London bids to host WorldPride 2032, marking 60 years since 1972

London has put itself forward to host WorldPride in 2032, timing the bid to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the city's first Pride march in 1972. The move links a major international festival with a milestone in UK queer history.

Told by Paige Turner · 7 August 2026

London says it wants WorldPride 2032. The bid is being positioned around a simple fact: 2032 will be sixty years on from the city’s first Pride march in 1972.

WorldPride is an international celebration and a huge platform. Hosting it brings parades, conferences, arts programmes, tourism and political visibility on a global stage.

A bid is more than a slogan. Cities that host must meet organisational, safety and community commitments. The final decision rests with the international bodies that award WorldPride, and with the wider movement that votes on where the event should land.

For London the timing matters. Sixty years is a long run from the streets of 1972. That history carries weight. It also asks for honesty: any big celebration must lift up activism, memory and the people who made those first steps possible.

This is good news for the calendar and for queer organisers who want a spotlight on UK issues. It will also bring scrutiny — as any large international event should — about who benefits and whose stories are told.

Keep an eye on the paperwork. Keep an ear to community groups. If London wins WorldPride 2032, expect a party with purpose. And yes, expect a lot of sequins.