year.