Don’t Miss: Margate Pride 2026
Here’s what you need to know about margate Pride 2026
Margate Pride takes place on Saturday 8 August 2026 and is free to attend. Credit: Stephen Daly
Margate Pride is back for its 10th year, and the town's biggest LGBTQIA+ celebration is shaping up to be the most ambitious one yet.
From the famous seafront march to a month-long arts festival, here is everything you need to know about Margate Pride 2026.
Margate Pride Day takes place on Saturday 8 August 2026 and is free to attend.
The full festival runs from Friday 31 July throughout August, with events, exhibitions, performances and workshops taking place at venues across Margate.
Margate Pride is proudly independent, community driven and it’s 10 this year! Credit: Stephen Daly
Margate Pride ART MAP 2026: A Month of LGBTQIA+ Arts and Culture
One of the things that makes Margate Pride distinct is its arts-led identity, and the Margate Pride Festival programme reflects that.
Running from 31 July through August, the festival brings an extraordinary breadth of events to venues across town.
Highlights include the huge annual Margate Pride Art Map, showcasing LGBTQIA+ artists in spaces all across Margate, such as artist Valerie Potter exhibiting at Projects Kavel Rafferty alongside community craft workshops. Keep an eye on the weekly Don’t Miss Margate newsletter for the latest listings in July.
The Open Call Gallery Commission returns with this year's brief calling for an LGBTQIA+ artist over 55.
Poet in Residence Kit Griffiths is creating a short film celebrating a decade of Margate Pride, premiering on Pride Day itself.
This year's official Margate Pride poster has been designed by longtime supporter Rachael House.
What’s On Margate Pride 2026
Margate
Pride
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Celebrating ten years of Margate Pride. From film screenings and folk clubs to the biggest free day out of the summer at Dreamland, here is everything happening across the season.
Abbie Neill x Club Climax x Queer Kent Life present a fundraiser night raising money for both Margate Pride and Margate Black Pride. Think 90s queer icons, dress up, show up, strike a pose. All profits go directly to the cause.
Free entryCelebrating ten years of Margate Pride with a quiz and raffle hosted by The Bussy Cat Dolls. Teams, prizes, and plenty of chaos.
Tickets on Outsavvy →Ticket price TBC. Link will update when booking opens.
Amy Redmond from Margate Pride takes over Art Rebels for a joyful, hands-on session making fuzzy felt badges to wear with pride. A lovely creative drop-in for families in the run-up to Pride Day.
Learn more via Turner Contemporary →Open to all LGBTQIA+ young people aged 15 to 25. Topics include neurospicy and self-care, body dysmorphia, and trying out products. Free pizza, snacks, and self-care goodies on the day.
Free — no booking requiredA self-guided trail of queer art across Margate, opening the week before Pride Day. Featuring new work from a wide range of artists, the Pride Art Map turns the whole town into a gallery throughout the Pride season. Pick up a map and explore at your own pace.
FreeThe Pride Art Trail launches at CAMP, kicking off a month of queer art across Margate. Come for the first look and a proper start to the Pride season.
FreeA free summer singing workshop for ages 5 and up, followed by a performance at Margate Pride on Walpole Bay Lawns the following Saturday. A lovely way for little voices to be part of Pride.
FreeDM @margatepride to sign up
A Margate Pride screening of Outlaws, the documentary that follows people criminalised for love who fought back with pride. Directed by Lexi Powner and James Lewis, the film was an official selection at BFI Flare and the London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival. Followed by a Q&A.
Tickets on Outsavvy →Ticket price TBC. Link will update when booking opens.
A joyful, family-focused celebration of inclusive children’s books, with storytime from Lennie Martin, an illustration workshop with Ash Attzs and crafts for little ones. Attending authors include Dean Atta, Lotte Jeffs, Freddie McConnell and Dr Ronx, with books to browse, buy and have signed. Recommended for ages 3–10, all families welcome.
Book via Turner Contemporary →£5
As the sun sets on the eve of Margate Pride, members of the local queer community gather to share their connections to the coastline. The sea here roars through winter and quietly laps through summer, and its shores have long drawn queer folks together and built communities. With contributions from Jessica Lauren, Charlie Condou, Rachel Seoighe, Sam Crerar, Detchema Baptiste, LANTA, Tom Giles, Liv Morris and Margate Pride’s Kate Malyon. A beautiful way to ease into Pride weekend.
Book via Turner Contemporary →£3 low income · £7 standard · £10.50 pay it forward
Ten years of Margate Pride. The town’s biggest free LGBTQIA+ celebration returns with the famous seafront march and a full day at Dreamland. Proudly independent and community-run, with no corporate floats. Come as you are.
Free to attendThe Margate Children’s Choir performs at Margate Pride following their summer workshop. Ages 5 and up, and everyone is welcome to come and listen.
FreeFuel for Pride day: Santa Carla teams up with Punk Rock Pride for LGBTQIA+ charity pints, meal deals and pre-march brunch, with a soundtrack from Filth Margate. Look out for the secret password for a cheeky treat, then it’s a short stomp to the gig at Where Else?
Free entry — food & drink pay as you goA free Pride party in the Cinque Ports basement with DJs AKA Fox and Top Nosher spinning pop divas, queer anthems, floor fillers and Y2K bangers. The perfect late-night Pride knees-up.
Free entryA group show from Nadia Eloise, David Tovar and Michel Cubillos at Salon, three distinct painterly voices sharing one space. Part of the Margate Pride season.
FreeAn exhibition of life drawings from Margate Arts Club’s first term, celebrating queer models and artists, staged as part of the Margate Pride Art Map. Work from a broad roster of local artists, with cover art by Ibi Baxter-Webb.
FreeHow to Get Involved with Margate Pride 2026
Margate Pride is community-funded and community-run, and there are plenty of ways to support it.
Businesses and individuals can donate, volunteer, run a promotion in the run-up to Pride weekend, or apply to become a Friend of Dorothy.
There are no corporate floats in the march, which keeps the focus firmly on the community it celebrates.
Keep an eye out for funding events such as raffles, quizes and more to raise funds for this year’s Pride and if you’d like to volunteer at this year’s Margate Pride, find out more here and share your details.
You can also buy a range of merch from Margate Pride that flies your Pride passion all year round!
