Dates and Theme Announced for Cape Town Pride 2026

Cape Town Pride has revealed the dates and theme for its 2026 edition — and it promises to be another memorable celebration of queer identity and liberation.

Festival Dates Confirmed

The organisers have confirmed that the Cape Town Pride Festival will run from 5 February to 1 March 2026.

The Pride Parade and Mardi Gras, widely regarded as the highlight of the festival, will take place on Saturday, 28 February 2026. While participating in the Parade is free, tickets are now on sale for the Mardi Gras.

The theme for next year’s event is “Ubuntu – I am because we are”, the South African concept that highlights the shared and interconnected humanity between all people.

Looking Ahead to WorldPride 2028

Cape Town Pride 2026, the second-longest-running Pride event in South Africa, will be held just two years before the city hosts WorldPride in 2028 — a global celebration of LGBTQIA+ pride and solidarity.

In November 2024, the International Association of Pride Organisers (InterPride) announced that Cape Town had been selected as the host city, making it the first on the African continent to hold this international event.

The celebration – which typically includes parades, festivals, and other activities such as a human rights conference – is being backed by the City of Cape Town.

A Brief History of Cape Town Pride

The first Cape Town Pride took place in 1993, three years after Johannesburg Pride made history as Africa’s first Pride march.
The event was organised by activists Theresa Raizenberg, Midi Achmat, Zackie Achmat, Jack Lewis, and Bassie Nelson under the banner of ABIGALE (Association of Bisexuals, Gays and Lesbians).

Around 500 people joined the historic march from District Six, stopping for a “Kiss-In” on Adderley Street, a demonstration outside Parliament, and concluding in De Waal Park. Speakers included Edwin Cameron, Simon Nkoli, and Bassie Nelson.

The first Pride held under the auspices of the current Cape Town Pride Festival took place in December 2001. In 2004, the event was moved to February to coincide with Cape Town’s peak summer tourism season.