London launches bid to host WorldPride in 2032

London has launched a bid to host WorldPride 2032, which would coincide with the 60th anniversary of the UK's first Pride march in the capital in 1972.

The bid for the 10-day festival is led by Pride in London, entertainment hub Outernet London and UK Black Pride, with backing from City Hall.

Organisers have started a global campaign inviting LGBTQ+ creatives to design the official logo outline for the bid.

The winning design - which carries a £3,000 prize - will be filled with thousands of photographs submitted by LGBTQ+ individuals and allies worldwide, "creating one living symbol of Pride", organisers said.

Rebecca Paisis, chief executive of Pride in London, said the initiative aims to let the community shape the bid's future from day one.

"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 major international event featuring marches, human rights conferences and cultural festivals.

Held every two to three years, the festival aims to promote LGBTQ+ visibility and rights internationally.

Since the inaugural event in Rome in 2000, host cities have included Toronto, Madrid, New York, Copenhagen and Sydney.

London previously hosted the event in 2012 and unsuccessfully bid to stage it again in 2030, while the 2026 event is currently taking place in Amsterdam and Cape Town is set to become the first African host city in 2028.

Lady Phyll, co-founder of UK Black Pride and one of three people chairing the bid, said: "WorldPride must never be just about spectacle. It must be about people, justice, belonging and creating lasting change.

"Sixty years after London's first Pride march, we have a responsibility to honour those who came before us while building a future that is more representative, accessible and intersectional."

Tom Copley, one of London's deputy mayors, said the bid will demonstrate why London "remains a beacon of inclusivity and diversity around the globe".

The logo design competition closes on 25 September with the winner revealed in late October.

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