What is Birmingham Pride?
Birmingham Pride 2027 runs Friday 28 to Sunday 30 May — the festival's 30th anniversary.
The Friday is a free community event; the Saturday and Sunday festival is ticketed, with loyalty weekend tickets at £50.79, day tickets from £29.51 and a Low-Income Ticket Scheme at 50% off. The parade is free to watch.
Birmingham Pride is one of the UK's biggest and most vibrant LGBTQ+ Pride festivals. First staged in 1997, it turns 30 in 2027 — three decades of queer life, equality and community in England's second city. Recent editions have drawn around 75,000 people to the parade route and tens of thousands more across the festival weekend — one of the biggest Pride celebrations outside London.
The shape of the weekend is consistent: a parade through the city centre on the Saturday, then a multi-stage festival in Birmingham's Gay Village on Hurst Street across the weekend, with drag, cabaret, live music and community stalls. The parade is always free to watch. Whether you're a regular or going for the first time, this guide covers the parade, the line-up, the venues and the practical bits.
30 years
loud
From a first Pride in 1997 to 75,000 on the parade route — the road to the 30th anniversary, in the milestones Pride itself marches with.
1997
The first Birmingham Pride
2001
Equal age of consent
2004
Gender Recognition Act
2010
Equality Act
2027
The 30th anniversary — 28–30 May
Swipe the timeline →
First time atPride?
Whether you're newly out, still questioning, or just visiting Birmingham for the first time — you're welcome here. No gatekeeping, no dress code, no expectations.
You don't have to be "out"
Plenty of people come to Pride as allies, with friends, or just to check the vibe. Nobody's going to ask you to explain yourself. Come as you are.
Coming alone is fine
Loads of people do. The parade is a great place to join in — you'll be surrounded by people. Venue staff in the Gay Village are friendly and used to solo visitors.
Wear whatever you want
Rainbow flag? Go for it. Normal clothes? Also fine. Drag? Incredible. There's no right way to do Pride. Comfy shoes are a good shout though — the parade is 1.5 miles.
It's safe
Birmingham Pride has dedicated safety teams, welfare tents, and police liaison officers. The Gay Village is a well-established safe space. If anything feels off, speak to any steward.
Allies welcome
You don't need to be LGBTQ+ to attend. Straight allies, friends, and families are a big part of what makes Pride powerful. Come and celebrate with us.
Bringing kids?
The parade is family-friendly and brilliant for kids — expect colour, music, and lots of waving. In recent years under-12s have gone free to the festival (booked online) and under-18s needed an adult with them — check birminghampride.com for the 2027 rules when booking.
Easiest way in? Start with the free Friday — the community day, no ticket needed — and see how the weekend feels from there.
Where does theParadego?
Free to watch — no ticket, just turn up
This is how the parade has usually run: on the Saturday of Pride weekend, gathering from late morning in the city centre and stepping off at 12 noon. Organisers haven't confirmed the 2027 parade details yet — this section will be updated when they do.
The route covers roughly 1.5 miles through the city centre — along New Street, up High Street to Carrs Lane, then down past St Martin's Circus and along Smallbrook Queensway — finishing at Hippodrome Square on Hurst Street, where the Village takes over. The map shows the route's usual shape — in 2026 the start was diverted through Pinfold Street and Stephenson Street while upper New Street was resurfaced — and exact streets and step-off times are confirmed by the organisers each year.
The Usual Parade Route
Swipe the map →
Victoria Square on Google Maps
An accessible parade route (shorter, quieter) is available — details in the accessibility section below.
TheLine-up
Recent headliners · Pride 2026
Katy B Sigala Danny Beard Nadine Coyle Boney M
The 2027 line-up will be confirmed closer to the festival, and this page will carry it when it lands. Drag is the festival's backbone year-round — see our Birmingham drag shows guide.
Background: House Gospel Choir · Pride 2026 · photo: Birmingham Pride
What’s on duringPride Weekend?
The 2027 programme is building — confirmed Pride weekend events across Birmingham land here as venues announce them: afterparties, brunches, viewing parties, club nights. Running one? Submit it. Can't wait for May? This weekend's listings are already live.
Pride events coming soon
Afterparties, brunches, club nights and more will appear here as venues announce them. Follow us on Instagram for updates.
Which venues are open forPride?
The Gay Village on Hurst Street is the heart of Birmingham's LGBTQ+ scene. These are the venues you need to know for Pride weekend.
The Nightingale Club
Birmingham's oldest and most iconic LGBTQ+ club — "the Gale" to regulars. If the Village is the festival's engine room, this is the engine.
The full page →
Missing Bar
The first LGBT venue on Hurst Street — drag shows, cabaret and pop DJs, steps from where the parade finishes.
The full page →
The Fox
The only LGBTQ+ venue in the city marketing to a lesbian audience, in a building that's been pouring pints since 1901.
The full page →The rest of the crawl
The Village Inn
Regular cabaret, drag, and a staple of the Village.
Glamorous
Late-night club with drag and DJs seven nights a week.
The Hub at Eden
Eden's dedicated event space, home to the big club nights.
Eden Bar
Reopened and back in the heart of the scene.
The Fountain Inn
Old-school gay pub, once men-only, now open to all.
Equator Bar
Coffee by day, gin bar by night.
Worth the detour · Jewellery Quarter
Yumbo
Birmingham's newest LGBTQ+ venue opened in August 2026 — over in the Jewellery Quarter rather than the Village, and the downstairs bar is free to walk into. Their words: "Open to All · Walk-ins Welcome". Build it into the weekend before the Village pulls you back.
Everything about YumboHow much areTickets?
Loyalty tickets for Pride 2027 went on sale on 12 August 2026 and are limited. Prices below include booking fees. A Low-Income Ticket Scheme offers eligible people tickets at 50% of face value — details at birminghampride.com/tickets.
Parade
FREE
No ticket needed — just turn up
Friday 28 May
FREE
Big Free Community Event
Loyalty Weekend
£50.79
Sat 29 + Sun 30 May · incl. £6.29 booking fee
Loyalty Day Ticket
£29.51
Saturday or Sunday · incl. booking fee
VIP
£66.47+
Sat or Sun · VIP Weekend £110.71
Sold via Citizen Ticket, Birmingham Pride's official ticket partner. Prices last verified 15 August 2026.
Tickets sorted? Book the bed next.
The Village hotels fill fast around Pride weekend — three we'd actually book, all five minutes from the stages.
Make aWeekendof it
The best bit of Pride never makes the line-up. It's 2am on Hurst Street — glitter in the gutter, heels in hand, and your bed five minutes away.
Day-trip it and the evening turns into clock-watching — the last train home always leaves just as the Village gets going. Stay over and Saturday doesn't have to end: there's a whole Sunday of festival to do it again, and the Monday is a bank holiday. Recovery is built in.
Where to stay for Birmingham Pride
The Village is compact, so stay close and the walk home is a stroll, not a saga. Three we’d actually book — all within five minutes of the action.
Value, on the doorstep
Ibis Birmingham (New Street Station)
Standard Ibis, next to the Hippodrome, under five minutes to Hurst Street.
7.4 on Booking.com · 6,076 reviews
Book
A step up
Radisson Blu (Holloway Circus)
Full-service, top of Hurst Street.
8.1 on Booking.com · 5,654 reviews
Book
Budget done right
easyHotel (John Bright Street)
Clean, central, five minutes out.
7.5 on Booking.com · 5,290 reviews
BookHotel photography via Booking.com
Browse all Village hotelsBook early for Birmingham Pride — the Village hotels fill fast around it.
Some links here are affiliate links — book through them and Brum Outloud earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only list places we’d stay in ourselves.
How Do I Get to Birmingham Pride?
By Train (recommended)
Birmingham New Street Station — a short walk to the Gay Village on Hurst Street. Main hub, all major operators.
By Bus
Multiple routes serve the city centre. Transport for West Midlands: 0121 214 7214 or tfwm.org.uk
By Car
Expect road closures on Pride weekend, especially along the parade route. City centre multi-storey car parks available. Plan ahead.
By Bike
Cycle routes to the city centre with secure bike parking typically available on site.
Is Birmingham Pride Accessible?
Organisers list the festival site as fully wheelchair accessible, with ramps and flat surfaces
Accessible parade route available (shorter, quieter — pre-book recommended)
Quiet spaces and sensory-friendly areas on site
Under-18s have needed an accompanying adult in recent years
For access requirements, email access@birminghampride.com — they're really helpful and want everyone to have a great time.
Birmingham Pride 2027 FAQ
When is Birmingham Pride?
Birmingham Pride 2027 runs Friday 28 to Sunday 30 May 2027 — the festival's 30th anniversary. The Friday is a free community event; the ticketed festival runs Saturday and Sunday in the Gay Village. Pride falls on the late-May bank holiday weekend every year.
Is the parade free?
Yes — completely free to watch, no ticket needed. In recent years it has stepped off at noon on the Saturday from the city centre; the 2027 parade details are still to be confirmed.
How much are tickets?
For Pride 2027: the Friday community event and the parade are free; loyalty weekend tickets are £50.79 and Saturday tickets £29.51 (incl. booking fees), with Sunday from £29.51 — on sale now at birminghampride.com. A Low-Income Ticket Scheme offers eligible people 50% off face value.
Is Birmingham Pride 2027 free?
Partly. The Friday 28 May community event is free, as is the parade; the Saturday and Sunday festival is ticketed, with a Low-Income Ticket Scheme at 50% off for eligible people. Festival director Lawrence Barton had said in April 2026 he hoped the 30th-anniversary festival could be completely free; the tickets released in August 2026 were paid, with organisers pointing to the free Friday, held-down loyalty prices and the low-income scheme as the balance against what staging the festival costs — an outcome short of what some had hoped for.
What's the parade route?
Victoria Square → Bennetts Hill → New Street → High Street → Carrs Lane → St Martin's Circus → Smallbrook Queensway → Hurst Street (Gay Village). About 1.5 miles. Accessible route also available.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Yes. Fully wheelchair accessible festival site. Accessible parade route (shorter, quieter). Quiet spaces on site. Email access@birminghampride.com with any requirements.
How do I get there?
Birmingham New Street is the nearest station — short walk to Gay Village on Hurst Street. If driving, expect road closures. Multiple bus routes serve the centre.
Where should I stay for Pride?
In or beside the Gay Village, around Hurst Street — five minutes from New Street and from every stage. We list three vetted hotels in the Where to Stay section above, all within a five-minute walk, with more in our Birmingham hotel guide.
Should I make a weekend of it?
If you can, yes. Pride runs across the whole late-May bank-holiday weekend — the parade on the Saturday, two days of stages and parties, and the Monday to recover. Staying over near the Village means the walk home is a stroll, not a dash for the last train.
Can I bring children?
Yes — the parade is family-friendly and free to watch. For the festival, under-12s have gone free (booked online) in recent years and under-18s needed an adult with them; check birminghampride.com for the 2027 rules when booking.
What's the Low-Income Ticket Scheme?
Eligible people can get tickets at 50% of face value, so cost is less of a barrier to attending. Eligibility and how to apply are set out by the organisers at birminghampride.com — look for Low Income Tickets under the tickets section.
Hosting a Pride Event?
Running a Pride afterparty, brunch, viewing party, or any LGBTQ+ event during Pride weekend? Submit it and we'll list it here.
Submit Your Pride EventTravelling in for Pride? Visiting Gay Birmingham covers the Village, getting here and making a weekend of it.