York Pride is back this weekend – here’s everything you need to know ahead of the event!
The annual rainbow-filled celebration of love and equality returns to the Knavesmire on Saturday 30 May – with a day full of family fun, music, entertainment, food and drink, dancing, and community.
We’ve put together a guide to everything you need to know for the day – take a look below.
Happy Pride!
What’s happening
10am Pre-Pride Party
Join YorkMix for a pre-Pride party at Thor’s Tipi on Parliament Street to get the celebration vibes started. There’ll be live DJ sets, the chance to win some great prizes, and lots of games to get involved in.
12pm The Parade
A staple of York Pride is the parade to the Knavesmire, where the community can come together as one and march together – with flags, music, and joy.
The parade will assemble on Parliament Street between HSBC and M&S from 10:30am, and the march to the Knavesmire will begin at 12pm.
Take a look at our map to see the route for 2026. The rolling road closures (approximate timings) are Low Ousegate, Ouse Bridge and Skeldergate: 12:15pm – 1:00pm and Bishopgate Street, Bishopthorpe Road, Campleshon Road, Knavesmire Road: 12:45pm – 1:45pm.
The York Pride Parade is approximately 2.4 miles long and typically takes 60–90 minutes to complete.
The parade will arrive at the Knavesmire approximately at 1:30pm.
Whether you’re joining in with the parade or simply watching it pass by, it is always a spectacular sight to see.
12:30pm Live entertainment
There will be live music and entertainment on the Main Stage from 12:30pm to 7pm, with headliner Nadine Coyle. As one fifth of Girls Aloud, Nadine is part of one of the UK’s most loved pop groups, with a catalogue packed full of songs that defined chart countdowns, nights out and dance floors for years.
Performances on the main stage also include Joe McElderry, Urban Cookie Collective, Nicki French, Michael Marouli, Roxanne Cooper, Sweet Like Sabrina, Heavenly Bodies, Jordan Smart, DJ Rory Hoy and the cast of York Stage’s Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
The main stage is hosted by returning hosts St Sordid Secret, Mamma Bear, and Emmerdale‘s Ash Palmisciano!
YorkMix are partnering with York Pride for the Family Area this year, and it’s set to be bigger and more family-friendly than ever. The YorkMix Stage, supported by P.J Staffing and hosted by Hull’s comedy duo Jeddy Bear & Gary, will bring a full day of live entertainment, family acts and activities – including free circus skills workshops!
There’s also the Cabaret Stage, returning with a packed line-up of drag, cabaret and queer performance, hosted by Miss Kitty Lee and Crudi Dench.
There will also be a dedicated dance tent, two bars, a huge variety of food and drink, community and shopping stalls to browse through, and the UK’s largest one-day funfair.
8pm Afterparty
The fun will continue at the official York Pride afterparty at Ziggy’s Bar & Nightclub on Micklegate.
The doors will open from 8pm for a full night of Pride celebrations, live drag performances, DJs, hosting and queer joy until 3am. The party will feature live performances from Baby Darling, Gemma Nyne and Queen Queef, plus DJ and host Mamma Buffay.
Entry is £6 but if you’re a York Pride 2026 Wristband holder it’s free entry before 11pm.
How to get there
The simplest – and funnest – way to get to York Pride is walking with the parade.
There are no parking facilities at the Knavesmire site, and there is limited parking for those with a blue badge. The nearest car parks are Nunnery Lane Car Park, Bishopthorpe Road Car Park and Rowntree Park Car Park.
Once again, First York will have their special Pride Day bus ticket! They are discounting their FirstDay Adult bus ticket especially for the day – use code YORKPRIDE to get £1.50 off your FirstDay ticket in the ‘York’ section of the First Bus app, valid for unlimited travel on Saturday 30 May.
How much is it
York Pride is a free event! There is no entry fee, but donations are welcomed.
You can get your York Pride 2026 wristband for £6, which gets you over 50 discounts across York’s shops, bars, restaurants, and attractions – see the full list here.
Wristbands can be purchased online or in person at York Pride HQ and Shop (on Pride day), Visit York on Parliament Street, Rainbow Ceramics on Bootham, Nags Head on Micklegate, Roman Bath at St Sampson’s Square, and LNER Ticket Office at York Station.
At the event there will be food, drink and shopping stalls with refreshments and goodies available to buy. All official York Pride stalls and the bar take card and cash, and most traders accept both.
The nearest cash machine is the Sainsbury’s Local on Blossom Street.
For more information about the event, visit the York Pride website.
