Pride organisations from Italy, Lithuania, Spain and the United Kingdom are facing each other in a bid to host the annual pan-European LGBTI+ event EuroPride in 2027.
Torino Pride (IT), Baltic Pride Vilnius (LT), Torremolinos Pride (ES) and Pride in Gloucestershire (UK) have all been confirmed today (Tuesday 2 April 2024) as bidders by the governing organisation, the European Pride Organisers Association. EuroPride – which began in London in 1992 – gives a special focus to one Pride event each year and can attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to the parade, concert, human rights debates and social activities. This year’s EuroPride is taking place in Thessaloniki, Greece, from 21-29 June, and next year Lisbon will host. In 2026 Amsterdam will host WorldPride, and is also designated EuroPride for the same year. Lenny Emson (he/him), President of the European Pride Organisers Association which licenses EuroPride, said: “With the increase in right-wing and far-right governments and politicians across Europe, Pride events are becoming ever more important as an opportunity for the LGBTI+ community to come together and show their strength in numbers and togetherness. EuroPride continues to grow in importance and as a stand against the weaponisation of LGBTI+ rights in politics wherever it takes place.” “The variety and diversity in the organisations bidding for EuroPride 2027 is a wonderful expression of the variations of the Pride movement in Europe. We have a very rural Pride, a Pride in a very touristic city, a Pride in a famously historic city, and a Pride in a former Soviet-occupied country: we have a lot to consider and a lot to choose from!” José Ignacio Martínez Pérez (he/him), President of ACOGAT Torremolinos, said: “We want to change the perception that Europe has of Torremolinos, rediscovering Torremolinos, its history. To remember “Pasaje Begoña”, a space of freedom and a multitude of colours in the grey Spain of the ‘60s. And to show present day Torremolinos as a multicultural city where the LGBTIQ+ community is fully integrated. In 2027, we will celebrate the centenary of the Generation of ’27, something that is very present in Torremolinos today thanks to Lorca and Dalí and because it is essential to defend the Europe of Human Rights and Equality as we always have and will in Torremolinos.” Alessandro Battaglia (he/him), Coordinator of Torino Pride’s candidacy, said: “Turin EuroPride 2027 keeps the spotlight on the Italian situation, which is still behind not only relating to LGBTQ+ rights. It would also be a chance to highlight how much one of the EU founding countries – among the most visited in the world – needs to seriously start a path towards inclusivity and let go of its homotransphobic right-wing legacy. “Turin is no coincidence: the city is the birthplace of the Italian LGBTQ+ movement and, more recently, of the great development in LGBTQ+ rights. Our ambition – through EuroPride – is that Turin becomes the driving force for nationwide change.” Vladimir Simonko (he/him), Executive Director of LGL Baltic Pride Vilnius, said: “I am delighted that Vilnius will be bidding to host EuroPride for the first time. I am sure that EuroPride would become a celebration for everyone, including LGBTI activists from Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia, who found safety in Vilnius. It is symbolic that Lithuania will hold the position of Presidency of the Council of the European Union during Pride. “Lithuania remains the only Baltic country with no legal protection for same-sex relationships and we are certain that the possibility to organise EuroPride 2027 in Vilnius would have a long-lasting positive effect on the situation of the LGBTI community in Lithuania.” Richard Stevens (he/him), Chairperson of Pride in Gloucestershire, said: “2027 will mark 15 years since EuroPride was last held in the UK. The UK, once known for its strong LGBTI+ credentials has seen a continuous decline in not only its international standing but also community confidence and fear from a rise in hate crime and creeping influence of extremists. “With Gloucestershire’s reputation for hosting world-class events coupled with our reputation for being inclusive and community-focused, across a whole region, we feel that we will be able to deliver a EuroPride with impact that empowers the LGBTI+ community not just in the UK but across the whole of Europe”. Candidate organisations now have around five months to complete their bids before submitting them to the European Pride Organisers Association. They will be published on Friday 6 September with the voting and announcement of the winner due to take place on Saturday 2 November in Porto, Portugal. ENDSNotes to editors
- The EuroPride title is awarded by a majority vote of the members of the European Pride Organisers Association. Read more about the history and process of EuroPride on our website at: https://epoa.eu/apply-for-europride/
- All bidding organisations must submit their bids to EPOA by Monday 2 September 2024. They will then be checked for eligibility and published on the EPOA website at 10.00 CEST on Friday 6 September 2024.
- Each full member organisation of EPOA in attendance at the AGM (1-3 November, Porto, Portugal) will have one vote. A simple majority is required. The result is expected to be announced in the afternoon of Saturday 2 November and will be live streamed on EPOA’s Facebook page.
- Following the success of EuroPride in the 1990s, WorldPride was launched in 2000 and is licensed by InterPride. By convention, when WorldPride takes place in Europe the event is usually also awarded the EuroPride title.