London has officially launched its bid to host WorldPride in 2032, an event that would align with the 60th anniversary of the United Kingdom's first Pride march, which took place in the capital in 1972.
The 10-day festival bid is being spearheaded by Pride in London in collaboration with the entertainment hub Outernet London and UK Black Pride. The effort has received backing from City Hall.
Organizers have initiated a global campaign to enlist LGBTQ+ creatives to design the official logo outline for the bid. The winning design, which comes with a £3,000 prize, will be integrated with thousands of photographs submitted by LGBTQ+ individuals and allies worldwide, aiming to create "one living symbol of Pride."
Rebecca Paisis, chief executive of Pride in London, stated that this initiative is intended to allow the community to influence the bid's direction from its inception. "As we approach the 60th anniversary of London's first Pride march, this project gives every generation an opportunity to leave their mark on what could become one of the defining moments in our movement's history," she said.
WorldPride is a significant international gathering that includes marches, human rights conferences, and cultural festivals. Typically held every two to three years, the festival seeks to enhance LGBTQ+ visibility and advocate for rights globally. Previous host cities since the inaugural event in Rome in 2000 include Toronto, Madrid, New York, Copenhagen, and Sydney. London previously hosted WorldPride in 2012 and made an unsuccessful bid for the 2030 event. The 2026 WorldPride is scheduled for Amsterdam, and Cape Town is set to be the first African host city in 2028.