Taking place from Monday 6th to Saturday 18th July, Waltham Forest Pride 2026 will feature a borough-wide programme of workshops, exhibitions, film screenings, discussions, and drag
A new community-led LGBTQ+ festival is set to launch across Waltham Forest this July, bringing together local venues, artists, charities, and residents for two weeks of events celebrating queer culture, creativity, and community.
Waltham Forest Pride 2026 will launch this July as a new borough-wide celebration of LGBTQ+ culture, bringing together communities, artists, venues and organisations in a grassroots initiative that organisers hope will become a lasting annual fixture in the borough’s calendar.
Taking place from Monday 6th to Saturday 18th July, Waltham Forest Pride 2026 will feature a borough-wide programme of workshops, exhibitions, film screenings, discussions, drag, cabaret, community events, and nightlife across Walthamstow, Leyton, Leytonstone, Highams Park, and Chingford.
The festival has been organised by the Waltham Forest Pride Collective in partnership with Walthamstow Trades Hall and local organisations including ELOP, CADOS, Walthamstow Wetlands, Forest Cinemas alongside local artists, independent venues, and community groups.
Waltham Forest Pride 2026 has said it is a grassroots alternative to “centralised and corporate”, larger Pride events.
Events include opening and closing celebrations at Walthamstow Trades Hall, a community photography and storytelling exhibition, a queer botany walk at Walthamstow Wetlands, zine-making and art workshops, poetry and spoken word, LGBTQ+ film screenings, drag cabaret and live performances, community workshops and discussions, and family-friendly activities.
One of the flagship projects within the programme is a community-led photography exhibition celebrating the diversity, creativity and experiences of LGBTQ+ people across the borough.
Residents, photographers and community members are invited to submit photographs that capture and reflect local LGBTQ+ journeys, identities, and moments of joy, resilience and everyday life.
Selected works will be showcased in venues across the borough, creating a vibrant public celebration of local stories. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, 30th June.
Filip Glatz from Waltham Forest Pride Collective said: “We wanted to create something that genuinely reflects Waltham Forest, local, community oriented, creative and inclusive.
“This initiative is about celebrating LGBTQ+ culture across the borough, while providing spaces for thoughtful and constructive dialogue around current issues affecting our communities. We also hope to support local venues, artists, and communities and mark the beginning of something long-term for Waltham Forest.”
Waltham Forest Pride 2026 is supported by Waltham Forest Council’s Fellowship Fund. Walthamstow Trades Hall, which will host some of the Pride events, is on its way to becoming one of London’s leading entertainment venues. The 100-year-old non-profit social club, located at the end of the Victoria line, was recently ranked 36th on a list of the UK’s greatest independent music venues.
Further programme announcements will be published throughout June 2026 on Waltham Forest Pride Collective’s Instagram page (@wfpridecollective) and website
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