Leeds Pride celebrates 20 years at heart of the city

Thousands of people gathered in Leeds over the weekend to mark the 20th anniversary of Leeds Pride, one of Yorkshire’s largest annual LGBTQ+ celebrations.

The two-day event featured headline performances from RuPaul's Drag Race UK and Strictly Come Dancing star La Voix, alongside garage act Sweet Female Attitude. Saturday crowds attended the Freedom Party on Briggate in the city centre, with celebrations continuing into Sunday as a sunlit parade moved through Leeds.

Organisers described this year’s edition to the BBC as the city’s “biggest and boldest Pride to date”, saying it brought renewed energy to the streets and reaffirmed Leeds’ commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Many attendees highlighted the strong sense of local identity at the festival. Andy, who had travelled from Bolton with friends, said Leeds Pride felt rooted in its surroundings.

“It's all about the local bars, the local drag artists, local people. It's close knit and you get that community vibe,” he said.

For some, the event’s scale still came as a surprise. Kayla, 22, recalled her first visit as transformative.

“The first time I came, I was blown away by how unreal the size was,” she said. “There are thousands of people here being who they actually, truly are meant to be in life.”

Jessie, 24, described the festival as a “safe space”, adding: “I think it's even more important this year and it’s encouraging to see people showing up. This is the Yorkshire Pride.”

Their friend Casey, 28, who identifies as an ally, said continuing support remains essential.

“It's been 20 years and we still need to be turning up,” she said. “It's for everyone and we need to show that everyone’s so united.”

Anthony, 34, and Sian, 35, from Knaresborough, said they were drawn by the inclusive atmosphere.

“It's great fun, it's a great sense of people just being who they want to be,” Anthony said. “You should be yourself at all times, and people should accept that. So that's why we come to celebrate and support.”

Organisers described the anniversary as a major milestone for both Leeds and its LGBTQ+ community.

“What we have in Leeds is genuinely rare, and that’s a Pride celebration right in the heart of the city,” a spokesperson said. “We’re proud that Leeds Pride remains part of the city’s everyday life. It transforms the atmosphere and turns the celebration into something shared across Leeds.”

For those inspired by Leeds Pride to continue supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion in their working lives, platforms such as myGwork offer a way to connect with inclusive employers and professional networks; anyone who values what Leeds Pride stands for can build on that commitment year-round by signing up to myGwork.

Interested in becoming a corporate member? Click here for more info.