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Planning is under way for the 2026 Newry Pride Festival with an open community meeting scheduled for Tuesday 21 April at 7pm in Ballybot House to establish a new Pride Project Team.
The meeting is open to everyone in Newry's LGBTQIA+ community and supporters whether they have been involved in previous years or not. This year the main pride parade and festival will take place on Saturday 22 August with other events planned in the week leading up.
Over the past two years, Newry Pride Festival has been delivered by local charity LGBTQ+ Women's Group Newry. As the festival has continued to grow, organisers say there is a clear need to expand capacity and put a dedicated Pride structure in place, allowing for better planning, broader representation and stronger foundations going forward. The aim is for the festival to be organised by the whole community, for the whole community, ensuring all LGBTQIA+ voices have input into its delivery.
Feedback from previous festivals has pointed to a real appetite for Newry Pride to develop into a major event in the city calendar. To make that happen, more people are needed across all areas, from planning and coordination through to volunteering on the day. The new Pride Project Team will manage the workloads and decision-making required to organise the festival, ensuring events are delivered safely and smoothly and that the festival reflects the full diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community in Newry.
There are roles to suit varying levels of involvement, including event planning and management, parade organisation and stewarding, creative and decoration work, and fundraising and outreach. Whether someone can offer a small amount of time or take on a larger role, the organisers say every contribution will count.
Alongside the planning a number of events are already confirmed for this year. A Pride Disco will take place on 22 August at the Whistling Donkey featuring DJs, drag performances, burlesque and comedy. The LGBTQ+ Women's Group FLINTA(c) Literature Night is set for 14 August at Finegan and Son's, promising open mic, poetry and music. A Pride 5K is also planned for the weekend of 15 and 16 August.
Anyone who is interested in getting involved but cannot attend the meeting can sign up to volunteer at forms.gle or get in touch by emailing newrylgbtwomen@gmail.com
