Brighton Pride 2020 has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Organisers - who had confirmed the likes of Mariah Carey and Pussycat Dolls to headline - took the "difficult decision" to put the event's 30th anniversary on hold.
"Pride is a hugely important community fundraising event for our city and planning is a year-round process that involves many meetings with our statutory partners, contractors and suppliers," managing director Paul Kemp said.
"Postponing the 2020 celebrations has been a heartbreaking decision that has been taken following the fast moving Covid-19 pandemic but we know that when the time is right people will want to come together to celebrate our community, city and the amazing NHS, emergency services and key workers."
The cancellation is a blow to thousands of Pride fans and businesses who benefit from the parade. It was meant to happen on 1 and 2 August with Mariah and PCD headlining the days at Preston Park. Talk about the ultimate nostalgic music being taken from our graps.
A Brighton and Hove Pride spokeswoman explained: "We are shocked and devastated by the unprecedented turn of events over the past weeks - especially the catastrophic health and economic impacts this pandemic is having on members of our community. The decision to postpone has not been taken lightly and with many events still planning to go ahead in July and August we were hoping to wait until closer to the time to avoid disappointing our volunteers, community groups and the public."
The spokeswoman went to on to explain the "uncertainty" of the Covid-19 pandemic meant it was a better decision to postpone.
She continued: "As the UK's biggest Pride festival that attracts visitors from across the UK and globally and with the potential of travel restrictions and social distancing guidelines to remain in place for an unknown length of time, we cannot in good faith risk the health and safety of our communities, volunteers and participants and proceed with an event that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city. These are exceptional times and many local charities and community organisations rely on Pride for fundraising to get them through the year."
Current ticket holders will have it honoured and rolled over to the next year.
(Metro)
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