CITY OF HOPE, STREETS OF JOY: NEWCASTLE PRIDE BRINGS MORE THAN 50,000 PEOPLE TOGETHER IN CELEBRATION AND SOLIDARITY

MORE than 50,000 people came together in the heart of Newcastle for a joyful weekend of celebration and solidarity as Newcastle Pride returned on Saturday 25^th and Sunday 26^th July.

Marking the first Newcastle Pride festival delivered by Curious Arts, this year’s celebrations brought the theme of City of Hope, Streets of Joy to life through a citywide programme of live entertainment, community spaces, creative activities and events championing LGBTQIA+ culture and talent.

From community events and free festival zones to the Newcastle Pride Arena, Market Village and annual Pride March, the programme created opportunities for people of all ages to celebrate, connect and stand together. Ahead of the big festival, Pride fun included banner making workshops at Newcastle Cathedral ready for the Newcastle Pride March to heritage workshops ensuring all ages were catered to.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/816001_375171f6fbae420d851b2854669486f5/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

A recap of the Pride weekend, Video by @tj.mov

The weekend began with 10,000 community members, allies, families, local organisations and businesses joining the annual Newcastle Pride March.

For the first time, the March followed a new route through the city centre, ending at Grey’s Monument, where huge crowds gathered for a series of powerful speeches delivered by North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness; Deputy Leader of Newcastle City Council, Councillor Mark Mitchell; UNISON Branch Secretary Christine Jackson and Green Party Councillor for Gateshead’s Bridges ward, Melissa Harker, the first openly trans councillor. 

Across the weekend, more than 3,000 people attended the Newcastle Pride Arena at Times Square for two days of unforgettable live music, drag and celebration.

Festivalgoers enjoyed performances from a packed line-up of artists and Pride favourites, including pop icon Nadine Coyle, dance music favourite Katy B and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK icons Bimini and Danny Beard, alongside a whole host of Newcastle’s LGBTQIA+ creative community including live acts, DJs and performers. 

Free spaces across the city ensured that the celebrations offered something for everyone. The Family and Youth Zone at Newcastle Theatre Royal welcomed LGBTQIA+ families, children, young people and allies for a programme of creative and inclusive activities, while the Trans+ Zone created a dedicated space celebrating trans+ identities, creativity and community.

The weekend came to a close on Sunday evening with a candlelit vigil, providing a moment for reflection and remembrance. 

A special dedication was made to everyone affected by the deadly attack at Berlin Pride over the same weekend. The vigil gave Newcastle’s LGBTQIA+ community and allies an opportunity to stand alongside the people of Berlin and send a clear message that hatred and violence will never diminish the community’s strength, visibility or pride.

Thousands marched through the city centre.

Phil Douglas, CEO of Curious Arts, said: “We are incredibly proud to have delivered Newcastle Pride 2026, welcoming more than 50,000 people to celebrate with us across the city.

“City of Hope, Streets of Joy was more than a theme. It could be seen and felt throughout the weekend. From the thousands who joined this year’s March to the artists, families, young people and allies who filled our venues and festival spaces, the atmosphere was joyful, diverse and welcoming. 

“Our priority was to deliver a Pride that felt safe, accessible and rooted in the needs of our communities. We are hugely grateful to everyone who attended, performed, volunteered, worked behind the scenes or supported the festival alongside all our incredible partners and sponsors.

“The candlelit vigil was a moving and important way to conclude the weekend. It allowed us to remember those affected by the AIDS crisis, the appalling attack in Berlin, and so many others impacted by hate around the world, those lost and those struggling. To stand together and reaffirm why Pride, visibility and community remain so important.

“This weekend demonstrated the strength and generosity across the region. We are proud of what we achieved together and of the message Newcastle sent to the world: that this is a city of hope, with streets filled with joy, solidarity and Pride.”

Stephen Patterson, Chief Executive of NE1 Ltd, the Business Improvement District Company for Newcastle city centre and a long-time supporter of Pride said: “NE1 is extremely proud to have sponsored and supported Newcastle Pride once again. Working alongside Curious Arts and its partners we helped deliver one of the biggest Pride celebrations the city has ever seen with a newly expanded programme that involved more people and businesses across Newcastle.  

“More than 50,000 people took part in events and activities across the weekend, creating a vibrant atmosphere and demonstrating the positive impact major inclusive events can have on local communities, visitors and city-centre businesses.  Pride sent out a powerful message that Newcastle is a city that champions inclusion, celebrates diversity and inspires hope.

“The route of this year’s march and gathering at Grey’s Monument brought the Pride celebrations into the heart of the city, giving thousands of people the opportunity to come together and celebrate the diversity, pride and sense of community that makes our city such a special place.”