Brighton Bear Weekend

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Brighton Bear Weekend

The official page of Brighton Bear Weekend, the UK south coast's biggest bear event

9th to 12th JULY 2026
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The B*W team exists to bring bears and their friends together at various points throughout the year via a series of volunteer-run events that are warm, welcoming, fun and affordable. Our flagship event is the Brighton Bear Weekend.

10/09/2026

💛 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆 💛

Part of the bear community's history is about making room for bodies that didn't fit the narrow gay male ideal. Bigger, hairier, older, different.

But finding the bear scene doesn't mean body image, self-esteem or mental health suddenly become easy. Research shows that gay and bisexual men can face particular pressures around appearance, and we also know that LGBTQ+ people are at greater risk of suicidal thoughts, su***de attempts and self-harm. (Source: Mental Health Foundation)

If you're struggling, tell someone. You don't need to wait until things are unbearable, and you don't need to know exactly what to say.

And if you know a mate is having a rough time, check in on them. Sometimes sending that message really does matter.

If you need support:

📞 Samaritans: 116 123, free 24 hours a day

📞 NHS 111: select the mental health option

💬 In Sussex, text SUSSEX to 85258 for free 24/7 mental health support

🚨 If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999

08/09/2026

🐻 𝗗𝗘𝗡 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗼𝗻! 🐻

Our friends at DEN Loungewear are looking for people to take part in a photoshoot for a new Union Suit sizing feature on their website.

They specifically want a genuine mix of sizes, heights and body shapes, with Union Suits ranging from XS to 3XL. We love seeing that kind of representation.

The shoot takes place in Brighton on Thursday 17 September, and everyone selected will get a DEN Union Suit to keep.

Applications close at 23:59 on Sunday 13 September.

📸 Interested? Full details and application here: https://www.denloungewear.com/pages/come-work-with-us (link in bio)

08/09/2026

🐻 𝗗𝗘𝗡 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗼𝗻! 🐻

Our friends at DEN Loungewear are looking for people to take part in a photoshoot for a new Union Suit sizing feature on their website.

They specifically want a genuine mix of sizes, heights and body shapes, with Union Suits ranging from XS to 3XL. We love seeing that kind of representation.
The shoot takes place in Brighton on Thursday 17 September, and everyone selected will get a DEN Union Suit to keep.

Applications close at 23:59 on Sunday 13 September.

📸 Interested? Full details and application here: https://www.denloungewear.com/pages/come-work-with-us

06/09/2026

🧡🏳️‍🌈 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝘆𝗸𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲! 🏳️‍🌈🧡

Yesterday was such a great day at St Ann's Well Gardens, and a fantastic first outing for dy Brighton D**e Pride.

Huge congratulations to everyone who worked so hard to make it happen. It was brilliant to see the event come together and get such a great response.

We're already looking forward to working more closely together and supporting each other's events in the future. That's exactly the kind of relationship we want B*W to have with other LGBTQ+ groups across Brighton.

And yes, the tents survived. 🧡🐻

04/09/2026

🧡🏳️‍🌈 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝘆𝗸𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲! 🏳️‍🌈🧡

Tomorrow sees Brighton's very first dedicated D**e Pride, and we're really happy to be supporting what promises to be a brilliant new addition to our city's LGBTQ+ calendar.

Brighton's LGBTQ+ community is made up of lots of different communities, each with their own experiences and spaces. Celebrating those differences, while showing up for each other, is part of what makes our community what it is.

And some of the B*W gang will be doing exactly that tomorrow morning, helping the team get everything ready for the day.

We've always heard that le****ns are better at putting up tents than gay men, so frankly we're treating this as a challenge. 🏕️🐻😂

Huge congratulations to everyone behind the first Brighton D**e Pride. We hope you have an absolutely fantastic day! 🧡

12/08/2026

🐻 𝗔𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗼𝗻'𝘀 𝗟𝗚𝗕𝗧𝗤+ 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆

Just days after the news that Charles Street Tap will be closing, we're incredibly sad to hear that R-Bar will also close its doors after 21 years, with its final day on Sunday 20 September. Scene Magazine

To lose two long-standing LGBTQ+ venues within such a short space of time should be a wake-up call for all of us.

Brighton has an incredible LGBTQ+ scene, but we can't take it for granted. These venues are there for our community all year round, and they need our support all year round too.

So go for that drink. See that cabaret show. Try somewhere you haven't been before. Support the venues, performers, promoters and events that keep our community connected.

To everyone at R-Bar, past and present, thank you for 21 years of memories and for everything you've given Brighton's LGBTQ+ community. We're really sorry to see you go. 🧡🐻

10/08/2026

🐻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘂𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗕𝗕𝗪 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿. 🐻

If you joined us at Brighton Bear Weekend 2026, we'd love just 2 minutes of your time to complete our community survey.

We want to hear what you loved, what we could do differently, and any ideas you have for next year.

The survey closes at midnight on Monday 24 August.

🔗 Click here: https://forms.gle/4p64zuZFSxHyLVy38

10/08/2026

We're saddened to hear that Charles Street Tap will soon be closing its doors after 25 years.

LGBTQ+ venues are more than just pubs. They're places where people find friendship, community and the freedom to simply be themselves.

Every time we lose one, we lose a little piece of our community's history.

Thank you to Chris, the team, and everyone who made Charles Street such a special place over the last 25 years. The memories created there will stay with so many people for years to come.

Wishing you all the very best for whatever comes next 🧡🐻

06/08/2026

(Our friend Davidh has written a thoughtful and heartfelt reflection on this year's Brighton Pride for Trans Radio UK, and we think it's well worth a few minutes of your time.

One passage really stayed with us:

"Allyship is not always found in grand gestures or speeches. Sometimes it is found in a smile, a wave, a cheer from the crowd or a stranger making it clear that you belong."

It's a lovely reminder that the little things we do for each other can matter just as much as the big ones.

Thank you, Davidh, for putting into words what so many of us were feeling.

You can read the full article here: https://transradiouk.com/presenter-blog-entry/brighton-pride-2026/

03/08/2026

Well... look who made it into the BBC News!

Our Treasurer, Simon, and Dan are right there on the cover photo!

And if you look a little closer, you'll also spot Gareth from our guest performers, Brighton Gay Men's Chorus, and our volunteer Alex featured in the article too.

Safe to say, we're not a shy bunch!

Take a look: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c74g9z8jylvo

We hope everyone had a fantastic Brighton Pride weekend. 🏳️‍🌈

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