Thousands to attend annual Pride Cymru festival

Thousands of people are expected to attend the annual Pride Cymru festival in Cardiff this weekend.

The traditional parade will take place in the city centre on Saturday, followed by a headline performance from singer Kate Nash at Cardiff Castle.

Now in its 27th year, organisers described the event as a "weekend of celebration, protest, and powerful visibility" for the LGBTQ+ community.

Dan Walsh, chair of Pride Cymru, said the festival was "more important than ever".

"This year's event is a chance to come together, stand in solidarity, and celebrate the resilient spirit of the LGBTQ+ community in Wales," he added.

Since evolving from Cardiff Mardi Gras in 1999, Pride Cymru has grown significantly, attracting more than 50,000 participants in 2025.

Political parties were banned from participating in last year's event as a show of solidarity with the transgender community, but First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth has been invited to this year's event.

Ordinarily a two-day event, this year's celebrations started on Friday with a gig from the pop star Mika at DEPOT Live.

Saturday's parade gets under way at 11:00 BST on Westgate Street, travelling through The Hayes and Queen Street.

Cardiff Castle will then open its grounds for the main festival, featuring performers across three stages, alongside a family area, youth zone and faith tent.

Festivities will continue until 22:30 on Saturday before resuming at 11:00 on Sunday.

While the parade is free to watch, tickets are needed to enter the castle grounds where the main festival is taking place.

Pop star Kate Nash tops the main stage bill on Saturday, joined by a host of other performers including Louise, Ultrabeat, 90s heartthrobs 911, BRIT Award nominee Caity Baser, and RuPaul's Drag Race UK stars Divina de Campo and Catrin Feelings.

Sunday's headliners including Bright Light Bright Light, known for his collaborations with Elton John, and Drag Race UK's Marmalade.

Organisers say the Cabaret Stage will showcase a "huge array of local legendary" LGBTQ+ performers who have become mainstays of venues across Wales.

The Community Stage also returns, featuring acts "reflecting the diversity of the Welsh cultural scene".

This year's parade route is approximately 1.4 miles (2.25km) long, starting on Westgate Street near the Angel Hotel.

The route goes along High Street, St Mary Street, Mill Lane, The Hayes, Working Street, Queen Street, Park Street and Greyfriars Road before finishing near the castle.

Organisers have said it should take around 1.5 to 2 hours to complete.

A number of roads across Cardiff city centre are closed during the Pride Cymru event.

Between 06:00 and 00:00 on Saturday:

• Castle Street (from its junction on Westgate Street)
• Duke Street
• Kingsway (up until its junction with North Road)

Between 08:00 and 14:30 on Saturday:

• Westgate Street
• Quay Street
• Guildhall Place
• Golate Street
• Cowbridge Road East (up until its junction with Cathedral Road)
• High Street
• St Mary Street
• Wood Street
• Central Square
• Park Street
• Havelock Street and Scott Road
• Mill Lane
• The Hayes
• John Street
• Queen Street
• Park Place
• Greyfriars Road (from its junction with Boulevard De Nantes up until Kingsway)