Reading Pride 2026 Returns Today After Raising More Than £100,000 to Keep the Event Free

Reading Pride returns today, Saturday 5 September, after organisers raised more than £100,000 to ensure the annual parade and festival could go ahead.

The free event begins with the Pride parade assembling outside Reading Station before setting off at around 11am. The procession will travel through the town centre before reaching King’s Meadow at approximately midday, where the main festival begins.

Organisers have spoken openly about the financial pressure involved in staging the event. Reading Pride says the organisation had to work hard to raise more than £100,000 following a difficult period for Pride events nationally, with funding and volunteer shortages contributing to cancellations elsewhere.

Despite those pressures, general admission remains free. The festival programme includes entertainment across several stages alongside a funfair, dedicated family area and a wide range of food, drink and market stalls. Reading Pride is also offering Pride Plus tickets, with money from those sales helping support the free event.

Keeping Reading Pride open to everyone

Reading Pride is run by volunteers, and fundraising remains central to keeping the annual celebration accessible.

Organisers have repeatedly stressed that the event receives limited public funding and relies heavily on sponsors, donations and fundraising activity throughout the year. The cost involved in staging a large public Pride event includes everything from security and medical provision to staging, facilities and event infrastructure.

The fact that the 2026 festival is taking place as planned is therefore significant for both organisers and the wider local LGBT community.

Reading Pride has been bringing Pride into the town centre for more than two decades, with the parade giving community groups, organisations and individuals a visible opportunity to support LGBT equality.

This year’s celebrations once again keep that tradition going, while also highlighting the financial reality facing many volunteer led Pride events around the country.

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