Thousands attend annual Pride Cymru festival

Thousands of people have attended the annual Pride Cymru festival in Cardiff this weekend.

The traditional parade took place in the city centre on Saturday, followed in the evening with 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 was invited to this year's event.

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

Saturday's parade started on Westgate Street, travelling through The Hayes and Queen Street.

Cardiff Castle's grounds hosted the main festival, with performers across three stages, alongside a family area, youth zone and faith tent.

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

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

Pop star Kate Nash topped 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 included Bright Light Bright Light, known for his collaborations with Elton John, and Drag Race UK's Marmalade.

Organisers said the Cabaret Stage would 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 was approximately 1.4 miles (2.25km) long, starting on Westgate Street near the Angel Hotel.

The route went 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 said it would take around 1.5 to 2 hours to complete.

A number of roads across Cardiff city centre were closed during the Pride Cymru event until 00:00 on Saturday including:

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

And others were closed until 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)