Thousands of activists marched through London on Saturday for the annual Pride in London parade, as campaigners warned that LGBT+ rights, particularly for trans people, are under threat. Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan led the march from Hyde Park Corner to Whitehall Place via Piccadilly, joining over 35,000 marchers from more than 600 groups. More than a million people were expected to attend the celebrations, with Madonna reportedly set to appear at the main stage in Trafalgar Square.
Mayor Leads Chant, Police Vow Zero Tolerance for Hate Crime
Sir Sadiq Khan led activists in a chant of “Happy Pride” at the front of the parade. The Metropolitan Police stated before the event that there would be “no tolerance of hate crime” during the busy Pride weekend. Spectators cheered as floats with dancers and music passed through central London, with many wearing rainbow colors and carrying Pride flags under hot sunny skies.
Corporate and Football Sponsors Show Support
Sponsoring floats included Lidl, Tesco, and Ikea, the latter carrying the message: “Love doesn’t require instructions.” London-based football teams such as Arsenal, West Ham, and Crystal Palace also participated with floats.
Activist Peter Tatchell Criticizes FIFA Over Gay Footballer Bans
Activist Peter Tatchell told the Press Association at the march: “We’re marching in London Pride today to highlight the fact that at the World Cup, which is ongoing right now, 11 countries ban gay footballers from their team – that’s against Fifa rules, but Fifa is doing nothing.” He added: “This year’s Pride is as important as ever. Particularly now that Reform councils across the country are banning Pride flags … wanting to remove books from shelves. That is very dangerous, very threatening to all of us.”
Longtime Activist Warns of Rights Being Taken Away from Trans People
Gay rights activist Julian Hows, 70, who was expelled from school for early gay rights activism in 1971, said the march was important with “rights being taken away from trans people” in the UK. Speaking at the front of the parade, he told the Press Association: “Pride is important every year. I’ve been coming to Pride marches since 1972 when the policemen outnumbered the marchers.” Wearing a rainbow waistcoat with Abseil Against Section 28 and Gay Liberation Front pins, he added: “Pride is also important because it needs to have an underlying level of protest, and you can see the freedoms that we have can so easily be taken away. We also always need to push further because there’s always somewhere where our rights are being taken away. Whether it’s in this country with Reform, whether it’s this country with rights being taken away from trans people, whether it’s abroad in other countries.”
Pride in London Highlights Urgent Issues: NHS Waiting Lists, Venue Closures, Hate Crimes
A Pride in London spokesperson said: “The urgency is clear: NHS gender-affirming care waiting lists now exceed four years in some regions while a comprehensive trans-inclusive ban on conversion therapy remains uncodified into law despite a 2018 government pledge. At the same time, the community infrastructure LGBTQ+ people rely on is shrinking — since 2006, 58% of London’s LGBTQ+ venues have closed. Together, these gaps in care, protection and safe spaces are unfolding amid continued hostility, with Home Office figures showing that more than 18,000 hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation were reported to police in 2025.”
Organizers Aim for Most Inclusive Pride in 2026
Pride in London interim chief executive Rebecca Paisis said: “We want 2026 to be the most inclusive Pride in London event yet. Our movement has always been built on many voices becoming one united front — from the people who marched in 1972 to those joining us for the first time this year. That’s where our power lies. As LGBTQ+ people, we’ve never been strangers to adversity, but neither are we strangers to collective action. This year’s campaign is a reminder that whilst the community often faces challenges in isolation, it is by coming together that we can change history.”
Stonewall Co-Founder Warns of Government Attacks on Trans Rights
Co-founder of Stonewall and LGBT+ activist Lisa Power said: “Adversity is meant to shatter us but it can make us stronger as it did in the 80s. Right now, we have a Government and institutions meant to defend our rights that are attacking trans people’s rights, and the rest of ours will follow.”
Pride in London is a majority volunteer-led organisation responsible for delivering the capital’s flagship LGBT+ Pride parade and events since 2013.
