How to celebrate Pride Month 2026

In the summer of 1969, an uprising was sparked. It was New York, at what would become a forever remembered venue, The Stonewall Inn, the LGBTQ+ community stood up for themselves in the face of bigotry and violence. The Stonewall Uprising has ever since been recognized as the moment that sparked a movement; queer people in the US and worldwide stood up for their rights to love and identify freely. From protests to legal battles, slowly, rights have been won around the world. With marriage equality legal in thirty-four countries, it has been a movement that has changed laws, created safety and protected those most marginalized.

That moment in June 1969 has forever been immortalized in a message to anyone who has been oppressed or marginalized that you do not have to sit quietly – you are allowed to be angry, and you deserve equality. And every year since, LGBTQ+ people from around the world have come back to this same spot – to protest, celebrate, remember, and stand together – for a world liberated from prejudice. Not only have people come back to this spot in New York, but hundreds of cities around the globe – from major capitals such as Paris and Tel Aviv to small rural towns like Doncaster. Pride remains a protest because LGBTQ+ rights are still under attack.

The trans community were pivotal on that summer night in 1969, yet their rights have moved far slower than those for lesbian, gay and bisexual people. Much has changed in the last 57 years, yet too many people are still demonized simply for their identity. Until every single LGBTQ+ person in every corner of the world can freely and safely exist, wholly as themself, we will still need Pride.

As Pride Month has morphed and evolved over the decades, more and more people are excited to get involved. Whether you are an ally unsure where to start, or a queer person getting involved for the first time, here are a few ways to take part in Pride Month.

Attend Pride in person

Wherever you’re located, there’s a high chance you will have a local Pride. Research where your nearest Pride is taking place and make plans to go along. The atmosphere at Pride is almost always contagious, and there is joy in being surrounded by LGBTQ+ people and allies, celebrating and marching.

If you’re nervous about going alone, reach out to your local LGBTQ+ community centre or charities, and see if anyone would like to buddy up and attend together. If you’re attending as an ally, don’t forget that you are there as an ally – it is not your space to take over, but instead, you are there to be visible in your support of others. Lastly, if the sun is out, don’t forget to hydrate! It can be a long day on your feet, so schedule time for rest where you can throughout the day.

Take part in WorkPride

This 5-day Pride event is free to attend – and you can do so remotely from anywhere worldwide! Starting on Monday 8th June, it’s a week-long virtual conference which includes experts from around the world sharing their knowledge and experiences with panels, workshops and more.

Each year, WorkPride welcomes thousands of virtual attendees from around the globe to network, share best practices, and learn strategies to help create workspaces inclusive of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.

Click to sign up for free now.

Donate to an LGBTQ+ charity

Support for Pride can be shown in many ways, and if you can donate to an LGBTQ+ charity, this is a great way to show up this Pride. Whether small or big, every little helps; this is a tangible way to help create a better world for everyone.

There is a myriad of amazing LGBTQ+ charities, working tirelessly to push forward equality, and they rely on donations to make this happen. If you can, consider setting up a regular direct debit to show your support all year long.

Educate yourself on LGBTQ+ allyship

Celebrating Pride can start at home with a cup of tea and a book. It is our own responsibility to educate ourselves on how we can show up as allies to one another. Allyship isn’t always a party, but it is taking the time to learn about those different from us and how we can make the world easier for them to navigate. There are plenty of resources out there, and Pride season is a great reminder that we are all always on a journey with more to learn.

Allyship is not just for those outside the LGBTQ+ community, but within too. We all have more to learn about each other’s struggles and lived experiences. Queer spaces have work to do to ensure they are free from bierasure, racism, transphobia and ableism. The LGBTQ+ community is not a monolith and we all must educate ourselves on how we can be allies within the community to each other.

Show support for Pride at your workplace

Creating visible support for the LGBTQ+ community in your office is a vital part of the recipe for workplace inclusion. Pride is a great opportunity to organize an event, educating colleagues on LGBTQ+ allyship. Visible support, such as rainbow lanyards, is also a valuable way of showing LGBTQ+ people they are safe to be themselves around you. Take a look at your workplace policies, too – are they inclusive for trans people? Are your parenting policies inclusive for same-sex couples and adoptive parents? Start a conversation with HR on how as a company you can be doing more to show up for LGBTQ+ people.

If you’re not a member of your workplace’s LGBTQ+ employee resource group: join. If your company doesn’t have one? Start one!

Pride Month reminds us that we should all do more for LGBTQ+ equality. Wherever you are on your journey, there is more to learn and push forward for. The growth of Pride over the past 57 years is a fantastic reminder of the progress that has been made, but there is still so much more to so. Show up for the LGBTQ+ community this month, but make sure you carry that same energy through to every other month in the year.