Pride Edinburgh

Pride Edinburgh is Scotland’s longest-running annual free celebration of diversity and of the LGBTQ+ community, ensuring the rainbow shines over the capital city. It can trace its roots right back to 1988, with an event called Lark in the Park. It was organized by the Scottish Homosexual Rights Group and first held in Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens and again in 1989 and 1992. In 1991, a Scottish Pride event was held in Edinburgh on 22 June. It started with a picnic on Calton Hill followed by a march, along the pavement, from Waterloo Place to the bottom of the Mound at the National Gallery.

In 1995, Pride Scotia was born as Scotland's national LGBT pride festival. Volunteers have organized a Pride March and a community-based festival in June, alternating between the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The first Pride Parade to take place in the city of Edinburgh, the Pride Scotia March, gathered on Barony Street in Edinburgh on 17 June 1995. Police estimated that around 3,000 people attended. The route followed was Broughton Street, Leith Street, Princes Street, the Mound, George IV Bridge, and down Middle Meadow Walk into the Meadows. The first Pride Festival on the Meadows began as the procession arrived and had a stage and surrounding stalls. 

The second Pride march in Scotland was held in Glasgow on 22 June 1996, finishing with a festival on Glasgow Green. 

The third Pride march in Scotland was held in Edinburgh, with the festival again on the Meadows on 21 June 1997. This year was the first year to include a minute's silence, followed by a minute's noise to mark the effects of AIDS and HIV on the LGBTQ+ communities in Scotland. The tradition has been repeated year by year since led by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

On 13 June 1998, the fourth march began in Blythswood Square and ended at Glasgow Green, where the festival took place with guest stars, including Jimmy Somerville. Keeping with tradition, the 1999 Pride was held in Edinburgh on 19 June. In 2000, Pride was held in Glasgow much later than usual this year, on 2 September. Pride continued to be alternatively organized in  Glasgow (2002, 2004, 2006) or Edinburgh (2001, 2003, 2005, 2007).

However, the Pride organizers in Glasgow split from Pride Scotia, forming their own organization called Pride Glasgow. Pride Scotia will still continue to run in Edinburgh every 2 years as it has done previously. The re-launched festival was held on 30 August 2008 and was attended by approx 5000 people, and involved a march from Blythswood Square to George Square with a rally and speeches.

2010 was the first year Pride was held in both Glasgow and Edinburgh. The Edinburgh arm was held on 26 June.

Pride events in the Scottish capital have always been completely free- making sure this event is inclusive for the whole community to commemorate its history and advocate for itself! 

The annual Pride Edinburgh March celebrates Edinburgh's shared commitment to a better future for all, irrespective of sexuality, gender, and color.

In 2023, after scaled-back versions due to COVID-19, Pride-goers can again enjoy a march through the streets of Edinburgh, community spaces, youth venues, and spectacular entertainment.

For full details on Pride Edinburgh 2024 and all previous editions, be sure to check out the official event program. Happy Pride!