The Gay Pride calendar is packed with a large number of celebratory festivals this year – check out our guide to some of the events which will be happening in the first half of 2016. If you would like your event including or would like us to add a date we have missed then drop us an email through our contact page
APRIL 2016
Swansea Bay Pride – 30th April 2016. Held on the Museum Lawn, Oystermouth Road, Swansea
MAY 2016
Exeter Pride - 07 May 2016. St Sidwell's Centre, Exeter Phoenix and Rougemont Gardens Exeter Pride is a celebration of the LGBTQ+ communities and diversity within Exeter and the surrounding area. The Exeter Pride is returning for its 8th year. Exeter Pride 2016 parade starts at 12noon from St Sidwell's Centre, Sidwell Street and will feature favourites and new acts for this year, such as; Street Heat, a fire engine, a pink double decker bus, circus performers and many more! There will also be the return of our infamous 50m rainbow flag.
Events at Exeter Phoenix begin at 1pm. Featuring workshops such as the ceilidh, drumming circle, a trans zone, self defence workshop, family & youth zones and a panel debate, there will be something for everyone.
Rougemont Gardens will host more than 30 local businesses and Pride supporters will be offering activities, games and information. The food stalls offer something to keep everyone well fed!
Birmingham Gay Pride – 28th – 29th May 2016. Gay Village area of the city, Southside. First two days of the Spring Bank Holiday weekend. The carnival parade begins at 12noon from Victoria Square and travels down New Street, High Street, Carrs Lane, Smallbrook Queensway, Hurst Street before entering the main Pride Festival.
The Festival attracts over 50,000 each year and this year’s theme is ‘ A Generation of Pride’ as Birmingham will be celebrating its 20th Pride year!
Bradford Pride 2016 - 28th May 2016. Odsal Stadium, Bradford. Bradford Pride is in it’s ninth year, organised by volunteers it is a community based event. BD Pride event is funded through donations and fundraising. BDPride provides an opportunity for people who are beginning their journey of “coming out” as LGBT, in addition to those who just want to celebrate their identity. Also, it provides an occasion for people who are not familiar with the LGBT community to come along and enjoy the day, thereby promoting good relations between the LGBT community and the wider Bradford community as a whole. Approx 10,000 people attend this event, with many from outside the area.
Durham Pride - 30th May 2016. Durham Pride will be celebrating it’s 3rd year in 2016. It starts with a parade at 12moon from Durham Cathedral. There is a short procession to Rainbow Square where stall holders will be ready to greet you. There is a family zone with children's rides in the market square and a main stage at Walkergate with headline acts to be announced soon. There is something for everyone including an over 18 venue from 5pm.
JUNE 2016
Oxford Pride – 4th June 2016. Oxford Castle Quarter & Paradise Street. Oxford's annual LGBT Pride event, with two stages, food from Bitten Street, acts throughout the day. Parade kicks off from midday. More to follow.
London Pride – 10th – 26th June 2016. The London Pride Festival takes place from 10-26 June, with the main weekend on 25-26 June. London Pride Festival will run from Saturday 18 June until Sunday 26 June, with the Parade and main events taking place on Saturday 25 June.
Saturday
Trafalgar Square hosts the main stage and stalls on the day of the Parade. The Red Arrows will fly over Pride in London for the first time at this year’s parade, in a show of support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and LGBT Armed Forces personnel. Nine jets from the world-renowned Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team will perform a red, white and blue flypast for thousands at the event on Saturday, 25 June. It will be the first time that the Red Arrows have flown over a Pride parade.
Sunday
Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens for a picnic and live music with UK Black Pride.
Pride in the Park is a community style event with all kinds of entertainment. There is a cake baking competition, sports events, dog shows, music, performances and food and drink.
Blackpool Pride - 11th & 12th June 2016. Blackpool Pride Parade will be sponsored by Blackpool BID and will be as big, bold and bright as ever! Regardless of sexual orientation, everyone is welcome to take part and show that they believe in LGB&T equality and diversity in Blackpool.
The Blackpool Pride Parade starts at 11am at The Sandcastle Waterpark (next to South Pier) making its way along the Promenade towards North Pier. The Parade will then turn right into Church Street through the town centre, heading towards St. Johns Square in front of the Winter Gardens. This is where the Parade will end and the opening ceremony for Blackpool Pride Festival will take place before the events begin inside the Winter Gardens.
Gloucestershire Gay Pride – 11th June 2016. Gloucester Park. Free Entry. Gloucestershire Pride is a community focused organisation that aims to promote LGBT&I awareness over the whole year through various events, including in the Gloucestershire Pride Event day every June.
Canterbury Pride - 11th June 2016. Canterbury Pride 2016 event is family friendly, and everyone is encouraged to bring all their family and friends along. With live entertainment, international acts, face painting, the Punch and Judy show and more! There is a bar and food stalls. In addition, there is also a separate children's park.
The parade will start at the bottom of Canterbury High Street at 13:00 and will head up to the Dane John Gardens for the main event.
Coventry Gay Pride – 18th & 19th June 2016. Fargo Village. There will be a mix of commercial, Charity, LGBT Community & Information Stalls open 10AM-6PM.
Various artists and performers, Stilt Walkers, Disney Princesses, to balloon Artists will be milling around keeping guests entertained.
Street Food Vendors, Fargo refreshment vendors, and Pride Bars will keep everyone refreshed.
The Stages, we will have 2 stages jam packed with local & National Artists running from 1PM through to 8PM each day.
There will also be a Gay Classic Car Show at the Forecourt of The Coventry Transport Museum over the weekend.
York Pride - 18th June 2016. This is the ninth annual York Pride event.The parade leaves York Minster at 12.15pm and finishes at York Racecourse. Entertainment will be at the Tadcaster road end and begins approx.1.30pm to 18.30pm. There will be stage entertainment, fairground rides, food and drink stalls, bar, bouncy castle for the kids and charity and community stalls.
Portsmouth Pride – 18th June 2016. This is Portsmouth 2nd Pride parade. There is a fun filled day starting with the ‘Walk with Pride’ parade from the Guildhall at 12noon and finishing at Southsea Common for 1pm. There will be live music all day, cabaret acts as well as numerous LGBT retail stalls and information points, rides and charity stalls.
Dublin Pride – 22nd – 26th June 2016. Merrion Square. 5 days in Dublin packed with celebrations & extravaganzas for LGBTQ diversity. The highlight of the festival is the Pride Parade on 25th June to Merrion Square.
UK Black Pride - 26th June 2016. South London Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens 12noon to 9pm.