LCR Pride has issued a lengthy statement acknowledging concerns raised online about this year's Pride march, saying it is committed to delivering a safe and inclusive event in 2027.
Event background
This year's festival took place on Saturday, July 25, with Sahir and LCR Pride Foundation joining forces under the banner Liverpool's Pride. The 2026 edition was titled “Liverpool’s Pride – powered by Sahir & LCR Pride Foundation”, with organisers describing it as a “bold, inclusive and community-first” event.
The march began on Houghton Street, outside St John’s Beacon, before travelling through the city centre via Church Street and Paradise Street, finishing on Lord Street. The route was “designed to improve accessibility”, removing the need for road closures used in previous years. The march was walking-only, with no vehicles or floats.
Concerns raised
Since the event, several accounts have been posted online by people who said they felt unsafe, particularly during the march. LCR Pride said that over 5,000 people marched together on the Saturday, and while for many it was a day of joy and visibility, for others “the execution of the march didn't reach the standards they expected”.
The team said: “As a community-led charity, we want to publicly acknowledge the experiences by our attendees, particularly regarding crowd flow, accessibility, and event security.”
Planned improvements
LCR Pride said they have completed an operational debrief and are restructuring their security procurement process. Any future contractor will be mandated to have undergone LGBTQ+ and neurodiversity sensitivity training.
They are also looking at ways for more people to get directly involved in planning conversations with the Council, without the full-time commitment of joining the Board of Trustees.
The team acknowledged concerns about inappropriate behaviour from some security staff and noted that Merseyside Police had issued a city-wide dispersal order for an unconnected demographic issue, of which they were not informed prior to the march.
They also acknowledged the “deep upset” caused by the proximity of anti-LGBTQ+ protestors, explaining that teams are bound by public order parameters and cannot remove individuals from a public highway without police authority.
The statement concluded: “Thank you to everyone who shared your feedback, and especially to those who advocated for the most vulnerable members of our community. We are listening, we are learning, and we are committed to delivering the safe, inclusive Pride march that Liverpool deserves in 2027.”
