This year more Pride celebrations are taking place across the UK than ever before, and we couldn’t be more excited. Here we preview some of our favourites as well as listing many other Pride celebrations due to take place in all four corners of the land this summer.
Pride in London
7 July
One of the biggest Prides in the UK, Pride in London has been going from strength to strength over the last couple of years, and 2018 looks set to be one of the biggest and best Prides the capital has even seen. With the Pride Festival taking place from 9 June – which offers scores of events including the return of last year’s mega successful Pride Boxing contest – the big day itself sees the Parade wind its way through the West End down to Trafalgar Square where the main stage welcomes stars of the scene and screen and a crowd of thousands.
Brighton Pride
3 – 5 August
Brighton Pride is now officially the UK’s biggest LGBT+ Pride festival and it’s no wonder, because this year the team have none other than pop megastar Britney Spears headlining the main stage on the Saturday! There’ll be tons of other fun to be had on the main day too, including dance tents, fairground rides, countless drag acts and DJs, and one of the friendliest crowds in the land. What’s more, Sunday’s LoveBN1Fest features disco legends Nile Rogers and Chic, plus pop stars Jess Glynne, Raye, Gabrielle and more.
Manchester Pride
24 – 27 August
The jewel in Manchester Pride’s Festival is The Big Weekend, which takes place in the city’s world famous Gay Village over the August bank holiday weekend. Tens of thousands of people from all over the country come together to celebrate their LGBT freedom and rights, along with some of the biggest names in music and entertainment. And with close to 150 entries – and over 4,000 participants – the Manchester Pride Parade is one of the weekend’s best highlights.
Birmingham Pride
26 – 27 May
The masses of the Midlands and beyond are in for a right treat on May’s second bank holiday weekend when the Birmingham Pride team welcome a plethora of stars to its stages. You’ll be entertained by singers including MNEK, Louise Redknapp, Louisa, Beth Ditto, Stefflon Don, Courtney Act, Jake Shears and many more, along with cabaret stars ranging from The DE Experience and Myra DuBois to Martha D’Arthur and Miss Penny. We can’t wait
Isle of Wight Pride
21 July
Ryde is the largest town on the Isle of Wight, and it’s also where the island’s Pride celebrations take place – on the town’s very own seaside no less! The day starts with a huge parade making its way through the heart of Ryde before entertainment keeps your on your sandy toes on Ryde Harbour beach. Pre-registration is free but essential to attend the main Pride event, which, incidentally, is the only Pride event in the UK which takes place on a sandy beach!
Liverpool Pride
28 July
Born from a tragedy, Liverpool Pride was set up in 2010 in response to the aftermath of the murder of young gay man, Michael Causer, in 2008. Today, the Liverpool Pride festival weekend brings together big names from music and entertainment, as well as so many local bands and artists, and paints the city in rainbow colours to raise awareness of hate crime from homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. The city’s LGBT+ march gathers at St George’s Plateau before making its way in peaceful protest in honour of equality and diversity from Queen’s Square to Stanley Street in Liverpool’s City Centre.
Bristol Pride
14 July
Bristol Pride hosts its very own Pride Festival fortnight from 2 until 15 July, with the main celebrations taking place on Saturday 14 July at the Bristol Amphitheatre and We The Curious’ Millennium Square. Bristol Pride is the largest free Pride in the UK with over 100 artists performing at last year’s event. The team have yet to release this year’s line up, however, what we do know is Pride Day starts at 11am with the Pride Parade, which leads to a massive outdoor music multi-stage festival opening at midday.
Leeds Pride
5 August
Yorkshire’s biggest celebration of LGBT+ life, Leeds Pride is now in its 12th year and has seen performances from celebrity allies of the LGBT community such as Heather Small, Sean Miley Moore, Sonia and many others. As well as live performances and dozens of drag queens and DJs to keep you entertained on the day, there’ll also be the all-important Parade and bustling market area.
Other Prides around the UK 2018
Barking and Dagenham Pride
14 July
Belfast Gay Pride
4 August
Big Gay Weekender
7 September
Blackpool Pride
8 June
Bolton Pride
21 September
Bradford Pride
2 June
Brighton Trans Pride
21 July
Channel Islands Pride
8 September
Chester Pride
11 August
Chesterfield Pride
22 July
Cornwall Gay Pride
25 August
Coventry Pride
9 June
Cymru Pride
24 August
Digital Pride
21 April
Doncaster Pride
18 August
Dorchester Pride
18 August
Dublin Pride
23 June
Durham Pride UK
28 May
Eastbourne Pride
21 July
Edinburgh Pride
16 June
Essex Pride
16 June
Exeter Pride
12 May
Exmouth Pride
30 June
Folkestone Pride
18 August
Glasgow Pride
14 July
Hull Pride
21 July
Lancaster Pride
19 May
Leicester Pride
1 September
Lincoln Pride
29 September
Margate Pride
11 August
Newcastle Pride
20 July
Norwich Pride
28 July
Oxford Pride
2 June
Plymouth Pride
11 August
Portsmouth Pride
23 June
Preston Pride
29 September
Reading Pride
1 September
Rotherham Pride
14 July
Salford Pride – The Pink Picnic
14 July
Sheffield Pride
28 July
Southampton Pride
25 August
Sparkle in the Park
6 July
Stockport Pride
29 July
Wakefield Pride
12 August
Walsall Gay Pride
25 August
Warwickshire Pride
18 August
Weston-super-Mare Pride
28 July
Wigan Pride
11 August
Worthing Pride
14 July
York Pride
9 June
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