Dramatic changes have been announced for the future of Birmingham Pride in the city.

Due to major development taking place throughout the Gay Village, next year’s Birmingham Pride will be relocating to a host site away from the traditional gay quarter in Southside.

The car parks that have typically housed the main stages and seen an array of talent, such as Courtney Act and MNEK earlier this year, will no longer be accessible for Pride use, leading to the decision to branch out.

Birmingham Pride 2019 takes place on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th MayBirmingham Pride
Birmingham Pride 2019 takes place on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th May

A shortlist of potential locations within Birmingham have been confirmed by Pride organisers. With a new host site, the main stage, dance arena, funfair and cabaret marquee will all be relocating to Birmingham Pride’s new home.

Organisers have however stated that the gay village, and with it the iconic ‘street party’, will remain at the heart of the event. Memories of Birmingham Pride’s unsuccessful temporary relocation to Canon Hill Park are all too fresh for some, but with locations such as Digbeth and Eastside Park being suggested online by eager pride-goers, it’s anyone’s guess as to which location (or locations) will be secured.

Music star Stefflon Don performing on the Main Stage at Birmingham Pride 2018Lensi Photography
Music star Stefflon Don performing on the Main Stage at Birmingham Pride 2018

Birmingham Pride regularly attracts tens of thousands of spectators annually who line the city’s streets in a beautiful display of colour and diversity. With an economic impact suggested to be around £30 million, this expansion may be the perfect opportunity for the festival to evolve. A larger site would enable even more people from across the UK to attend – and with it demonstrate an even larger display of love, pride and culture.

Birmingham Pride – the UK’s largest two-day LGBTQ+ festival – will be held from Saturday 25th May to Sunday 26th May 2019. For more details, visit: www.birminghampride.com.

(Visited 752 times, 1 visits today)