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.
On Tuesday night, Antwerp Pride held its opening reception at Antwerp City Hall, hosted by the City of Antwerp. The Antwerp Pride organising committee took the opportunity to reiterate what this year’s Pride is about: ‘fearless’. The reception is also the opportunity to sum up what’s on the menu the next few days and to thank people, partners and volunteers.
Perhaps unusually, it was Alderman for Sports, Religious Services and Animal Welfare Stijn De Rooster (N-VA) who spoke for the City. He drew parallels with the attack on Berlin Pride in July.
There’s no room in Antwerp for hate directed at sexual orientation and gender identity. Not verbally, not physically and not online, De Rooster said. “We won’t accept it. We know where it comes from: from the far right, and from islamism. Yes I dare to name them.”
Naming islamism isn’t popular in some circles. A right-wing party as N-VA doesn’t mind. But De Rooster did also name (and shame) the far right, which is less evident.
De Rooster ended with: “Long Live Antwerp, Long Live Antwerp Pride, Long Live Love.”
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 | Queer Families in Town on Friday 7 August at Sint-Andriesplaats.
- ANTWERP PRIDE 2026 | Post-parade Love United Festival line-up, on Saturday 8 August at Cockerillkaai.
- Ype Driessen’s ‘Vanilla’ explores sex, friendship and breaking free from romantic expectations.
- PHOTOS | Rainbow-lit Antwerp for Pride.
- ANTWERP PRIDE 2026 | Shopping areas to embrace Antwerp Pride.
- PHOTOS | 2026 Antwerp Pride Info Center & Shop moves to another space in Shopping Stadsfeestzaal.
- Antwerp decked out in rainbow colours ahead of Antwerp Pride 2026.
- ANTWERP PRIDE 2026 | XL ‘Love Is Love’ rainbow banner on Boerentoren.
- 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.
- Antwerp Pride: “We will not be intimidated” after deadly attack at Berlin Pride.
- 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.
- PRIDE & PREJUDICE | Europe must defend diversity and democracy against growing pressure, says professor Hendrik Vos.
- FEARLESS | Antwerp Pride calls for courage as conservative movements gain ground.
- ANTWERP PRIDE 2026 | Lien Van de Kelder: “Antwerp is a sanctuary and a refuge”.
- ANTWERP PRIDE 2026 | Mayor Els van Doesburg states freedom and mutual respect remain the foundation of Pride.
- ANTWERP PRIDE 2026 | 5-day festival combines protest, celebration and community as organisers respond to rising discrimination and global backlash.
- ANTWERP PRIDE 2026 | Galleries and artists unite under ‘Together’ initiative with shared float, exhibitions and queer art programme.
- Antwerp to introduce extra security measures for Pride amid safety concerns.
- Antwerp Pride 2026 adopts ‘Fearless’ theme, with safety concerns shaping preparation.
- 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
- ANTWERP QUEER ARTS FESTIVAL 2026 | Good old-fashioned ‘La Bamba’ Kusjesdans / Kissing Dance at Zuidpark on Saturday 8 August.
- Antwerp Queer Arts Festival to host Pride rally calling for action on LGBTQIA+ equality.
- PROGRAMME | 2026 Antwerp Queer Arts Festival from Friday 19 June to Sunday 16 August.
- Antwerp Queer Arts Festival 2026 unveils diverse programme from Friday 19 June to Sunday 16 August.
Reclaim Our Pride 2026
- ANTWERP | 27 June Reclaim Our Pride protest march postponed due to extreme heat, evening event at Het Bos to proceed.
- 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).
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).
- SATURDAY 8 AUGUST 2026 | Pride Express links Utrecht – Amsterdam – Rotterdam Antwerp – Rotterdam Amsterdam – Utrecht for Antwerp Pride 2026.
- 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.
- EuroGames 2028 in Frankfurt: will Antwerp aim for 2029 or 2030?.
- 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?.
- Belgium to host Eurovision Song Contest 2026? But in which city?.
- ANTWERP 2025-2030 | City government agreement supports bid for EuroGames in Antwerp in 2028.
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