The spirit of community, inclusion and queer joy took centre stage at the 2026 Nostalgia Pride Picnic, as LGBTQ+ people and allies gathered on the lawns of the Women’s Jail at Constitution Hill to celebrate Pride beyond commercialisation.
The community-led advocacy initiative draws inspiration from the grassroots Pride gatherings of the 1990s, when celebrations began with a march and culminated in a communal picnic at Johannesburg’s Zoo Lake. The event seeks to revive that tradition by creating an accessible, inclusive space where Pride remains owned and shaped by the community.
Now in its second year, the picnic continues to grow, offering an alternative to more commercialised Pride celebrations and reinforcing the idea that there should be space for different expressions of queer identity and community.
Speaking at the event, LGBTQ+ activist Teboho Thamae described the 2026 gathering as a landmark moment, highlighting the importance of creating more spaces for people to celebrate Pride in their own way.
“Even though it’s the second one, it’s growing in a fundamentally amazing way. And it’s important that we have alternatives for Pride. As many as we can. All Prides are valid, and Pride belongs to all of us,” said Thamae.
He added that the celebration was about welcoming everyone, regardless of who they are or where they come from.
For veteran LGBTQ+ activist Dr Bev Ditsie, the picnic was also an opportunity to reconnect with the history and spirit of South Africa’s early Pride celebrations.
Ditsie said the gathering was about commemorating the first Pride and remembering a time when queer people came together simply to celebrate being alive, being queer and finding joy in one another.
“It’s people coming together. And we’ve been very blessed to have so many community members coming and pulling this together,” she said, thanking everyone who contributed to making the event possible.
Beyond the music, conversations and celebrations, the Nostalgia Pride Picnic serves as a reminder that Pride is rooted in collective action, solidarity and the freedom to exist openly.
By returning to the grassroots spirit of earlier celebrations, the initiative keeps alive an important message: Pride is not a product to be sold, but a shared celebration that belongs to everyone.
Enjoy our gallery of images by Nampilo Gwala of the 2026 Nostalgia Pride Picnic.
