NEWCASTLE Pride today announces its travel industry partners for Pride Festival 2026, with Nexus, British Airways Flying Proud, Newcastle Airport and Stagecoach uniting to support this year’s city-wide festivities. Together, the four sponsors are helping to ensure Newcastle Pride remains representative, inclusive and accessible for all, while reinforcing the importance of safe, reliable and sustainable transport links for attendees travelling across the region and beyond. This year, Nexus, operator of Tyne and Wear Metro and longstanding supporter of the festival, joins Newcastle Pride as its official City Host Partner, helping to support travel across the city and ensuring attendees can move safely and efficiently between celebrations. Cathy Massarella, Managing Director of Nexus, said: “Inclusivity is the cornerstone of our brand, so we are thrilled to be the official City Host Partner for this year’s Northern Pride Festival. Metro is a great way to get to and from this brilliant event. “Accessibility has always been a core value for us, and we are passionate about creating a transport system where customers can feel safe, comfortable and encouraged to be themselves, celebrating individuality and identity, free from discrimination. “As a responsible employer we are fully committed to championing equality and diversity. These values are echoed throughout our organisation.” Newcastle Airport also returns as a sponsor for this year’s festival, this time taking on the role of Pride’s Official Accessibility Partner for 2026, marking the charity’s commitment to ensuring that everyone can enjoy this year’s festivities and that Pride remains welcoming, safe and inclusive for all attendees. As with previous years, the entire festival will be fully wheelchair accessible, with all official partner venues providing step-free access and essential facilities, including accessible toilets. This extends across all festival zones, including the Pride Arena, where AccessoLoo units will be available for attendees requiring hoist and changing facilities. To ensure the weekend is inclusive for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences, British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters will be present at the Arena Stage and Trans+ Stage. Full accessibility information and schedules will be available in the official festival programme. Dean Ward, Director of Commercial and Executive Sponsor for Newcastle Airports LGBTQIA+ Allies Network Group commented: “Pride is about celebrating people for who they are and accessibility is about making sure everyone can be part of that celebration. As an airport, connecting people is what we do every day - and we’re proud to stand with Newcastle Pride to help make it welcoming, inclusive and accessible for all." Stagecoach are the official travel partner this year and will be supporting the festival's wider ambition to make Pride more accessible for visitors travelling from across the UK and internationally. Throwback to Pride 2024 where Nexus and Newcastle Pride collaborated on a pop card! Steve Walker, Managing Director of Stagecoach North East added: “We’re proud to support Newcastle Pride and celebrate the diversity, inclusion and sense of community that make the North East such a vibrant place to live and work. As a business that connects people and communities every day, we believe everyone should feel welcomed, respected and valued, whether they are travelling on our services or working within our organisation. “Newcastle Pride is an important celebration of equality, visibility and belonging, and we’re delighted to support an event that brings people together and showcases the region’s commitment to creating inclusive communities for all.” Also joining Newcastle Pride this year are Lumo who will be supporting artist travel alongside British Airways Flying Proud, who is the official Trans+ Stage partner, supporting a special programme of activity by trans+ artists on the 25th July including a market, discussion and cabaret bill. Stagecoach are also the travel partner this year and will be supporting the festival's wider ambition to make Pride more accessible for visitors travelling from across the UK and internationally. Kimberley Ryans, Flying Proud Co-Lead, commented: “British Airways Flying Proud is dedicated to supporting our LGBTQIA+ colleagues and customers. This year, our focus is on gender identity, so we’re very excited to sponsor the Trans+ Zone at Newcastle Pride! With many of our teams located in Newcastle too, this partnership helps us to meaningfully support the local community where our people live and work. Phil Douglas, CEO of Curious Arts, added: “We’re delighted to be working alongside and have the support of such notable travel brands here in the North East. These partners share our commitment to removing barriers to attendance, improving access and connectivity for those travelling into the city, and helping to ensure Newcastle Pride remains a space where everyone feels valued, supported and free to be themselves. We can’t wait to welcome thousands of festivalgoers into the city this July with the help of our partners.” Newcastle Pride weekend will take place on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th July 2026, bringing together live entertainment, community activities, performances, markets and the annual Pride march in Newcastle city centre. Those wishing to support Newcastle Pride with their ongoing fundraising appeals or to find out more about sponsorship opportunities can visit Newcastle Pride’s website and social channels. www.newcastlepride.co.uk

Newcastle Pride - Family & Youth Zone: Sunday 26 July, 10.30 am to 4.30 pm Newcastle Theatre Royal | Free to attend – drop in throughout the day Newcastle Theatre Royal has teamed up with Newcastle Pride to welcome families, children and young people as the festival returns to the heart of the city this summer. For the second year running, Newcastle Theatre Royal will host Newcastle Pride’s Family & Youth Zone, creating a vibrant, safe and inclusive space where LGBTQIA+ families, young people and allies can come together to connect and celebrate. The free drop-in programme will take place on Sunday, 26 July, from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm throughout the iconic Grey Street venue. City of Hope. Streets of Joy is the theme for Newcastle Pride 2026, which also sees the festival delivered for the first time by LGBTQIA+ arts, youth and heritage charity, Curious Arts. The Family & Youth Zone is supported by the Newcastle Cultural Investment Fund via Community Foundation North East, with wider activities across the weekend supported by Newcastle NE1, Newcastle City Council and Arts Council England. Families and young people visiting Newcastle Theatre Royal can expect a colourful day packed with creative activities, performances and interactive experiences designed to inspire joy, imagination and togetherness. In the Theatre’s Studio space, audiences can join singing sweetheart of the North, Gloria Love, for a fun-filled family karaoke sing-along featuring favourite songs for all ages, while acclaimed choreographer Darren Pritchard brings two performances of the dazzling Family Catwalk Extravaganza by Ghetto Fabulous. A Mini Disco, delivered in collaboration with Dance City, invites families to dance along to party anthems in an energetic shared celebration. Gloria Love at last years Family & Youth Zone with the Theatre Royal Team! Throughout the building, visitors can enjoy colourful crafts led by Curious Arts artists, featuring badge-making, flower crowns and paper crafts celebrating LGBTQIA+ culture and creativity. There will also be face painting, a dress-up and photo station for families to capture memories together, and a Mini Pride Market showcasing local LGBTQIA+ organisations, artists, community groups and cultural businesses. The Family & Youth Zone will also include a dedicated sensory and quiet space led by multi-sensory theatre company TimbaDash, offering a calm and welcoming environment for young people with disabilities, their families and anyone needing time away from the busy festival atmosphere. Teen audiences aged 11–15 can also take part in Curious: Out & Loud!, an exhibition and creative workshop led by Newcastle’s Curious Young Creatives, celebrating LGBTQIA+ youth voices and creativity. Marianne Locatori, Chief Executive of Newcastle Theatre Royal, said: “We’re delighted to host the Family & Youth Zone for a second year. This partnership reflects Newcastle Theatre Royal’s ongoing commitment to inclusion, access and welcome for LGBTQIA+ families, young people and allies, and our belief that theatre and creativity should be for everyone. The programme adds to the existing colour, creativity and energy in our building, and we’re proud to support a festival that champions visibility, community and belonging across the North East.” Ellie Puckering, Creative Producer at Curious Arts, said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing Newcastle Pride’s Family & Youth Zone back to Newcastle Theatre Royal this year. Shaped by our community through surveys, consultations and the success of last year’s event, the day is jam-packed with fun, free activities across the iconic theatre. Inviting families, LGBTQIA+ young people and allies to be creative and celebrate Pride together. We hope to welcome lots of visitors under our rainbow banners and through the doors to celebrate with us, and highlight Newcastle Pride and Newcastle Theatre Royal as spaces where LGBTQIA+ families and young people are welcome and championed.” Marianne Locatori and Ellie Puckering outside of the Theatre Royal Throughout June, Newcastle Theatre Royal will once again fly the Pride flag above the building in support of the LGBTQIA+ community for Pride Month, with the flag returning in July for Newcastle Pride celebrations. Newcastle Pride and Newcastle Theatre Royal are seeking sponsorship for the Family & Youth Zone at Newcastle Pride 2026 to support the continued development of free, accessible activities for LGBTQIA+ families and young people. Businesses interested in supporting the programme are encouraged to contact info@curiousfutures.co.uk for more information. For full details of the Family & Youth Zone programme and the Newcastle Pride line-up, visit www.newcastlepride.co.uk.

Newcastle Pride launches Proud Bake Off fundraiser ahead of 2026 festival. Following a call to action last week, Newcastle Pride has unveiled its latest fundraising effort, and this time, it’s delicious! Workplaces, families, friends and community groups are being encouraged to take part in the Proud Bake Off throughout Pride Month in June, helping to raise vital funds for this year’s Newcastle Pride celebrations. The fundraising drive seeks to ensure that this year’s Pride festival can continue to deliver a safe, accessible, and high-quality event for the LGBTQIA+ community as planned, whilst ensuring that artists, freelancers, and community contributors are valued and paid. Participants are invited to host their own bake sales, cake competitions, or coffee mornings in June, with all proceeds supporting the festival, which will take place on July 25th and 26th. As part of the campaign, Newcastle Pride is encouraging individuals, community groups and businesses to support the event in a variety of ways, including donations, workplace fundraising, sponsorship opportunities, workshops and talks alongside participation in The march itself, all to help raise the much-needed £10,000 to fund this year’s celebrations. If cakes aren’t your thing but you still want to help Newcastle Pride, you can donate via our JustGiving here: Want to get involved? Email meg@curiousarts.org.uk for your ingredients to a perfect Pride fundraiser.