2026 marks the nineteenth (19th) edition of Antwerp Pride. From Wednesday 5 to Sunday 9 August, Antwerp in Belgium will once again be taken over by rainbow vibes. Prides are a mix of celebration – parties – and activism and advocacy. For the 2026 edition, the organising committee focuses on fearing less and being fearless.
Since Thursday 30 July 2026, an extra large progress rainbow banner hangs from the Boerentoren, the Farmers Tower. The tower is a major landmark of the city and owner Katoen Natie and the City of Antwerp have now placed a banner with the message “Liefde is liefde. Samen we kleuren we Antwerpen“, “Love Is Love. Together we colour Antwerp“.
A comment on the use of ‘Love Is Love’
‘Love Is Love’ (and spin-offs such as ‘Love Wins Out‘) is a popular slogan for the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s clear why: it’s simple, it’s clear, it’s straight-friendly, and it’s family-friendly. It’s all ages. Nothing shocking. It also sounds great. Nobody can sensibly be against it.
But there’s a flip side. It’s very heteronormative, and it dismisses singles. Don’t single people have a sexual orientation? Is sexual orientation only relevant when one is in a romantic relationship with a significant other? No, but the world acts like it.
Acceptance of gay, queer, LGBTQIA+ people goes beyond acceptance of same-sex couples. Single people don’t matter, is the message. They can only redeem themselves when their actively looking for love.
I understand while the general public doesn’t ponder the issue. But the rainbow community, LGBTQIA+ organisations and queer people should know, and do better.
By default, queer people think deeper on relationships and physical attraction, contemplating alternatives to the ‘man + woman + children’ expectations. (Over)using ‘Love Is Love’ doesn’t fit that. Many non-heterosexual people will be single the majority of their adult life. Let’s not erase their life experience.
Single & Solo
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- Hotel room for one.
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Antwerp Pride 2026-2027
- ANTWERP | ‘Between us. Exploring queer spaces’: Museum Aan de Stroom (MAS) hosts exhibition for 20 years of Antwerp Pride, from 26 February to 30 August 2027.
- Antwerp Pride 2026 parade route.
- ANTWERP PRIDE 2026 | Police maintain Pride security plans after Berlin attack as LGBTQIA+ groups call for stronger action against hate.
- ANTWERP PRIDE 2026 | Pride in Town on Friday 7 August at Sint-Andriesplaats.
- Antwerp Pride to host community meeting on resilience and safety.
- DEURNE | 2026 Antwerp Pride Opening Night at OLT Rivierenhof on Wednesday 5 August.
- ANTWERP PRIDE 2026 | NMBS / SNCB opens ‘Change Station’ at Perszaal of Antwerp-Central.
- ANTWERP PRIDE | Yves de Brabander and Cedric Jacquemyn present ‘Absence, Returned’ from 6 August to 11 September 2026.
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- Boylesque Dinner Show brings cabaret, drag and dining to Antwerp Pride on Friday 7 August 2026.
- ANTWERP PRIDE 2026 | MAS Darling returns with week-long queer culture, film and party festival.
- Alternative love stories: author Nikita Goossens puts friendship and aromanticism centre stage.
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- FEARLESS | Antwerp Pride calls for courage as conservative movements gain ground.
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- ANTWERP PRIDE 2026 | Mayor Els van Doesburg states freedom and mutual respect remain the foundation of Pride.
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- ANTWERP PRIDE 2026 | Galleries and artists unite under ‘Together’ initiative with shared float, exhibitions and queer art programme.
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- Antwerp Pride 2026 adopts ‘Fearless’ theme amid call for resilience and visibility.
- Antwerp Pride 2026 adopts ‘Fearless’ and ‘Fear Less’ as its theme.
- Antwerp Pride 2026 from Wednesday 5 to Sunday 9 August.
Antwerp Queer Arts Festival 2026
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Reclaim Our Pride 2026
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Beyond Darklands 2027
The latest on LGBTQIA+ events such as prides in Belgium
- Brussels Pride 2026 on Saturday 16 May, will celebrate 30 years of Pride: how rainbow historiography deletes two decades.
- Liège Pride 2026 from 28 to 30 August.
- BELGIUM | First Mechelen Canal Pride on Saturday 25 July.
- Limburg Pride 2027 on Sunday 4 July.
- ANTWERP PRIDE 2026 | 5-day festival combines protest, celebration and community as organisers respond to rising discrimination and global backlash.
- TURNHOUT | New LGBTQIA+ Pride festival Love Out Loud on Saturday 5 September 2026.
- PROGRAMME | 2026 Antwerp Queer Arts Festival from Friday 19 June to Sunday 16 August.
- PRIDES IN BELGIUM 2026 | Bruges Pride (12-14 June), Mons Pride (13 June), Reclaim Our Pride (Antwerp, 27 June), Tournai Pride (27 June), Limburg Pride (Hasselt, 12 July), Antwerp Pride (5-9 August), Liège Pride (29-30 August), Leuven Pride (27 September).
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- Namur Pride on Saturday 30 May 2026.
- BELGIUM | 216,000 celebrate 30 years of Brussels Pride.
- From the Stonewall Inn Riots to Brussels and Antwerp Pride: how much did the New York riots really influence queer activism in Belgium and the Netherlands?.
- BELGIUM | Beyond Darklands 2027 ‘The Ember Dunes’ from Tuesday 16 to Monday 22 February in Antwerp.
- Rainbow Festival Oostende 2026 on Friday 8, Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 May.
- Pride Express links Ghent, Brussels and Antwerp to WorldPride Amsterdam on 1 and 2 August 2026.
- Queer March Ghent returns in March 2026.
- BRUGES | Prisma Queer Arts Festival on 16, 17 and 18 January 2026.
- HAPPY NEW QUEER 2026 | Bruges on 17 January and Leuven on 23 January.
- PROGRAMME | Pinx 2026 LGBTQIA+ film festival in Ghent and Antwerp from 27 January to 1 February.
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- Pride Museum pop-up draws 4,000 visitors and strengthens case for permanent queer space in Brussels.
- Mechelen to organise a Pride Week from 2026?.
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- ANTWERP 2025-2030 | City government agreement supports bid for EuroGames in Antwerp in 2028.
