London seeks WorldPride 2032 with community-led global bid

London has formally entered the race to host WorldPride 2032, timed to align with the 60th anniversary of the UK’s first Pride march in the capital in 1972.

The 10-day festival bid is being led by Pride in London, entertainment district Outernet London, and UK Black Pride, with support from City Hall. As part of the launch, organisers have opened a global competition for LGBTQ+ creatives to design the official logo outline for the bid, BBC reports

The winning outline, which carries a £3,000 prize, will be filled with thousands of photographs submitted by LGBTQ+ people and allies across the world, described by organisers as “one living symbol of Pride” built from community contributions.

Rebecca Paisis, chief executive of Pride in London, said the project is intended to ensure the bid is shaped by LGBTQ+ communities from its earliest stages. “As we approach the 60th anniversary of London’s first Pride march, this project gives every generation an opportunity to leave their mark on what could become one of the defining moments in our movement’s history,” she said.

WorldPride is an international LGBTQ+ event that includes marches, human rights conferences and cultural programmes, held every two to three years to advance visibility and equality worldwide. Since debuting in Rome in 2000, host cities have included Toronto, Madrid, New York, Copenhagen and Sydney. London previously hosted WorldPride in 2012 and mounted another bid for 2030. The 2026 edition is under way in Amsterdam, with Cape Town set to become the first African host city in 2028.

Lady Phyll, co-founder of UK Black Pride and one of three bid chairs, stressed the political and social aims of the event. “WorldPride must never be just about spectacle. It must be about people, justice, belonging and creating lasting change,” she said. “Sixty years after London’s first Pride march, we have a responsibility to honour those who came before us while building a future that is more representative, accessible and intersectional.”

Tom Copley, one of London’s deputy mayors, said the bid will show how the city continues to champion inclusion and diversity on the global stage.

The logo design competition closes on 25 September, with the winning entry to be announced in late October.

As London steps forward for WorldPride 2032, LGBTQ+ professionals and allies who want to stay engaged with inclusive employers, events and global community initiatives can deepen their involvement by signing up to myGwork.

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