Blackpool Pride Festival to mark 20th anniversary with major 3-day celebration and street party

Blackpool Pride Festival will mark its 20th anniversary next month with a major three-day celebration and a two-day community street party.

Blackpool Pride 2026 will take place from Friday 5 June to Sunday 7 June at the Blackpool Tower Festival Headland. More than 20 businesses in the Rainbow Quarter have joined forces to host a street party on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June, celebrating diversity and inclusion.

Afternoon entertainment on Lord Street will feature live music and performances from local talent across both evenings.

Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “This year’s Pride event will be an amazing opportunity to celebrate diversity and inclusion, with the council working closely with the Pride Festival Committee and the local LGBTQ+ business community, to make this event hugely successful for everyone and support the ‘Be You’ agenda.”

This year’s event carries the community-selected theme, “One Love, One Pride”, reflecting two decades of promoting equality and bringing together residents and visitors. The Promenade will close to traffic on Saturday morning during the Pride parade, with diversions clearly signposted.

Sara Cheston, Chair of Blackpool Pride, said: “We are so excited to be delivering what we believe to be an incredible programme over three days, with amazing headline artists including Heather Small, the legendary boy band 911 celebrating their 30th anniversary, and the Cheeky Girls, who were the original headliners at the first Pride 20 years ago.

“All the entertainment, mixed with the annual Pride Parade along the promenade starting at 11am on the Saturday, will ensure a spectacular event and experience.”

To find out more information about Blackpool Pride Festival, visit www.blackpoolpride.org