The theme of “City of Hope, Streets of Joy” announced following extensive public consultation Newcastle Pride  will return to the heart of the city this summer, unveiling a powerful new theme and a refreshed vision shaped directly by the voices of the LGBTQIA+ community. At the official Newcastle Pride 2026 & Curious Futures Launch Business Breakfast  on Wednesday 11th March, Curious Futures   announced this year’s theme — “City of Hope, Streets of Joy”  — alongside the findings of a public consultation that will help shape the future of Newcastle Pride. Taking place on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th July 2026 , Newcastle Pride will once again transform the city centre into a vibrant celebration of LGBTQIA+ culture, creativity and community. The festival also marks an exciting new chapter, with Newcastle Pride now delivered by Curious Futures , the not-for-profit organisation established by Curious Arts  to deliver large-scale LGBTQIA+ cultural programmes across the North East. Newcastle Pride 2026 & Curious Futures Launch Business Breakfast Working in partnership with Newcastle NE1 , Newcastle City Council   and a wide network of local organisations and businesses, the festival will continue to build on the success of the city-wide Pride model introduced in recent years — bringing celebrations into venues, cultural spaces and public areas across Newcastle. A Theme Inspired by the Community: The theme “City of Hope, Streets of Joy”  reflects the celebration, sense of community and togetherness expressed by local LGBTQIA+ people and allies through an extensive consultation process. Curious gathered feedback from more than 150 responses online and 80 participants through in-person sessions , ensuring the voices of the community sit at the heart of Pride 2026. Across the consultation, several clear priorities emerged: Visibility and representation of LGBTQIA+ people across the city Opportunities to come together in celebration and solidarity A strong balance of joy and protest Free activities and family-friendly spaces that create a genuine sense of belonging A desire for live music, drag, performance and a Pride march or parade Increased access to wellbeing and mental health support services Stronger involvement from local businesses and organisations A celebration of Newcastle’s unique LGBTQIA+ identity Participants also spoke passionately about the power of community in the region. When asked what makes them proud to be LGBTQIA+ or an ally in the North East, respondents highlighted the strength of local connections and the ability to be authentically themselves. One participant said: “We have a fantastic community.” Another shared: “Being able to be myself, represent others, and the friendships and connections we’ve built.” The theme for 2026 captures these ideas — celebrating the city as a place of hope, while filling its streets with joy, visibility and shared Pride. Pride Launch Business Breakfast The theme and consultation results were revealed at the Newcastle Pride and Curious Futures Launch Business Breakfast , which brought together businesses, sponsors and community partners to celebrate the impact Pride has across the city. The event also explored how organisations can support LGBTQIA+ inclusion while playing an active role in the Newcastle Pride celebrations. Cllr Karen Kilgour, leader of Newcastle City Council, said:  “Newcastle Pride is a true highlight of the year and we are delighted to see it return this summer. We’ve worked with Newcastle Pride for 17 years and are really proud of the positive impact it has each year on the city and local people. Pride shows the very best of who we are as a city – one that is welcoming and one that stands up for one another – and this year’s theme really amplifies our famous Geordie spirit.  “In the current climate, allyship is more important than ever, as the responsibility for equality should not sit on the shoulders of the LGBTQIA+ community. Newcastle Pride plays a huge role in ensuring responsibility is shared by everyone who believes in fairness and dignity, not just those who face the greatest barriers, and that allies can use their voices to help challenge discrimination and stand up for people’s rights.  “I look forward to joining in the celebrations, spreading the joy and reinforcing our commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community, ensuring everyone can live openly, safely and proudly.” Stephen Patterson, Chief Executive at Newcastle NE1, said:  “We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with Newcastle Pride for our twelfth year, following another successful Pride festival in 2025. This year’s theme of ‘ City of Hope, Streets of Joy ’ perfectly captures what Pride is all about and what it means to the city. We can’t wait to see the crowds experiencing the joy and showcasing the very best of what our welcoming city has to offer. Pride creates so many opportunities for local businesses and local people to get involved, and we’re excited to welcome new and returning visitors into the city this summer.” A City-Wide Festival Alongside a range of wonderful free activities, will be the Pride Arena at Times Square, returning for two days of live music, drag and high-energy performances featuring an eclectic line-up of artists. Across the city centre, themed zones will once again provide welcoming spaces for communities, families and visitors to connect, celebrate and access support. For 2026, the Trans Zone and Curious Arts Zone will come together at Northern Stage, creating a new shared cultural space dedicated to trans voices, LGBTQIA+ creativity and community connection. The programme will feature performances, talks and opportunities to meet local organisations and artists. Other zones and experiences will return across the city centre, alongside the popular Market Village, community activity spaces and family-friendly programming designed to ensure Pride remains accessible to all. A Partnership for the City Newcastle NE1  continues its role as a key partner for Pride, supporting delivery across the city centre and helping businesses engage with the celebrations. Looking Ahead to Pride 2026 With tens of thousands of people expected to attend , Newcastle Pride 2026 promises another landmark celebration for the city — combining music, culture, activism and community. Tickets for the Pride Arena at Times Square are now on sale, with further programme announcements to follow in the coming months.

Curious Futures is also calling on the LGBTQIA+ community to shape the future of pride with a consultation that closes this week. Excitement is already building for this summer’s Newcastle Pride, with major names confirmed today for the festival weekend in Newcastle City Centre on 25th and 26th July 2026. Star-studded headliners in The Pride Arena this year include Northern Irish star of Girls Aloud, Nadine Coyle , London chart-topper, Katy B, and Scouse drag icon and Rupaul’s Drag Race UK alumni, Danny Beard and Bimini. Manchester collective Ghetto Fabulous will also bring high-energy to The Pride Arena this July, while 90s pop-dance favourites Urban Cookie Collective will deliver their classic hits. Girls Aloud star Nadine Coyle will be headlining this years pride! Local talent is firmly in the spotlight too, with North East favourites Dollhaus  and Queerdo  on the line-up, alongside a social media sensation from Darlington bringing their hit Harry Styles tribute show  to the Pride stage.   Earlybird ticket prices have been frozen for the third year running, and are on sale from 10am on Wednesday 11th February 2026  from just £8  plus booking fee per day ticket or from £13  plus booking for ‘Platinum Tickets’ at www.newcastlepride.co.uk     The countdown is on to pride season and Newcastle joins a number of prides across the country, releasing key information about their programmes. For Newcastle, the LGBTQIA+ community and allies across the North East are being urged to have their say on the future of Newcastle Pride, as public consultation is set to close on Friday, 13th February 2026. Urban Cookie Collective, who are performing at this years pride! Following the closure of Northern Pride charity, Curious Futures , the trading arm of Curious Arts , took custodianship of Newcastle Pride in December 2025. With just six months until this year’s festival, the team says community voices must shape every decision and invite everyone to turn up and take part.   The organisation is urging individuals to share their thoughts on how Newcastle Pride, and its programme, will be shaped. Consultations have also been held with leisure and hospitality venues, businesses and charities across the region, with the findings to be published in the coming months.    Organisers say transparency and collaboration are central to the next chapter, and that Pride must reflect the people it represents.   Phil Douglas, chief executive of Curious Arts, said: “Delivering a Pride of this scale in today’s financial and political climate is no small task. Community and stakeholder consultations will help shape everything we do, from programming and accessibility to long-term sustainability. We want to hear from everyone in our community, from individuals, creatives, allies and local businesses to families, young people and long-standing Pride attendees. Every voice is welcome."   “We are committed to being transparent about the journey ahead, listening openly to our communities, and working collaboratively with partners, artists and stakeholders across the region. We want to celebrate loudly, centre LGBTQIA+ voices at every stage, and focus on building a Pride that truly reflects, and belongs to Newcastle.”   With consultation closing on 13th February, organisers are encouraging everyone to get involved.   Phil continued, “This is about more than one weekend. It’s about visibility, safety and celebration for our communities all year round. We can’t write the next chapter alone.”   Community members can complete the survey on our website before the deadline on Friday, 13th February.

Northern Pride today announces that it will hand over the Newcastle Pride Festival to Curious Futures, the new trading subsidiary of the charity Curious Arts.  This exciting move builds on years of partnership working between Northern Pride and Curious Arts and their instrumental co-delivery of the 2025 event. After 17 years of development and growth, Newcastle Pride has become one of the largest Pride events in the UK. Frequently asked questions are at the end of this article. After the successful 2025 festival, and with heartfelt thanks to the community, partners, and donors, the trustees, along with voluntary Director Ste Dunn, have been able to close all outstanding commitments and is donating its closing balance of £8,500, along with all physical and digital assets to Curious Arts. The charity, Northern Pride, has therefore ceased trading with immediate effect.   These funds and assets will be used to help plan the 2026 Festival weekend, scheduled for 25-26 July 2026. Regular attendees will notice a slight change in dates for the 2026 event, as organisers have moved it one week later to avoid clashing with the World Cup final weekend. This adjustment prioritises community safety and ensures the city-wide celebration can go ahead smoothly without placing additional strain on city services, including emergency services. Further details about the Festival weekend,  including the free programme, dedicated zones and a range of activities, will be released in the new year, whilst tickets for the Pride Arena at Times Square are now on sale. Ste Dunn, former Director of Northern Pride said: “It has been an incredible 17 years for the Northern Pride Charity, a team of volunteers, past and present, who’ve acted with real passion for our community. We are all delighted to have played a part in how Newcastle Pride has evolved over nearly two decades. From the days of Pride on the Tyne, a precursor to the existing Pride which quickly outgrew Leazes Park, moving to Exhibition Park, and then the Town Moor which was a much-loved home for several years until our more recent city-wide takeover, Pride is now unapologetically visible in the heart of Newcastle.    “Newcastle Pride hasn’t been without its challenges, especially over the last five years - from celebrating online during the pandemic, to navigating the cost-of-living crisis and even battling the extreme weather of 2023.  “After two strong years of stability and success, now feels like the right moment to hand things over. The board and I will support the transition, and I have every confidence that the Curious family will do an incredible job as the new custodians of Newcastle Pride.  “None of this would have been possible without our amazing community. Your continued support, showing up, celebrating, and standing with us year after year, has helped Pride grow into something truly special, partnering with incredible charities, iconic venues, and welcoming tens of thousands to the city. We’re deeply grateful to everyone who’s played a part in this legacy, from past chairs, trustees and volunteers, to partners, funders, emergency services, event teams, creatives, artists, and performers. You are all simply incredible.” Sian Broadhurst, Chair of Curious Arts said: “We are honoured to bring Newcastle Pride into the Curious family. The event will be delivered by Curious Futures, our new not for profit company created to support our region wide events, global training programme and our wide-ranging community programmes. With Pride events and festivals across Teesside already delivered under Curious Arts, this is a brilliant next step for our community and the Curious team.    “I was involved in the early years of Northern Pride and it has been a joy to watch the event grow into what it is today. We’re excited to carry on this journey, with fresh ideas and our community at the heart. We will commence community consultation in early 2026 to help shape pride for the city for years to come.”   Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor said:  “For 17 amazing years Northern Pride has given us an event that is both protest and celebration and makes clear that the North East is a place where you can be unapologetically yourself. I’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has been involved for all of their hard work creating an event we’re all so proud of.    “But I know exciting times are ahead and I can’t wait to see what’s to come from Curious Futures. They already do so much amazing work to make our communities more inclusive, and ultimately make the North East a better place to live.” Frequently asked questions 1. Why is Northern Pride closing and stepping back from running Newcastle Pride? After 17 amazing years, the Northern Pride Board felt this was the right moment to hand the festival to a new custodian. Following two successful years of stability through the city wide delivery, and after the pandemic and cost-of-living challenges, the team wanted to ensure the event continues to evolve sustainably and with strong community leadership. Curious Arts, has been a long-standing partner since 2018 and through its new organisation Curious Futures,  is perfectly placed to take Pride into its next chapter. 2. Is Northern Pride closing or going into liquidation? No. Northern Pride is not in liquidation . The organisation has ceased trading, and has closed all outstanding commitments  responsibly and donated its remaining funds (£8,500) to Curious Futures to help plans for the 2026 event. This is a planned and positive transition, not a financial closure or forced wind-down. 3. Has the Northern Pride team been made redundant? No, the entire Northern Pride board and team are volunteers. 4. Why not just recruit a new volunteer team for Northern Pride? The volunteer model and a single board infrastructure is not sustainable for a festival of this scale. Capacity with an organisation like Curious Futures, operating as a not for profit business will increase capability and capacity across event organisation and delivery year round. 5. Is this similar to what happened with Manchester Pride? No. Northern Pride is not in liquidation . The organisation has closed all outstanding commitments  responsibly and donated its remaining funds  (£8,500) to Curious Futures to help plans for the 2026 event. This is a planned and positive transition, not a financial closure or forced wind-down. We were incredibly saddened to hear of the closure of Manchester Pride and the impact this will have on the community, including unpaid artists and performers.  6. Who will run Newcastle Pride from now on? From 2026 onwards, Newcastle Pride will be delivered by Curious Futures , part of the Curious Arts group . Curious Arts is a well-established regional organisation known for producing inclusive arts and cultural programmes, including Pride festivals across Tees Valley and other community-based LGBTQIA+ programmes. 7. Who are Curious Futures? Curious Futures is a new organisation under Curious Arts. It’s been created to deliver large-scale regional events, training, and community programmes. Taking on Newcastle Pride is a natural extension of Curious Futures’ work to celebrate creativity, empower people and develop opportunities  from the LGBTQIA+  community across the North East. 8. Why has the date for the Newcastle Pride 2026 event changed? The 2026 event will take place on 25–26 July 2026 . The date has been changed slightly to avoid clashes with the 2026 World Cup . This helps ensure the Pride celebrations get the full attention, resources, and safety support they deserve. 9. What will change in 2026 under Curious Futures? Curious Futures is committed to supporting and championing LGBT+ Communities. The  spirit of Newcastle Pride - a visible, inclusive, city-wide celebration - will continue with the addition of fresh ideas and new partnerships . There will be a community consultation early 2026  to gather input on what communities would like to see from Pride moving forward. 10. Will the 2026 event be free to attend? Throughout the Pride Festival, a variety of events will take place — from the main weekend celebrations to a programme of community and fringe activities in the lead-up. Newcastle Pride has always aimed to strike a balance between accessibility and inclusivity, and Curious Futures remains committed to offering a number of events that are free and open to everyone. While the Pride Arena will be a ticketed aspect of the programme to support artists and cover operational costs, whilst adding a festival experience, the community-led activities across the city will remain free to attend. Further details will be shared in early 2026, and tickets for the Pride Arena are on sale now. 11. What will happen to Northern Pride’s volunteers and supporters? The contributions of Northern Pride’s volunteers and supporters are deeply appreciated. Many will continue to be involved during the transition period and are encouraged to engage with Curious Futures if they wish to support Newcastle Pride moving forward. The experience, passion and commitment of volunteers is vital to the success of Newcastle Pride. 12. Will the event still be in the city centre? Yes. Newcastle Pride 2026 will continue with a city-centre model , building on the success of recent years where the festival brought visibility, economic impact, and community energy right into the heart of Newcastle. There will be a community consultation in early 2026  which will help inform and shape pride 2026 and future years. 13. What will happen to Northern Pride’s legacy projects? Northern Pride’s legacy - from its advocacy to its community partnerships - will live on through its contribution to the region and through Curious Arts & Curious Futures ongoing equality, diversity, and inclusion work. 14. How can I get involved in shaping future Pride events? Curious Futures will host stakeholder listening activity, including community consultation sessions in early 2026, inviting feedback from individuals, community groups, and local businesses. Keep an eye on the @NewcastlePrideUK social channels or sign up to Newcastle Pride mailing list for announcements. 15. Where can I learn more about Newcastle Pride?   The Northern Pride website is having a make over and you can find more information over the coming months, at its new home at www.newcastlepride.co.uk . You can also continue to follow the event via the same social media channels, but also with a new name, @NewcastlePrideUK. For those already signed up to Northern Pride’s mailing list, this will continue with Curious Futures sharing regular updates. If you’re not signed up, you can do this by heading to www.newcastlepride.co.uk/signup   16. Where can I learn more about Curious Futures and Curious Arts  Curious Futures can be found online at www.curiousfutures.co.uk  and social media channels will focus on @NewcastlePrideUK. Curious Arts remain accessible via www.curiousarts.org.uk  and on socials, @teamcuriousarts on Facebook, and @curious_arts on Instagram.  17. What messages do Northern Pride and Curious Futures want to share with the community? That Pride is and always will be for the community, by the community . This transition  isn’t an ending; it’s the start of an exciting new chapter where Newcastle Pride continues to grow, evolve, and champion the North East’s LGBTQIA+ community and Pride. 18. Who can I contact for more information? For general enquiries about the transition and enquiries about Northern Pride up 2025: info@npride.org.uk For Newcastle Pride enquiries 2026 and beyond, and Curious Futures: info@curiousfutures.co.uk