Pride Parades and Celebrations in Africa
Across the African continent, queer lives exist in every country, but visibility, safety, and rights vary among them. While some African countries host Pride marches, festivals, or community events, many others do not, because laws, social hostility, or security risks make public Pride events almost impossible.
Overview of African Pride Events
Pride events in Africa exist under very different conditions than in many other parts of the world. Public visibility is often limited by legal restrictions, political pressure, social hostility, or safety concerns. As a result, Pride in Africa takes many forms, from large public street parades to small, private community gatherings, and in some countries, no visible events at all.
This list provides a comprehensive, country-by-country overview of Pride events across the African continent, covering all African countries and identifying the cities where Pride events have taken place.
Out of 54 countries in Africa, only six currently host public Pride parades in the classical sense, meaning visible marches in public streets. In many other countries, Pride exists in non-parade formats such as festivals, workshops, film screenings, or invitation-only events.
Importantly, the absence of a public Pride parade does not mean the absence of LGBTQ+ activism. In many African countries, organizing happens discreetly, online, or within trusted community spaces. This list is intended as a reference, and will be updated regularly as situations evolve, laws change, and new Pride initiatives emerge.
| Country | City | Official Name | Usual Date | Pride Date 2026 | Comments & Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Botswana | Gaborone | Gaborone Pride | Beginning of October | TBA | First Pride took place 30.11.2019 end of November. In 2020 (digitally) and 2021 Pride took place 2nd Saturday of October. Date for 2026 to be announced, watch Gaborone Pride’s Instagram Page |
| Cabo Verde | Praia | Pride Praia / Praia Marcha Do Orgulho | Last Weekend of June | TBA | First Pride in 2013 in Mindelo. After covid break from 2022 each year on the last weekend of June. Check the Facebook of Associação LGBT-Praia for Updates. |
| Eswatini | Mbabane | Eswatini Pride | Varies (Often June/July) | TBA | Since 2018. (2019: 22nd June), 2024: 6 July) 8th celebration took place in 2025, June 28 in Manzini. |
| Mauritius | Port Louis | Mauritius Pride March | Irregularly, Usually June or July | TBA | After a 3-year covid break, the first post covid parade took place on 21 October 2023 to celebrate the ban over section 250 decriminalizing consensual same-sex sexual acts between adult men. The last march took place on 7 June 2025. Follow the local LGBT organization’s Facebook Page for updates. |
| Namibia | Windhoek | Namibia Pride | Irregularly | TBA | Follow the Instagram Page of Namibia Pride Week for Updates. |
| Swakopmund | Swakop Pride | Irregularly | TBA | Follow the Facebook Page for Updates. | |
| South Africa | Johannesburg | Johannesburg Pride (Pride of Africa) | End of October | TBA | In 2025 the Pride Parade took place on 25 October 2025. The date for 2016 has not been announced yet, but will be communicated on the Official Johannesburg Pride Website. |
| Cape Town | Cape Town Pride | End of February / Beginning of March | 28 February 2026 | In 2025 the Pride Parade took place on 1 March 2025. The date for 2026 has been announced on the Cape Town Pride Website. | |
| Durban | Durban Pride | Irregularly | TBA | In 2025 the Pride Parade took place on 28 June 2025. Follow the Durban Pride Instagram Page to get updated for the 2026 date. | |
| Pretoria | Pretoria LGBTI Pride | First Saturday of October | 3 October 2026 | In 2025 Pretoria Pride took place on 4 October 2025. The Date for 2026 has been communicated on the Pretoria Pride Facebook Page. | |
| Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) | Nelson Mandela Pride | Irregularly | TBA | In 2025 the Pride Parade took place on 15 November 2025. Check the Nelson Mandela Pride Website for Updates. | |
| Soweto | Soweto Pride | September | TBA | In 2025 the Pride Parade took place on 27 September 2025. Follow the Soweto Pride Facebook Page for more Updates. |
LGBTQ+ Rights in Africa: Visibility Under Pressure
Across the African continent, gay rights are highly uneven and continue to develop in complex, often contradictory ways. In several countries, same-sex relationships remain criminalized, sometimes with severe penalties, reflecting the lasting influence of colonial-era laws, religious conservatism, and political scapegoating.
At the same time, other countries have seen gradual but meaningful progress, including decriminalization, court rulings expanding protections, and the emergence of visible LGBTQ+ movements and Pride events, particularly in parts of Southern Africa.
Even where the law has improved, social acceptance often lags behind, meaning that visibility can still come with serious risks. Importantly, the absence of legal protection or public Pride does not signal the absence of queer people or activism; in many places, organizing happens quietly, online, or within trusted community spaces.
Advances in some countries coexist with regressions in others, but across the continent, LGBTQ+ communities continue to assert their existence, dignity, and right to be visible.