Loughborough Pride returns to Queens Park on Saturday 22nd August
- LM News
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Loughborough Pride will once again fill Queen's Park with ‘love, colour and community’ on Saturday 22nd August 2026, as the town's LGBTQIA+ residents, allies and supporters come together for a day of celebration, queer visibility and solidarity.
Running from 11:00am to 7:00pm, this year's “Picnic in the Park” is free to attend and open to everyone – all identities and all allies.
New for 2026, the day begins with Loughborough Pride's first-ever March, departing Fearon Hall at 11:00am and marching to Queen's Park, bringing Pride into the heart of the town centre.
The official opening of Loughborough Pride takes place at 11:45am with the Mayor (Cllr Colin Hamilton) and Mayoress of Charnwood (Mrs Emma Lowe) officiating.
Once in the park, attendees can expect live performances, local artists, community stalls, food and entertainment for all ages, as the event returns “bigger and better” for what organisers are calling the town's largest LGBTQ+ celebration yet. Last year, they welcomed over 3000 people across the day.
The Pride Picnic Blanket that was made by for the LGBTQIA+ community from the community groups at Fearon Hall will also be on display throughout the day of Pride at Charnwood Museum, so organisers urge you to go along to view and take a moment to watch a video about the creation of the blanket, which is now an integral part of the town’s queer history.
A Message More Urgent Than Ever
Loughborough Pride's return comes at a moment organisers describe as critical for LGBTQIA+ rights both in the UK and globally, with hard-won protections and advancements increasingly under pressure. The event's organisers – all of whom are volunteers - are using this year's Pride to send a clear message: visibility, solidarity and celebration matter now more than ever — and Loughborough and Charnwood remain a welcoming, tolerant place to call home.
Ashley Poucher, Director and Project Manager of Loughborough Pride, said:
“We're proud to bring Pride back to Queen's Park for a second year, and this year it feels more important than ever. Across the country and beyond, we're seeing rights and protections that took decades to win come under threat again. That makes days like this — where our community can stand together, be seen and be celebrated — absolutely vital.
What I love about Loughborough is that, time and again, this town and this borough show up as tolerant, welcoming and proud to stand with us. Pride isn't just a celebration; this year, more than most, it's also a statement. Whoever you are, whoever you love, you are welcome here, and we will keep standing together for as long as it takes.”
Anyone wishing to continue the celebrations after the park closes is welcome to join Pride events at LGBTQ+-friendly venues across the town into the evening, including the official Pride After Dark party at The Swan In The Rushes and The Tap & Clapper, from 19:30.
Kinch bus will be offering a complimentary shuttle service from outside Charnwood Museum from 19:00.
