Soweto Pride 2026 brought together protest, remembrance, visibility and celebration over two days, with the annual event highlighting both the struggles facing LGBTQIA+ people and the joy of queer community.
On Friday, 25 September, the streets of Soweto were filled with colour, pride and determination as LGBTQIA+ people and allies gathered for the heritage-themed Soweto Pride march.
The march was not only a celebration of queer visibility but also a reminder of Soweto’s place in South Africa’s history of resistance. It came amid heightened concern over violence against women following a series of murders in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg — a crisis reflected in dozens of placards demanding justice and greater safety for women.
Addressing the crowd, former Justice Edwin Cameron reflected on the significance of holding Pride in Soweto and connected the event to the country’s broader liberation history.
“Because it’s Soweto,” Cameron said, explaining that the township remains central to South Africa’s history. He recalled the events of the 1976 Soweto uprising and the role Soweto has played in the country’s struggle for freedom.
Cameron also highlighted the contribution of queer activist Simon Tseko Nkoli, recalling how Nkoli’s coming out during his treason trial helped change the views of those around him.
“It’s because of Simon that we were able to secure sexual orientation in our constitution in 1994,” Cameron told the crowd.
South Africa became the first country in the world to explicitly protect sexual orientation in its constitution, but Cameron stressed that constitutional recognition has not ended discrimination and violence.
“We haven’t achieved what we want to,” he said, pointing particularly to the risks faced by lesbians experiencing gender-based violence.
Cameron also placed Soweto Pride within a broader African context, pointing to the persecution faced by LGBTQ+ people in other African countries.
He called for solidarity across borders, linking violence against LGBTQ+ people with violence directed at migrants and other marginalised communities.
Pride as a revolutionary act
Deputy Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Steve Letsike described the large turnout as an act of visibility and resistance.
“We came out in our numbers, we came visibly so, beautifully so, to actually demonstrate that pride continues to be a revolutionary act,” Letsike said.
She also connected the Pride movement to South Africa’s history, noting the importance of 1956 and 1976 and the contribution of queer women to the women’s movement.
Letsike urged young queer people not to wait to challenge social and economic issues, while also addressing the continuing problem of gender-based violence.
She called for harmful behaviours rooted in patriarchy and misogyny to be challenged, including the objectification of women, children, LGBTI people and people with disabilities.
“We see you, we value you”
International solidarity was also visible at the march with deletes from several countries.
Dr Nicolas Vandeviver, Deputy General Representative of Flanders in Southern Africa, reaffirmed his delegation’s support for Soweto Pride and LGBTQ+ communities.
“As an ally, I’m here to support you,” he told the crowd, noting the long-standing relationship between Flanders and Soweto Pride.
He said the delegation stood “shoulder to shoulder” with LGBTQ+ communities and assured those gathered that its support extended beyond Pride itself.
“Please know that you have our and my government’s support now, tomorrow, the day after, throughout the year as well,” Vandeviver said.
Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Andries Nel focused on the importance of LGBTQIA+ people being recognised as part of South Africa’s heritage.
“This year’s theme is our heritage and I think it’s a very important theme because our heritage is made up of many histories, many cultures, many identities and many communities,” Nel said.
He stressed that LGBTQIA+ South Africans are part of the heritage of Soweto and the country, while acknowledging the continuing gap between constitutional rights and the everyday experiences of many LGBTQIA+ people.
“Too many people still face violence, discrimination, exclusion and fear,” he said.
Nel also highlighted the role of civil society and government collaboration in advancing LGBTQIA+ rights, noting the growing National Task Team on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression and Sex Characteristics.
He announced that Outright International, the South African Workplace Equality Index and MambaOnline had recently joined the task team.
Nel also condemned gender-based violence and femicide, saying that such violence has no place in the society South Africa is trying to build.
He called for stronger access to justice, responses to hate-motivated violence and institutions that treat everyone with fairness and dignity.
“Today is a celebration but it’s also a reminder of the work that still needs to be done,” he said.
From protest to queer joy
If Friday was a reminder of the work still required to secure equality and safety, Saturday, 26 September, offered another essential part of the Pride experience: joy.
The second day of Soweto Pride moved from the streets to Lwalichaba Chesa Nyama, where the community gathered for a celebration of queer love, identity and togetherness.
The atmosphere shifted from speeches and marching to music, dancing and celebration, with the stage brought to life by MCs Pretty Ndie The MC and Chicken KwaNjomane.
The pair kept the crowd on their feet as the celebration continued into the night, creating space for people to simply enjoy themselves, connect with one another and celebrate being queer.
Together, the two days of Soweto Pride offered a picture of a community that refuses to be defined only by the challenges it faces.
There was protest, remembrance and a call for action. But there was also laughter, music, dancing, love and unapologetic queer joy.
In Soweto, Pride remained both a statement of visibility and a celebration of life.
- View MambaOnline’s gallery of images of the Soweto Pride March
- View MambaOnline’s gallery of images of the Soweto Pride Celebration day
