In two weeks, Liverpool will turn into a sea of rainbows as thousands celebrate the city’s annual Pride. This year’s festivities will take place on Saturday, July 25, and Sunday, July 26, with two of the city region's leading LGBTQ+ organisations joining forces to deliver what they describe as a "bold, inclusive and community-first" festival.
Following extensive community engagement in 2025, Sahir and LCR Pride Foundation announced a formal partnership to organise the event under the banner Liverpool's Pride, with the 2026 edition carrying the subtitle "Liverpool's Pride – powered by Sahir & LCR Pride Foundation." The organisations say the collaboration marks a renewed commitment to putting LGBTQ+ communities across Liverpool City Region at the heart of Pride.
Community-Led Approach
Organisers say the festival will be shaped by local LGBTQ+ voices and rooted in the city's diverse communities, while also standing in solidarity with LGBTQ+ people nationally and internationally. The partnership follows Sahir's delivery of Pride in 2025 after stepping in to ensure celebrations could continue. Both charities say that experience reinforced the importance of Pride as a year-round movement for visibility, support and advocacy, rather than a single annual event.
Under the agreement, Sahir will oversee the overall coordination and delivery of the festival, while LCR Pride Foundation will lead on the Pride March, parade logistics and community stalls. A new community forum will also be established to help shape future Pride events.
Pride March Route
The centrepiece of the weekend will be the Liverpool Pride March, which will begin on Houghton Street, outside St John's Beacon, before making its way through the city centre via Church Street and Paradise Street, finishing on Lord Street. Designed to improve accessibility, this year's route removes the need for the road closures used in previous years. For 2026, the march will be walking only, with no vehicles or floats, placing the focus on community participation and collective visibility.
Registrations are now open for community groups, charities, businesses, organisations and individuals wishing to take part in the march. Groups are encouraged to register in advance so they can march together, while individuals can also sign up, with an optional £5 donation to help support the delivery of the event.
A 2026 First: Official Opening Party
Liverpool Pride has announced a new event for this year's celebrations. 2026 organisers Sahir House have unveiled the first wave of artists for its Official Opening Party at the M&S Bank Arena. The event is said to be a “bold, celebratory statement of unity and inclusion wrapped with community performance on a world-class level”. Leading the announcement, Sugababes will headline the night with a greatest hits set, bringing their beloved pop catalogue to the city’s Pride celebrations.
Joining them is Beth Ditto, who will perform her first-ever solo show in Liverpool. The line-up continues with RuPaul's Drag Race stars Bimini and Tia Kofi. The Pride dancefloor will come courtesy of Harrsn and House Gospel Choir. Legendary Glitterbox stalwarts and city-favourites Horse Meat Disco will also return to deliver a special Pride disco set. Hosting the night is Liverpool’s own Tyler DeClaire, joined by drag queens Debbie Darling and Pam Sandwich, who will both host and perform across the evening.
The night will begin with Liverpool’s Pride Opening Ceremony, curated by Debbie Darling herself, bringing together dozens of LGBTQ+ performers and voices from across Liverpool. Details on the ceremony performers will be announced in the coming weeks.
What Organisers Are Saying
Gerard Bowers McIntyre, Chair of Sahir's Board of Trustees, said Pride has the greatest impact when it is connected to the charity's year-round work supporting LGBTQ+ people and those living with HIV. Amanda Hilton, Chair of LCR Pride Foundation's Board of Trustees, said the organisation is entering a new chapter with a refreshed board, adding that collaboration with Sahir will help deliver the Pride event the city wants and deserves. James Doherty from LCR Pride Foundation described the march as the "anchor" of Pride weekend, saying the walking-only route will put thousands of people at the heart of Liverpool so the community can be "seen and heard".
Getting Ready: Peaches Pride Masterclass
Peaches and Cream is inviting customers to celebrate Pride at its very first Peaches Pride Masterclass & Party, taking place at the brand's newly refurbished flagship store on Dale Street. The event will celebrate diversity, creativity and self-expression, with the beauty retailer reaffirming its commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive space for everyone.
A spokesperson said: "At Peaches, we've always believed makeup is for everybody, free from gender, labels and boundaries. We recognise the powerful role makeup can play in helping LGBTQ+ people express themselves, build confidence and celebrate their identity, and we can't wait to celebrate that together, loud and proud." Tickets cost £20, with 100% of ticket sales being donated to GYRO Liverpool, an LGBTQ+ youth charity that Peaches has supported for several years. The retailer will also donate 25% of all product sales made during the event to the charity.
Guests can expect: a Pride-themed makeup masterclass, performances from drag artists Natasha Von Spirit and Regina McQueen, complimentary refreshments, Pride anthems and feel-good entertainment, exclusive limited-edition Peaches Pride merchandise, complimentary one-to-one makeup advice, and a free goodie bag for every attendee. Spaces are limited, and early booking is recommended.
What’s Next: Knowsley Pride
Following Liverpool Pride, all eyes will turn to Knowsley Pride. It will return in August for its third year, bringing a week of community-led events to the borough before culminating in an afternoon celebration at Court Hey Park. The week begins on Sunday, August 2nd with the 18th annual vigil for Michael Causer, the 18-year-old murdered in a homophobic attack in 2008 whose death sparked the return of Pride celebrations, including Liverpool’s, across the region after more than 15 years. From there, a series of community events will take place across the borough throughout the week, supported and facilitated by One Knowsley, before the week closes with Rainbow in the Park on Saturday, August 8. Taking place in the Courtyard at Court Hey Park from 12pm to 2pm, Rainbow in the Park will bring the community together for two hours of performance, workshops and celebrating the wider community.
