A joint bid from the West of Ireland has been shortlisted alongside a bid from Manchester in the UK to host the 2028 edition of EuroPride, described as Europe’s most significant LGBTQIA+ event.
The joint bid to host EuroPride 2028 in Co Limerick and Co Clare was submitted by The Outing Queer Arts Collective & Festival, QuareClare, and Limerick LGBTQ+ Pride, with the support of Fáilte Ireland, Blacknight, Visit Clare, Goudie Talent, and The George.
Manchester Pride submitted the other shortlisted bid.
The EuroPride 2028 shortlist was announced on April 4 by the European Pride Organisers Association (EPOA).
Both teams now have some time to finalize their bids before they are published in August and reviewed by EPOA’s member Prides, each having one vote. Bids will be presented at the EPOA annual conference in Barcelona in October, with the winner expected to be announced on Saturday, October 11.
Speaking on behalf of the Clare/Limerick EuroPride bid, Eddie McGuinness, Co-Chair of The Outing, described the pan-European event as “a unique opportunity for our international LGBTQIA+ family to immerse themselves in the richness of Irish culture, heritage, and community spirit.”
He explained; "Ten years on since the marriage equality referendum, when Ireland was the first country to legalise same-sex marriage in a popular vote, Ireland continues to break new boundaries. Hosting EuroPride 2028 in Ireland for the very first time would be an extraordinary milestone.
“Though our island may be small, it is filled with love, diversity, inclusion, and acceptance,” he added.
McGuinness continued: “With the breathtaking Wild Atlantic Way as our backdrop, we would create a truly one-of-a-kind EuroPride experience—celebrating our vibrant community against the stunning landscape of the west of Ireland."
He added: “Securing this bid would not only mark a historic achievement for the LGBTQIA+ community in Ireland but also extend ‘Pride in Our Community’ across the region, from Derry to Kerry.
"The potential to host EuroPride 2028 could be transformative for tourism in the Mid-West, showcasing our vibrant culture to an international audience. Should our bid be successful, our goal will be to paint the Wild Atlantic Way pink during 2028."
Karen Ronan, General Manager of the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, which has worked to attract business and sports tourism to the Shannon Region over the past two decades, said, “We are delighted to support this bid to host EuroPride in the Mid-West Region in three years’ time.”
Ronan added: “The value of hosting an international event of this scale cannot be overstated from an economic, cultural, or social perspective,” she added. “Bringing EuroPride here would not only celebrate our diverse community but also showcase the Mid-West’s unique culture and warmth to over 100,000 visitors from around the world.”
Patrick Orth, President of the European Pride Organisers Association (EPOA) which licenses EuroPride, welcomed the bids saying: “The high velocity of political change across Europe is making EuroPride even more important for our community to come together and keep pressing for change.
"The political shifts in the UK and Ireland are no less profound and so it is exciting to have bids from both countries to center their LGBTQIA+ communities in European consciousness.
"I look forward to seeing their ambitions in their full bid later this year.”
EuroPride began in London in 1992 and, in recent years, has taken place in Copenhagen, Belgrade, Malta, and Thessaloniki. This year, EuroPride will be hosted in Lisbon from June 14 - 22, while next year, EuroPride will run alongside WorldPride in Amsterdam. In 2027, EuroPride will be in Turin.
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