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Leuven Pride to return in September 2026 with focus on safety after revelations of suspected 2024 attack

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Leuven Pride will return for its third edition on Saturday 26 September 2026, with organisers placing a renewed emphasis on safety following revelations about a suspected foiled attack targeting the city’s 2024 Pride march.

The annual event will once again feature a Pride Walk through the city centre, followed by a Pride Show and evening celebrations. Organisers said this year’s edition will centre on visibility, solidarity and connection, while deliberately maintaining its grassroots character by excluding floats, VIP areas and corporate sponsorship. Instead, the focus will remain on the people taking part and the collective message of equality and inclusion.

The programme begins at 15:00, when participants will gather at a central square within walking distance of Leuven railway station. The Pride Walk will set off at 16:00, with organisers expecting participants to return to Ladeuzeplein around 17:30 for the start of the Pride Show. Live music will continue until 21:00, after which the official Closing Party will take place at Het Depot.

Leuven Pride said safety has become a central theme for this year’s event, noting that discrimination and violence against LGBTQIA+ people are too often minimised or dismissed. The organisation stressed that everyone deserves respect, safety and equal opportunities, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

The organisers will only publish the Pride Walk route a few days before the event because of the threat of counter-protests. Free drinking water and toilets, including an accessible restroom, will be available at the event site, while food trucks and a bar will serve visitors throughout the afternoon and evening.

Accessibility at the heart of the event

Organisers said they want Leuven Pride to be as accessible as possible. The march will proceed at a manageable pace, and although Leuven’s cobbled streets make some sections difficult for wheelchair users, participants with reduced mobility will be able to join the walk at a designated pickup point covering a shorter and more accessible section of the route.

The Pride Show will feature a reserved viewing area for wheelchair users and people requiring seating, as well as Flemish Sign Language interpretation. The programme will be presented in both Dutch and English, with digital translations provided where possible.

Organisers respond to suspected 2024 attack

The renewed focus on security comes after reports emerged of a suspected plot targeting Leuven Pride in 2024 that was allegedly prevented by the security services.

In a joint statement, the Leuven Pride organising committee, consisting of UniQue Rainbow House and Queer Leuven, said it was shocked by the news and strongly condemned all forms of hatred and violence. The organisations thanked the security services for preventing what they described as a possible attack and said they would continue to monitor developments closely.

Despite the revelations, organisers stressed that Leuven Pride 2026 will proceed as planned. They said they remain in close contact with the City of Leuven, police and emergency services to ensure the event can take place safely.

The committee also called on both the Flemish and Belgian federal governments to take preventive measures to guarantee the safety of Pride events across the country.

In addition, UniQue Rainbow House invited anyone affected by the news or seeking support from the LGBTQIA+ community to visit its Leuven centre for an evening of solidarity and conversation.

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