Whether you’re seeking vibrant parties and inspiration, or connections with like-minded people, we’ve curated Britain’s top 10 lesser-known celebrations to explore this year.
1 Diaspora!, Bristol
3 – 6 May 2024
The brand-new festival Diaspora! will be launched by the Diverse Artist Network for the first time in May of this year. The festival’s aim is to provide a stage and support creatives in Bristol who celebrate diverse communities. Seventy-five percent of the performers will be artists from communities which have been historically underrepresented from Bristol and the South West, while the remaining will be from further afield. From theatre, dance, and music to visual and digital arts, poetry and spoken word, a wide range of events will be offered over the four days with the vision to one day become the ‘Edinburgh Fringe’ of diversity arts.
2 Preston Caribbean Carnival, Preston
26 May 2024
Attracting tens of thousands of visitors every year, Preston Caribbean Carnival will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024. The festival is all about celebrating the rich heritage of the Caribbean community. Everyone is welcome to join in and dance to the rhythms of the Caribbean as the city comes alive. This year’s celebrations will honour the founders of the festival and promise to be bigger and better than ever.
3 Mighty Hoopla, London
1 & 2 June 2024
An unmissable event celebrating queer culture with freedom and expression at its heart, Mighty Hoopla festival takes over Brockwell Park every summer. Over two days, this fabulous extravaganza embraces pop music with many female and queer artists on stage, who are normally underrepresented at music festivals. Get together with your friends and dance all weekend with the welcoming community.
4 Africa Oye, Liverpool
22 & 23 June 2024
Originating in 1992, Africa Oyé started as a small event with a few gigs in Liverpool’s city centre and has since established itself as Britain’s largest annual free celebration of African music and culture. With multiculturalism and tolerance at its core, the festival provides a stage for the best of African and Caribbean music. Over 90 independent sellers offer African food, drink, arts and crafts, as well as fashion in the Oyé village on the festival grounds.
5 The Sparkle Weekend, Manchester
8 – 10 July 2024
Welcoming members of the transgender community and their loved ones, The Sparkle Weekend is the world’s largest free celebration of gender diversity. The annual event takes place in Sackville Gardens at the heart of Manchester’s Gay Village. From live music and entertainment to talks and workshops, the program is packed with excitement. The event is free to attend making it accessible to everyone, which is one of the core values of the organisers.
6 Brighton Bear Weekend, Brighton
11–14 July 2024
Britain’s bear community, a subgroup within the male queer scene, will gather and celebrate during the upcoming Brighton Bear Weekend. This increasingly popular event for bears and cubs comprises a range of events, including a garden party, a club night, a Sunday roast, and bear-a-oke. The annual event is one of the friendliest bear events on the seaside and supports the Brighton Rainbow Fund, which makes a difference to the lives of hundreds of individuals within the local LGBTQIA+ community.
7 IW Pride, Isle of Wight
19 – 21 July 2024
Head to the South England’s Isle of Wight for IW Pride, a fabulous party on the sandy beach of Ryde. Plenty of top-class entertainment is offered at this fully inclusive and diverse Pride celebration. The parade will see dazzling floats, music and dancing along the streets. An exciting festival programme is awaiting visitors with former Pussycat Dolls member, Kimberly Wyatt and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 5 Winner, Ginger Johnson, as headliners.
8 Newcastle Mela Festival, Newcastle upon Tyne
25 & 26 August 2024
For over 25 years, the Newcastle Mela Festival has put together a vibrant multicultural program for visitors to experience Pakistani, Bengali, Indian, and other South Asian cultures’ food, music, and entertainment. ‘Mela’ means ‘meeting’ or ‘gathering’ in Hindi, and the festival organisers are proud to put on a magical event that offers something for everyone, no matter their age or background.
9 Scottish Queer International Film Festival (SQIFF), Glasgow
8 – 12 October 2024
Each October, Glasgow hosts the Scottish Queer International Film Festival (SQIFF). Celebrating LGBTQIA+ film in Scotland, the festival is a non-profit event that showcases lesser-known and publicised material from the community. SQIFF aims to challenge inequalities and make arts more accessible for the queer community by organising inspiring and informative year-round events.
10 Iris Prize Festival, Cardiff
8 – 13 October 2024
Held every October, the annual Iris Prize Festival is Cardiff’s LGBTQIA+ alternative to Cannes. Visitors have the opportunity to watch LGBTQIA+ short films and features, attend panel discussions, participate in filmmaker Q&A sessions, and join legendary unmissable parties. The Iris Prize LGBTQIA+ Film Festival brings filmmakers from around the world to Cardiff in Wales to showcase queer stories and increase audiences’ exposure to them.
