Newcastle’s annual Pride festival is set to take place this weekend, marking a significant moment for the local LGBTQIA+ community amid rising social and political challenges. The event, now under new leadership, aims to provide an inclusive space for celebration and solidarity as concerns grow over the rollback of rights and public support for LGBTQIA+ individuals.
Phil Douglas, CEO of Curious Arts, which assumed responsibility for Newcastle Pride following the departure of former organisers Northern Pride last year, has overseen preparations for this year’s festival under difficult circumstances. With limited time and increasing costs, including heightened security measures prompted by a national terror threat, organisers have worked intensively to deliver an accessible and safe event. Despite funding cutbacks and flag removals by neighbouring local councils in Gateshead, Sunderland, and Durham, Newcastle city council has maintained visible support by actively challenging homophobic abuse.
The festival, themed “city of hope, streets of joy,” is scheduled to occupy multiple venues across Newcastle city centre on Saturday and Sunday. Highlights include main stage performances at the Pride Arena in Times Square from artists such as Nadine Coyle, Katy B, and Danny Beard, as well as a parade departing from Newcastle Civic Centre and concluding at Grey’s Monument. Additional spaces—such as a Family and Youth Zone at the Theatre Royal on Sunday, a Trans+ Zone at Northern Stage on Saturday, and the Tyger Stage at Monument—offer tailored experiences to engage different segments of the community. Activities also include an LGBTQIA+ market village, history sessions, and a candlelit vigil on Sunday night.
Douglas emphasised the importance of Pride at a time when the community’s hard-won rights and sense of safety appear increasingly precarious. He described the festival as one of the few large-scale events that remain inclusive and celebratory amidst a climate of hostility, both online and offline. “It’s a very scary time and Pride is extremely important right now,” he said. “It’s for everyone; it’s about coming together and talking about acceptance and equal rights.”
He acknowledged that while the event cannot meet all expectations, it aims to offer something for everyone—whether through the celebratory atmosphere of the Arena, the political expression of the march, or the various themed zones. Against a backdrop of local government funding cuts and socially divisive rhetoric, Douglas sees Newcastle as a unique “island” of inclusivity in the region. “Let’s hold onto that,” he said.
Highlighting ongoing struggles, particularly for the trans community, Douglas urged broader support for Pride beyond viewing it merely as a festival. “Comfort, safety, security and rights that this community has fought for for many years are suddenly feeling a lot more fragile,” he said. “I hope people feel like Pride is not just a nice thing to have and instead that they need to support it or we might lose it. But everyone is invited and I hope they see that invitation.”