Antwerp Pride 2026 from Wednesday 5 to Sunday 9 August

The 18th edition (since 2008) of Antwerp Pride took place from Wednesday 6 to Sunday 10 August 2025 in Antwerp. This year’s theme was “Do not just march! Listen. Understand. Commit”. Prides are a mix of celebration – parties – and activism and advocacy. For the 2025 edition, the organising committee focused on belonging. Belonging to the society at large – the ‘outside world’ – but also belonging within the rainbow realm.

In 2026, Antwerp Pride will as usual take place during the second week of August, the organising committee says in its festivities-closing press release. This means from Wednesday 5 to Sunday 9 August 2026.

Antwerp Pride concluded its eighteenth edition with a vibrant Closing Festival on the Scheldt Quays of Antwerp, drawing an estimated 185,000 attendees across the week’s events.

The parade stood out as the record highlight, featuring 90 delegations—including 44 floats—and evoking the largest turnout since its inception. Organisers report that some 160,000 participants and spectators took to the streets during the parade, marking a milestone in Antwerp Pride’s history.

The Closing Festival featured a breathtaking Show Ball hosted by renowned Antwerp drag queen Sederginne, alongside performances by DJ Kat, Grigri El Macho Fantastico, Belgium‘s Eurovision Song Contest 2025 participant Red Sebastian, Sylver, Level Six, DJ Digna, and DJ Charlie Lima.

Pride Week, starting at Rivierenhof Open-Air Theatre in Deurne midweek, wound its way along the Scheldt Quays in a vibrant display of community and solidarity, broadcast live across multiple media platforms—including for the first time in French-speaking Belgium.

On Friday, the event introduced Queer Families in Town at Sint-Andriesplaats, a family-focused gathering that proved to be a joyful success and is set to return next year.

Overall, organisers described the event as “smooth and successful”, expressing gratitude for the cooperation of the City of Antwerp and emergency services, and thanking all who helped bring this celebratory protest to life.

Incident and administrative arrests

However, the parade was marred at its start by a tense incident involving counter-protesters. The far-right group Voorpost had received official permission from the city to demonstrate with a banner reading ‘There are only two sexes’.

In response, 17 queer activists positioned themselves in front of the Voorpost banner, brandishing queer flags and handmade signs to shield passing pride participants from the message.

Police spokesperson Sven Lommaert confirmed that the activists lacked authorisation to protest there.

Initially tolerated, the queer activists were later requested to relocate for safety reasons. When they refused, asserting equal rights to free expression at the site, police intervened—resulting in their administrative detention. The activists were released a few hours later, with authorities reporting no further legal action anticipated.

Following their arrest, other demonstrators arrived, displaying queer and Palestinian flags. After negotiations with the police’s mediation team, they were permitted to stand adjacent to the Voorpost protesters. Many pride participants voiced strong disapproval of Voorpost’s presence, chanting slogans such as “Pride is a protest”.

Antwerp Pride expressed regret about the incident and pledged further dialogue with city authorities.

“This should not happen again”, spokesperson Wilfried Eetezonne stated firmly.

“We find this incident very unfortunate but are glad it did not escalate. We want to have a discussion with the city about approving such actions. Organising provocations along our route in this way does not seem meaningful to us. For us, this is not something to be repeated.”

Nonetheless, Eetezonne emphasised that, aside from this episode, the rest of the parade and festival was incident-free, with a positive and celebratory atmosphere prevailing.

Antwerp Queer Arts Festival

On social media, Antwerp Queer Arts Festival leading figure Marcia Poelman uttered shock at the incident and the 17 being administratively arrested. Poelman demands both Antwerp Pride and Het Roze Huis talk to the City of Antwerp.

Looking ahead

Reflecting on the week, Antwerp Pride reaffirmed its commitment to equality and human rights, thanking collaborators and warning against future provocations.

With the positive momentum of this year behind them, organisers will now take a short break before launching preparations for the nineteenth edition, scheduled for the second week of August 2026.

The image used is from the 2024 parade, as none of us were present.

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