Whanganui Pride Week Returns For Its Eighth Year

Pride Whanganui is proud to announce the return of Whanganui Pride Week 2026, running from Sunday 14th to Saturday 20th June—marking the 8th annual celebration of our vibrant LGBTTQIA+ community, and the second year we’ve brought Pride into the heart of Winter.

For the second year in a row, Whanganui Pride Week opens with a powerful and visible statement: our Pride Hīkoi will take to Victoria Avenue on Sunday 14th June, bringing colour, connection, and unapologetic presence right down the main street. It’s a reminder that Pride isn’t just a celebration; it’s visibility, it’s resistance, and it’s belonging.

We’ll close the week on a high with a full day of celebration on Saturday 20th June, featuring Youth Fest, Pride Markets, and the Pride Party; three events, one shared space, and a whole lot of energy.

Returning once again is our world-renowned Pride Art Exhibition, hosted at the Whanganui Community Arts Centre on Taupō Quay. This exhibition continues to showcase incredible talent from across Aotearoa, with past works purchased not only nationwide but also internationally, including buyers from Australia and the United States. It’s a space where queer creativity thrives, stories are told, and artists are seen.

As we did last year, this year’s Whanganui Pride Week follows a refreshed, community-powered model inspired by La Fiesta, curated by the Whanganui Women’s Network. That means you create the events, and we back you; with promotion, support, and guidance. Pride Week belongs to the whole community, and we’re here to help bring your ideas to life.

We’re now calling for:

Organisations and businesses interested in being part of Youth Fest and Pride Markets

Artists who want to exhibit in the Pride Art Exhibition

Community members and groups keen to host their own Pride Week events

Event hosting applications close at the end of April, so now is the time to get involved.

Pride has always been about more than rainbow flags and good vibes. In a world where many in our community still face discrimination, isolation, and invisibility, Pride Week matters. It creates space for connection, joy, protest, and pride in who we are. It reminds people, especially our rangatahi, that they are not alone.

Get involved. Show up. Be seen.

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