Why Pride 2026 needs to be more impactful than ever

By Dylan Hazell

We all know that the Stonewall Uprising of 1969 wasn't a parade - it was a rebellion. A defiant response to police brutality and systemic discrimination. A brave cry for dignity, equality, and the fundamental right to exist without fear. For decades that followed, annual Pride marches were direct descendants of this rebellion, acting as platforms for advocating for AIDS awareness, fighting for marriage equality, and demanding basic protections for LGBTQ+ people against discrimination.

The question is - given that LGBTQ+ rights are being rolled back worldwide and hate crimes against queer people are increasing - when did Pride stop focusing on its function as a protest?

Over the years, as visibility increased and certain battles were won, particularly in the West, and Pride celebrations in many places began to shift. Corporate sponsorships grew, and the focus, understandably, broadened to include celebration, community building, and an acknowledgment of progress. However, this evolution, while bringing visibility, also carries a risk of sanitizing Pride's radical edge. By forgetting the reasons behind Pride, we risk softening its protest spirit and allowing it to be perceived as just another summer festival without any true meaning or purpose.

As we enter 2026, such complacency is a luxury we cannot afford. Across the globe, and even in nations previously considered progressive, the hard-won rights of the LGBTQ+ community are under renewed attack. We are witnessing an alarming surge in discriminatory legislation targeting transgender people, particularly youth; increasing rhetoric that demonizes sexual orientation and gender identity; and ongoing violence and discrimination faced by people of colour in the queer community. The fight for true equality is far from over, and in many ways, it feels like we are losing ground.

A decade ago, the UK led Europe in LGBTQ+ rights. Today, according to ILGA Europe’s ‘Rainbow Map,’ the UK doesn't even make the top 20. In 2025, it dropped six more spots, landing at 22nd out of 45 countries. This decline shows hard evidence that the LGBTQ+ community is being targeted and are facing more violence now than in recent years.

Over 22,000 LGBTQ+ people reported hate crimes in 2023/24, up from 18,500 in 2020/21. Anti-transgender hate crimes now make up 3 percent of all recorded hate crimes in the UK, a significant jump from 1 percent ten years ago. Many more go unreported due to safety concerns and inaction from authorities.

This heightened global discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community impacts how safe people feel in the workplace too. In fact, myGwork studies indicate that an overwhelming three-quarters of LGBTQ+ women and non-binary professionals are reluctant to fully come out.

Across Europe, harmful rhetoric from politicians is getting worse. This environment is made worse by the disturbing increase of prominent far-right figures using social media as a key tool for spreading misinformation and fear, demonizing LGBTQ+ people. Algorithms push extreme views, allowing hate speech to spread fast and reach many people, pushing the blame of society's problems onto minority groups to shirk off responsibility from the real culprits.

As the famous saying goes; "When you're accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression." The legitimization of discrimination as a response to attempts at achieving equal rights directly leads to more hate crimes and the erosion of said rights. This is where Pride no longer presents itself as just a party - it is a call to action

Continue to let the decorations fly, let the music play, and let the joy of community fill the streets - these are vital parts of celebrating and platforming our communities. In a world that can seem so perpetually hostile towards queer people, the least we deserve is fun among the community and its allies. But this year, let that joy be interwoven with a fierce determination.

So, when you make your plans for Pride this year, consider the different approach you can make. Replace holding a simple Pride flag with holding a sign that carries urgent messages with demands for justice. Use social media to amplify queer voices and turn the weapon of bigotry back onto those who wish us harm. Attend trans-specific Pride marches and protests to solidify and take action in your solidarity with the community. Help to shut down voices of dissent and stand firm with the community through thick and thin.

In 2026, Pride must unequivocally declare: we are here, we are resilient, and we will not stop protesting until liberation is a lived reality for every sexuality, every gender identity, every single member of our community.