As Leeds prepares to mark a major milestone, this year’s Leeds Pride is set to be its biggest and boldest yet.
It’s been 20 years since the City first hosted an official pride event in 2006, with the Festival now set to span two full days across Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th July; two days where the City will be transformed into a weekend-long celebration of equality and community.
What began with around 6,500 attendees has grown into one of the UK’s leading Pride events, welcoming more than 75,000 visitors across the weekend, as well as huge support from surrounding businesses.
Earlier this week, I had the chance to attend the Pride Festival campaign launch and get a glimpse of what’s in store for this year’s celebrations.
Held at CrowdedHouse rooftop bar and attended by Emmerdale’s Bradley Riches and rugby league’s Keegan Hirst, the evening was devoted to building excitement and momentum around the landmark anniversary.
Complimentary drinks and canapés were served throughout the evening and were a lovely touch that brought attendees together and helped in starting conversations.
This year’s headline sponsor, Jet2, is backing the event for the third consecutive year, underlining the scale and credibility that Leeds Pride has achieved. Organisers confirmed that Saturday 18 July will be a City wide pre-party, with street celebrations, the Leeds Pride Drag Brunch Fest and special events across a variety of venues.
Sunday 19 July remains the main focus, featuring the iconic parade, alongside a packed line-up for the main stage performances.
The first wave of performers has already been announced. Headlining is La Voix, known to many from Strictly Come Dancing appearances and RuPaul’s Drag Race. She’ll be joined by Charlie XCX tribute artist Rachel Fuller, international Eurodance act Livin Joy, The Harry Styles Show and UK dance favourites Sweet Female Attitude. More acts are still to be revealed, but the message is clear: this is designed to be the biggest celebration in the Festival’s history.
Beyond the entertainment, the speeches during the night were an eye opener, not only about the event, but also in its wider meaning. Longstanding Leeds Pride supporters and activists took the stage with their impressive speeches.
Neil Currie reflected on how the event has evolved drastically over the past two decades, with Soraya Vivian reinforcing its role in representation and visibility for many. They were followed on by Leeds City councillors Stephen Holroyd and Jonathan Pryor, highlighting Leeds’ significance as a northern hub for the LGBTQ+ community. The speeches were both engaging and inspiring, whilst being focused on growth, they also highlighted the real struggle that the community has faced.
What stood out the most was how Pride has become more than a single day of celebration. It is now a cultural moment for the whole City, contributing to the local economy and drawing visitors from across the North and beyond. The introduction of a two-day event is definitely recognition of its positive impact for many and ultimately a reward for the community that has sustained it.
There are also more ways than ever to get involved – the Eat Pride, Drink Pride wristband schemes, which offer exclusive discounts across participating venues for just £5 – and those who want to support beyond attending can volunteer, sponsor, or even donate through the official Leeds Pride website, helping ensure the event continues onwards and upwards.
The event was not only social, but also informative, giving guests a clear understanding of what Pride will represent and deliver this Summer. Marking its 20th anniversary, Leeds Pride is going to be focused on expanding its impact, as well as promising to honour past celebrations whilst confidently looking ahead.
Images provided by PGHL.
