Pride Guide: June Events in London, Edinburgh, Helsinki, Lisbon and More
June 2024 will see a kaleidoscopic array of LGBTQ+ celebrations take place across Europe. Here’s your guide to this year’s Pride events in London, as well as information about Pride parades and festivities in Edinburgh, Lisbon, Dublin, and Helsinki.
This year's LGBTQ+ Pride celebrations in London will take place on Saturday the 29th of June.
The UK's biggest LGBTQ+ event will feature six stages hosting performances from a diverse range of acts, each with a different theme or group focus.
Stages will be erected in Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Dean Street, Soho Square, and Victoria Embankment Gardens.
Free performances across Central London
You can watch any of these events for free - albeit on a first-come, first-served basis. There are also covered grandstand tickets available from £50 - which could be a godsend given the unpredictable nature of London weather. Festivities begin at 12 pm and will continue into the evening.
The annual London Pride parade
This year, the big Pride parade will start at Hyde Park Corner, passing through Piccadilly Circus, Haymarket, and along Pall Mall to Trafalgar Square, climaxing in Whitehall Place.
About 500 groups will be taking part, including LGBT+ Community Groups, LGBT+ businesses, and partners - totalling more than 32,000 participants. And as has become the norm, the Mayor of London will be at the head of the parade.
What's happening at each of the 6 stages?
Trafalgar Square - this is the epicentre of celebrations, as it is every year. More than 5,000 people are expected to attend in this location in the heart of historic London.
Leicester Square - LGBTQIA+ Women and Non-Binary Stage: The Leicester Square stage will focus on LGBTQIA+, women, and non-binary participants, promising dazzling performances and lots of special food and drink stalls.
Golden Square Stage - More colourful and diverse acts will be taking to the Golden Stage, located between Piccadilly Circus and Carnaby St in Soho.
Soho Square Stage - the trans community will be represented at Soho Square Stage, where you can enjoy various live musical performances and activist speeches. More food and drink stalls will be set up to keep you fuelled for the day.
Dean Street Stage - Drag kings and queens will be the focus of the Dean Street stage, hosting more than 25 cabaret performers and artists.
Victoria Embankment Gardens - this is the space for LGBTQ+ families, where a range of activities, performances, and food can be enjoyed.
Credit: Electric Egg Ltd. - stock.adobe.com
How to have a safe and enjoyable Pride
- Make sure you eat well beforehand - especially if you plan to drink alcohol.
- Take a bottle of water with you to stay hydrated.
- Note that mobile phone coverage may be limited due to the increased demand on the network - commonplace with so many people gathered in one area. If you're going as a group, plan your route so it's easier to meet up if you get separated.
- Look after those around you, especially if they have been drinking and need help getting home (discourage folks walking home alone).
- Be ready for big crowds and extremely busy public transport; a record-breaking 1.5 million attended Pride in London 2023!
Pride Edinburgh - 22nd June
London is not the only Pride festival taking place in June! This year's Pride Edinburgh celebrations take the form of The Pride Edinburgh March, which starts at the Scottish Parliament at the foot of the Royal Mile (meet 12.30 pm, set off 1 pm).
The parade will finish at Bristo Square, the location of The Pride Edinburgh Festival Village - where drag queen Blaze and Atomic Kitten will be playing (free).
Inside McEwan Hall you'll find The Community Fair, with all manner of food and drink to enjoy.
https://edinburgh.org/event/pride-edinburgh/
Gay Pride in Lisbon, Portugal - 22nd June
The streets of Lisbon will be coloured by a number of LGBT events. Also known as Marcha do Orgulho LGBT, the fun is centred on Jardim do Principe Real.
https://www.visitlisboa.com/en/events/arraial-lisboa-pride
Pride in Dublin - 29th June
This year will mark the 50th anniversary of Dublin Pride, with events pencilled in from the 22nd to the 29th, where the festivities will reach their zenith. The parade starts from 12pm and runs from O’Connell Street to Merrion Square - where there's a free festival from 1 pm to 6 pm.
Helsinki - 29th June
The beautiful Finnish capital will be hosting a number of Pride events in the run-up to the climax on 29th June. Events include the Youth Pride House Opening Party (24th) and the Helsinki Pride Women's Party (28th).
On the final day (29th), you can enjoy Pride Park fest in Kaivopuisto, and the Helsinki Pride 2024 official Closing Party, at Vanha Ylioppilastalo.
Pride events in July
But the fun doesn't end in June. There are big Pride celebrations in Bologna, Italy, and Madrid, Spain, on the 6th of July.
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