Posted on by Steve Taylor

Manchester and the West of Ireland compete to host EuroPride 2028

Friday 4 April 2025

Two bids have been confirmed as in the running to host the 2028 edition of EuroPride, Europe’s most significant LGBTQIA+ event. 

Manchester Pride in northern England will compete with a joint ‘West of Ireland’ bid from Limerick Pride, QuareClare and The Outing Festival. Manchester hosted EuroPride in 2003 whereas the event has never been on the island of Ireland. 

Patrick Orth, President of the European Pride Organisers Association (EPOA) which licenses EuroPride, welcomed the bids saying: 

“The high velocity of political change across Europe is making EuroPride even more important for our community to come together and keep pressing for change. The political shifts in the UK and Ireland are no less profound and so it is exciting to have bids from both countries to center their LGBTQIA+ communities in European consciousness. I look forward to seeing their ambitions in their full bid later this year.” 

Mark Fletcher, Chief Executive of Manchester Pride, said: 

“At a time when LGBTQIA+ rights are being challenged throughout Europe there are increasing attacks on LGBTQIA+ people, delays with essential legislation and rollback of protections here in the UK, alongside a rise in hate-fuelled rhetoric across the continent. Hosting EuroPride 2028 in Manchester will send a clear message: our communities will not be silenced, erased, or pushed back into the shadows.   

EuroPride 2028 in Manchester would be a bold, unapologetic celebration of LGBTQIA+ joy, creativity, and resilience, bringing us together in solidarity of the Pride movement to protest, party and campaign for change. It is a crucial time for the progression of LGBQTIA+ rights and we are calling on our neighbours for support. Together we are stronger.” 

Eddie McGuinness, spokesperson for the EuroPride Ireland 2028 bid, said: 

“The Outing Queer Arts Collective & Festival, QuareClare, and Limerick LGBTQ+ Pride in our bid for EuroPride 2028 in County Clare and County Limerick in Ireland. This presents a unique chance for LGBTQIA+ community to experience Ireland’s rich culture and spirit. 

Hosting EuroPride 2028 would be a historic milestone, celebrating love, diversity, and acceptance against the stunning backdrop of the Wild Atlantic Way. This event would highlight island of Ireland’s welcoming nature and extend ‘Pride in Our Community’. 

Let’s create a momentous festival together. Céad Míle Fáilte to all international visitors!” 

Both teams now have some time to finalise their bids before they are published in August and reviewed by EPOA’s member Prides, each having one vote. Bids will be presented at the EPOA annual conference in Barcelona in October, with the winner expected to be announced on Saturday 11 October.  

EuroPride began in London in 1992 and in recent years has taken place in Copenhagen, Belgrade, Malta and Thessaloniki, and this year will be in Lisbon from 14-22 June. Next year EuroPride will run alongside WorldPride in Amsterdam, and in 2027 EuroPride will be in Turin. 

Notes to editors 

  1. On the EPOA website is information on the bidding process and information on the history of EuroPride. Please note that EuroPride is a trademark and is always styled with upper case ‘E’ and ‘P’. 
  1. Bids for EuroPride 2028 must be submitted to EPOA by Sunday 10 August 2025 and after validation they will be published on the EPOA website (provisionally on Wednesday 20 August). 
  1. Each bidding organisation (or group of organisations) will be allocated 20 minutes to present their bid during the EPOA conference after which there is time for members to ask questions.  
  1. Each Pride organisation that is a full member of EPOA has one vote in a secret electronic ballot. The winning bid is the one with the highest number of votes with a minimum of 51% of the vote share. 
  1. EPOA has an elected board member who is also an employee of Manchester Pride. As in previous similar situations EPOA ensures that board members with an actual or potential conflict of interest are not a part of any decision-making process in relation to the bidding for EuroPride. 

Media contacts 

  • For the European Pride Organisers Association please email media@europride.info to arrange interviews or for further information.