Pride group wants to hold Euro event in West Country

Gloucestershire wants to host EuroPride in 2027

A Pride organisation wants to host a European Pride event in the West Country in 2027 - 15 years after it was last held in the UK.

Pride in Gloucestershire, which holds its own LGBTQ+ annual event in September, believes it can deliver an "empowering" EuroPride event.

EuroPride rotates around the continent, with the cities of Thessaloniki in Greece, Lisbon in Portugal and Amsterdam in the Netherlands all set to host it over the next few years.

The county's bid will be finalised in September, but will face competition from Torino in Italy, Vilnius in Lithuania and Torremolinos in Spain.

Organisers want to run a community-focused event in 2027

Speaking to Pink News, Richard Stevens, chair of Pride in Gloucestershire, said: "The UK, once known for its strong LGBTI+ credentials has seen a continuous decline in not only its international standing but also community confidence.

"With Gloucestershire’s reputation for hosting world-class events, coupled with our reputation for being inclusive and community-focused, across a whole region, we feel we’ll be able to deliver a EuroPride with impact that empowers the LGBTI+ community not just in the UK but across the whole of Europe."

Europride was last held in the UK in London in 2012.

Lenny Emson, president of the European Pride Organisers' Association, said: "With the increase in right-wing and far-right governments and politicians across Europe, Pride events are becoming ever-more important as an opportunity for the LGBTI+ community to come together and show their strength in numbers and togetherness."