Warwickshire Pride increase security ahead of 2026 event

Organisers for Warwickshire Pride, which is set to take place at the end of August, have announced that security measures have been increased ahead of this year’s event. In response to growing anti-LGBTQ+ hostility, the safety of the team and those who attend are their top priority organisers have assured.

The number of security staff hired has been increased for 2026, including overnight before the festival, and for the first, time during the festival too. All security will wear bodycams to ensure recordings are captured, where evidence may be needed to identify suspects. The police will also make officers aware of the vandalism the event has experienced on site for the last few years, so there can be checks the night before the festival.

Briefing documents will be created for security and volunteers, with the names and photos of people who have caused trouble in the past, as well as those who have sent threats to the organisation, in case those identified try to attend and spread hate. If those people are seen at the festival, they will be removed, Warwickshire Pride say.

The pride march will have support vehicles at the front and back to provide extra protection as the parade makes its way through Leamington Spa town centre, and rolling road closures through the town will have barriers and personnel in place for the protection of those taking part.

Warwickshire Pride’s organisers have also written a robust terrorism risk assessment that has been shared with the police, council and other agencies, and they are in conversations with Warwickshire Police after what happened in Berlin recently.

A spokesperson for Warwickshire Pride said the police “are committed to doing what they can to keep LGBTQ+ communities safe."

A crowd management plan has been created by the security company working with Warwickshire Pride, outlining clear processes in the event of an incident. Volunteers will be briefed on the risks and what to do in the event of an incident, and there will be an event management hub on site at the festival where key decisions will be made and communicated.

A spokesperson for Warwickshire Pride explained: “It's sad that it is needed, but that's the world we're living in and it's an important addition to the festival."

This year’s festival has carries the theme of ‘Pride is a Protest’, reflecting the “rising hate towards LGBTQ+ people, and especially trans communities, the attacks that LGBTQ+ people are under locally from people in positions of power, and the need for LGBTQ+ communities to rise up against hate in the spirit of the origins of the Pride movement.”

Warwickshire Pride 2026 takes place on Saturday 22nd August, from 11am until 6pm at Pump room Gardens, Leamington Spa.  There will be a Pride March, a marketplace of stalls, live performances and entertainment on stage throughout the day with BSL interpreters, food and drink from around the world, fairground rides, and much more. The event is free to attend, and Warwickshire Pride work with disability groups to ensure the event continues to be accessible for people with physical and learning disabilities.