Brighton & Hove Pride on the Park 2026.

The brief

When Brighton & Hove Pride came to us more than a year ahead of Pride on the Park 2026, they wanted to upscale the stage systems and supporting infrastructure at Preston Park.

At the centre of the project was the main stage, which needed to accommodate increased production requirements alongside the production and audience infrastructure needed to support the live event.

The wider brief also included Stage 2, creating a broader stage systems and infrastructure package tailored to the different requirements across the event.

The challenge

Finding the right main stage configuration was key. A four-bay stage did not provide enough space for the required production, while a five-bay solution was too deep for the available footprint.

We needed to accommodate the increased production requirements without simply increasing the depth of the stage. The configuration also had to work with the topography and natural landscape of Preston Park, while allowing for the wider production and audience infrastructure required around the main stage.

Our solution

Early engagement gave us time to combine site visits with technical design and engineering, developing the main stage around the production requirements and the physical characteristics of Preston Park.

Rather than working from a predetermined stage configuration, we developed a 20m VerTech™ solution that balanced the required production capacity with the available footprint. An extended thrust created additional performance space beyond the main stage line and out into the arena.

Around the main stage, we brought the wider infrastructure together as one coordinated package, including front of house, screen and audio delay towers, accessible viewing and signing provision, camera infrastructure and dedicated PA and branding structures.

Stage 2 completed the wider stage systems package, using a separate scaffold-based solution configured around the requirements of that performance space.

Impact

The completed main stage delivered the step up in scale Brighton & Hove Pride had been looking for, providing the production capacity required within the constraints of the site.

The extended thrust took the performance space further into the arena, while the supporting structures brought production, audio, accessibility, signing, camera and branding requirements together within one coordinated main stage environment.

Together with Stage 2, the completed package gave Pride on the Park the increased scale and production capability it needed, while remaining carefully considered around the setting and constraints of Preston Park.