Pride in Cheltenham returns to the town on Saturday 16 May 2026, featuring a range of new accessibility improvements for the annual celebration. Organised by Pride in Gloucestershire, the free event will see a march through the town centre followed by an afternoon of activities at Imperial Gardens.
The day begins with a public march gathering from 11:45am outside John Lewis on the High Street, with the march setting off at 12:30pm. Participants will make their way to Imperial Gardens, located behind Cheltenham Town Hall, where the main festival celebrations will run from 1pm until 7pm.
This year, the organisers have introduced several features to ensure the event is more accessible. The main stage will include full British Sign Language interpretation, and a dedicated sensory zone will be available for neurodivergent visitors. This zone will be equipped with items such as ear defenders and fidget toys to help manage sensory input.
Additionally, the festival will provide staffed Changing Places ReviLoo toilet facilities, which are designed to support people who require extra assistance. The site will also host an inclusions village, featuring family craft activities and a space for Trans* in Gloucestershire.
The event takes place in a venue managed by Cheltenham Borough Council, which is a member of the LGBT+ Partnership. The council also supports local community initiatives through its annual £30,000 Community Pride fund.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
