Organisers call off this year's Surrey Pride

Surrey Pride has been postponed until 2027, organisers have announced.

Pride in Surrey said rising costs and a decline in pledged corporate sponsorship had made it "impossible to proceed" with the event.

The parade and festival in Guildford were due to take place on 8 August.

Organisers said in a statement posted on Facebook they were making the announcement with "great sadness".

"This year, many Pride events across the country have faced similar cancellations," they wrote.

"We sincerely appreciate your understanding during this difficult time."

It comes after Surrey County Council withdrew its official support for the 2025 event, meaning its staff and services did not officially attend.

The local authority said at the time Pride in Surrey was not "truly representative" of the whole LGBTQ+ community following "concerns" that had been raised.

Stephen Ireland, the former founder of the county event, was jailed for raping a 12-year-old boy in June 2025.

The BBC understands this was a factor in the authority's decision, although it had not actively sponsored Pride since 2021.

Organisers added they had explored additional funding options and different dates for 2026, however this was "not feasible".

They said that all tickets had been refunded.

Surrey Pride said its next LGBTQ+ festival was set to take place on 11 September 2027 in Guildford's Stoke Park.

"Preparations for that event will begin very soon," said organisers.

Pride in Surrey's website was down as of Tuesday morning.

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