Foyle Pride Parade

Assemble from 1pm at North West Transport Hub, Waterside, BT47 6AH 

Remember: express yourself! This pride is not the place for adverts or corporations, bring yourself and your placard to our grassroots parade! 

Route: Duke St | Craigavon Bridge Carlisle Rd | Ferryquay St Shipquay St | Guildhall Sq

(Original 1968 Civil Rights Route)

Live Music in The Guildhall Square from 3pm

Headline Act: Beauty Sleep
Host: Joseph Carlin

*British Sign Language Available

Family Fun Area

In your space circus will be delivering a circus skills workshop in our family area, where people can enjoy the music on the main stage and have a facilitated space for kids

We’re delighted to have the opportunity to partner up with Translink to provide the electric mobility bus for this year’s parade. To book your seat, click the button below

The Playhouse, Artillery Street, BT48 6RG

Cost: Free

We know the parade route is quite long for little legs so bring your young ones to The Playhouse for a morning of crafts and banner making. When the parade makes its way round to Ferryquay Street the children will join the parade with their very own banner.

The craft making space will remain open until 5pm.

Respite Zone

We will have a hydration station and comfortable chairs available to members of the community that need a moment away and some piece and quiet.

The Nerve Centre, 7-8 Magazine St, BT48 6HJ

Cost: £5

18+

A conversation between who we were and who we became.

Centred on voices often missing from queer storytelling, Queers for Years invites older lesbians and queer women living in the North of England to reflect on their lives through photographs of their younger selves. Through personal memories and lived experience, the film reveals the diversity, resilience and complexity of lesbian lives across decades of social change.

In this intimate documentary, the women look back at images of their younger selves and speak directly to the lives they have lived — the joys, struggles, friendships, love and resilience that have shaped them.

There will be a discussion afterwards with the documentary makers, Tricia Duffy, a Derry native and Susan Kerr and some local queer voices.

Spotlight is delivered by Nerve Centre in partnership with Film Hub NI, supported through the BFI Film Audience Network and National Lottery funding.

The Guildhall, Derry, BT48 7BB

Cost: £17.50

Taskmaster Derry returns to the Guildhall for a night of ridiculous challenges, questionable decisions and big laughs!

Inspired by the hit TV show, The Taskmaster, Darren McCay, shall cast his judgemental gaze over five local contestants as they compete to be crowned the winner and lift the ultimate trophy; the Taskmaster's golden head.

This year's brave contestants are comedians Fiona Fedra Carter, Lauxley and Cat Brogan, poet/author Blaithin Gillen and local ghost hunter Jason Dunne.

The contestants will battle through a series of tasks to win love, praise and, most importantly, points from the Taskmaster Darren McCay with his incompetent assistant Mickey Breslin keeping things almost under control.

Only one shall be victorious!

There will be audience tasks to participate in throughout the night to show off your own creativity and problem solving skills.

So if you're looking for a fun, unique night out in one of Derry’s most iconic venues, here is your first task:

Join us for Taskmaster Derry on the 27th August at the Guildhall.

Get your tickets as soon as you can.

Your time starts now!

The Nerve Centre, 7-8 Magazine St, BT48 6HJ

Cost: £8 plus booking fee 

Preview Screening ahead of film’s general release

Lesbian Lines reveals a hidden history through an underground network of telephone helplines. The calls, recorded in handwritten notes, were preserved during a time of profound constitutional change in Ireland, when women were fighting for their rights in a restrictive and conservative society.

Through an ensemble of original helpline volunteers and actors, this little- known history is brought vividly to life, becoming a moving, joyful, and powerful archive built from collective memory. Ultimately, it is a story of community, connection, and the transformative power of listening.

Spotlight is delivered by Nerve Centre in partnership with Film Hub NI, supported through the BFI Film Audience Network and National Lottery funding.

Void Art Centre, 10 Waterloo Pl, BT48 6BU

Cost: Free

Join MakeyUpper Sorcha Shanahan as The Storyfinder - fun interactive storytelling for families that’s hopeful, happy and proud.

Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, 37 Gt James St, BT48 7DF

Cost: £10/£8 Concession

After a magnificent event for the past 3 years, we are bringing back The Pride Monologues for Foyle Pride 2026. Come along to an evening of zany, wild, moving, radical, thought provoking, tear jerking, side-splitting monologues by local LGBTQIA+ writers and performers, some well-known and others new to the stage. This will be a great evening to celebrate Foyle Pride Festival.

Coordinated by Patricia Byrne and Mel Bradley!

“The Pride Monologues is the epitome of the Foyle Pride Festival”, Audience member

*British Sign Language available.

Derby Bar, 63 Great James St, BT48 7DF

Cost: free/ saor in aisce

Cuirimid fáilte Uí Cheallaigh roimh chách go Queercal Comhrá an Bhróid. Imirteas focal atá san ainm, is éard atá i gceist ná ciorcal comhrá atá Aiteach, agus tá grúpaí fud fad na tíre. Thosaigh an Queercal ar an fhód i rith Sheachtain Bhróid dhá bhliain ó shin agus táimid ag dul ó neart go neart ó shin. Is spás oscailte agus sábháilte é seo le cúpla focail a labhairt agus a chleachtadh le daoine Aiteacha eile. Cuirtear fáilte roimh tosaitheoirí chomh maith céanna le cainteoirí líofa. Buailimid go rialta ar an tríú Mháirt d’achan mhí ag 8:30i.n. sa Derby in nDoire. Feicfidh muid ann thú!

We welcome everyone to a Pride-special Queercal Comhrá or Queer Irish-language conversation circle, one of many Queercals all over the country. The Derry Queercal began during Pride Week two years ago and has been going from strength to strength since then. This is an open and safe space to practise with other Queer people. We welcome learners and fluent speakers alike. We meet regularly on the third Tuesday of every month at 8:30pm in the Derby Bar in Derry. See you there!

St Columbs Hall, 10a Newmarket St, BT48 6EB

Cost: Free

Foyle Pride was the first Pride in the North to ban Stormont Executive Parties from participating in our Parade, because of their decision to ban puberty blockers for trans young people. This discussion will outline that decision and reiterate why it still matters, whilst exploring why we will not budge on trans rights and why this matters for the rights of everyone.

Speakers include: Jason Dunne, Jennifer Clifford, Alexa Moore, Riley McCahon

Puca Puca Games, 13 Great James St, BT48 7BZ

Cost: Free

An open gaming session for members of the LGBTQIA+ community! Meet other likeminded people and play some Card Games, Board Games, Video Games & more while you’re at it!

Bennigans Bar, 13 John Street, BT48 6JY

Cost: £3

Ages 18+

In Malaysia, where LGBT identities face legal challenges, a trans man named Faris and his punk band defy norms. They tour, perform, and protest, showcasing resilience, camaraderie, and the rebellious punk ethos amid societal constraints.

Outside Cafe in the Park, (beside the Walled garden), Columb's Park House, 4 Limavady Rd, BT47 6JY

(We'll be in the cafe if the weather turns) 

Cost: Free

This event is for over 18s. 

Come along to find out about Queer Sheds and how you can get involved!

Building practical skills and queer community!

Always been interested by Men's / Hen's sheds but never felt like you'd fit in?

Queer Shed's is inspired by the Men’s and Women’s Sheds movements, which have had a huge impact on isolation in Ireland, by building grassroots community through skill sharing, but make it gay.

Come along to our first open meeting to find out about Queer Sheds Dhoire and how you can get involved!

Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, 37 Great James Street, BT48 7DF

Cost: £6

Whether you’re a regular poetry lover or it’s your first live reading, come along and celebrate queer writing, storytelling and community with us. Email catbroganpoet@gmail.com for more info.

*if attending both Border Lines events the cost will be £13

Little Acorns Bookstore, 18 Great James Street, BT48 7DA

Cost: £10

Join us for a day of poetry, community and queer voices, presented in association with Poetry Ireland / Éigse Éireann. Explore poetry and craft in an intimate workshop led by Michéal McCann, one of Ireland’s most celebrated contemporary poets.

*if attending both Border Lines events the cost will be £13

Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, 37 Great James Street, BT48 7DF

Cost: Free event,

For ages 16 and over

CCA invites writer and organiser Séadgh Donohue to host Queer Archives Writing Workshop. Participants will leaf through queer Irish archives, in books, pamphlets and photos, with a short writing activity.

Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, 37 Great James Street, BT48 7DF

The Creative Queers Art Market has become a staple of the Foyle Pride Festival and makes its return this year.

There'll be something for every taste, whether that be handmade jewellery, fine art prints, badges, bags & more. Come along, support local queer artists and bag yourself something unique & special along the way.

The Playhouse, Artillery Street, BT48 6RG

Official launch of the 2026 Foyle Pride Festival with guest speaker Jackie McCarthy O’Brien, former Ireland International in soccer and rugby. All welcome.

At the Foyle Pride Launch, the Playhouse will also be launching an exhibition on ‘What does Pride mean to you’ which will be on display in the Gallery

Little Acorns Bookstore, 18 Great James Street, BT48 7DA

Cost: Free

Join us for a conversation with Jackie McCarthy O’Brien, the first black player to represent Ireland internationally in rugby and soccer, as she discusses her memoir, ‘We made it, kid’. This memoir tells her extraordinary story up until becoming a TikTok star and LGBTQIA+ icon in her sixties.

Waterside Shared Village, Former Clondermott High School, Irish Street, Waterside, BT47 2DD

Cost: £5 per team player. Free for spectators

The 5-a-side tournament is open to all genders, skill levels and all communities celebrating diversity and tackling discrimination in sport.

Players must be 16+, with no upper age limit.

There will be prizes for the winners in each category.

Void Art Centre, 10 Waterloo Place, BT48 6BU

Cost: Free

The Queer Writers’ circle, organised by Alex Cregan (he/they) aims to be a welcome and a space for all kinds of writers in the LGBTQIA+ community. It strives to provide peer feedback and community to our beautiful and creative Queer community. Come along and share some work, have some laughs or simply listen to the discussions. New or returning, all are welcome!