One of the region’s biggest Pride events has been cancelled just weeks before thousands of people were expected to take part in celebrations.
Pride in Liverpool and the city’s annual March with Pride — scheduled to take place on Saturday, 26 July — have been scrapped, with organisers citing severe financial and organisational difficulties. The announcement comes as the city continues to reel from the Liverpool FC parade tragedy that left 79 people injured after a car drove into crowds.
In a statement released today, the LCR Pride Foundation confirmed the 2025 celebration will not go ahead.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the cancellation of this year’s Pride in Liverpool and March with Pride,” the Board of Directors said.
The charity revealed it has faced “significant financial and organisational challenges” in recent months, forcing it to revert to an “almost entirely volunteer-led operation”. A combination of rising costs and a struggle to secure national and local funding ultimately made the event unviable.
Organisers also pointed to the recent decision to end its partnership with Barclays following community feedback — a move they say created “further delays to planning” at an already difficult time.
“Our small team had been working closely with key partners and some fantastic city-based sponsors right up until the end of May to try to ensure the march went ahead, but despite all best efforts we were unable to make it feasible,” they added.
While organisers said they were “devastated” not to host the event this year, they insisted the decision was made to protect the future of Pride in Liverpool, with early planning already underway for a 2026 return.
Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Cllr Harry Doyle, called the cancellation “hugely disappointing”, but said it was “the right decision from a long-term point of view”.
Coun Doyle said: “It’s absence this year will be keenly felt, particularly given the ever-growing need to support our community and promote unity. I know it’s a decision that LCR Pride Foundation has tried valiantly to avoid. However, given the difficult circumstances they find themselves in it’s also understandable and from a long-term point of view, it’s the right decision for them. The Council has had discussions with the Foundation over the last few weeks, and we will continue to assist them to ensure our community can once again march with pride in 2026.”
The foundation said it would now focus on promoting regional Pride events across the city region this summer and is exploring alternative ways to bring the LGBTQ+ community together later in the year.
