Warwickshire Pride issue statement on changes for 2026, following issues last year

The organisers of Warwickshire Pride have issued a statement, outlining changes that will be made to the event in 2026, after last year’s event experienced troubles on site that led to police attendance and subsequent arrests.  

Photo by Warwickshire Pride

“The nature of the incident was transphobia, aggression, and comments and gestures of a sexual nature towards members of our team,” explains the statement from Warwickshire Pride.

“The offenders were asked to leave. They refused and continued to intimidate a member of our team. The Police were called and arrests were made.

“Sadly, the outcome of the Police investigation is that no action will be taken against the offenders. This is because of there being no evidence, despite there being witnesses to what happened. Therefore, it is our word against theirs. Of course, evidence matters and we have to accept the outcome of the investigation.”

As a result of the incident and the ensuing investigation, therefore, Warwickshire Pride will be taking additional actions in 2026 to ensure the safety of attendees and team members. Firstly, The Spa Sisters group will be banned from having an official presence at Warwickshire Pride events.

On this point, organisers added: “we have banned the individual members of that group who behaved in an aggressive, transphobic way, and sexually harassed a member of our team.”

Body cams will also be worn by key personnel at the Warwickshire Pride festival for the purposes of personal safety and capturing evidence if required.

“We are strongly and actively against transphobia, sexual harassment, and discrimination and hate of any kind,” Warwickshire Pride explain.

“We will continue taking a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of hate and discrimination. Anyone attending our events who behaves in a hateful or discriminatory way will be asked to leave and not permitted to attend in future.”

The Warwickshire Pride Festival will be held on Saturday 22^nd August 2026 from 11am-6pm at the Pump Room Gardens in Leamington Spa. The event is free to attend and further details, including accessibility can be found on their website.