Thousands of activists marched through London for the capital's LGBTQ+ Pride parade on Saturday, with Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan leading the procession and chanting 'Happy Pride'. More than a million people were expected to attend, and organisers said over 35,000 marchers from more than 600 groups took part in the parade from Hyde Park Corner to Whitehall Place via Piccadilly.
Mayor Leads Chants as Crowds Celebrate
Mayor Khan was at the front of the Pride in London march, leading activists in a chant of 'Happy Pride'. Spectators cheered as floats with dancers and music drove through central London on a hot, sunny day. Many wore rainbow colours and carried Pride flags and fans. Madonna was reportedly set to appear on the main stage in Trafalgar Square.
Police Vow Zero Tolerance for Hate Crime
The Metropolitan Police said before the event that there would be 'no tolerance of hate crime' during the busy Pride weekend. Home Office figures show that more than 18,000 hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation were reported to police in 2025, highlighting the ongoing need for vigilance.
Football Teams and Activist Voices
London-based football teams including Arsenal, West Ham and Crystal Palace had floats in the parade. Activist Peter Tatchell criticised FIFA for 'doing nothing' about 11 countries banning gay footballers at the World Cup. '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 said.
Tatchell 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.'
Long-Time Activist Emphasises Protest Roots
Gay rights activist Julian Hows, 70, who was expelled from school for early gay rights activism in 1971, stressed the importance of Pride. 'I've been coming to Pride marches since 1972 when the policemen outnumbered the marchers,' he said. '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.'
Urgent Issues Highlighted by Organisers
A spokesperson for Pride in London 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.'
Call for Most Inclusive Event Yet
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.'
