Thousands march through Nicosia
Around 6,000 people marched through central Nicosia on Saturday for Cyprus Pride 2026, making it the largest Pride event in the festival’s history, according to organisers Accept-LGBTI Cyprus.
The march, which wound through the capital before ending at the Municipal Gardens, capped three weeks of events which organisers said attracted around 8,000 people overall.
Held under the auspices of the President of the Republic and Nicosia Municipality, Cyprus Pride 2026 also received support from the European Commission Representation and the European Parliament Office in Cyprus.
Equality and inclusion at centre of event
Activities before the march included speeches, children’s activities, food stalls, and free HIV and STI testing through CY Checkpoint, with the Ministry of Health also present. An arts programme followed after the parade.
Accept secretary and spokesperson Stephanos Evangelides delivered the keynote speech, titled I am not a minority of one.
Addressing the crowd, Evangelides highlighted the challenges faced by different groups across society, including young people struggling with housing and employment, workers facing the rising cost of living, women advocating for bodily autonomy, LGBTQI+ people seeking equal access to healthcare, and people with disabilities calling for equal access and opportunities.
“We are communities that became movements,” he said, adding that the goal was equality not only in legislation but in everyday life.
Representatives of Queer Cyprus, LGBTQ Africa, LGBT Pilipinas and Polychromos Families also addressed attendees, while LGBTQI+ disability rights group Collective KoullouMakka participated through a video message.
Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades spoke on behalf of the government, alongside Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos, and Commissioner for Administration and Human Rights Antonia Theodosiou.
First plastic-free Pride in Cyprus
Cyprus Pride 2026 was also the first Pride event on the island to operate without single-use plastics.
Organisers introduced reusable drinking cups, sold to attendees for €2, as part of wider efforts to reduce waste and improve the environmental sustainability of the event.
The annual parade has been held every year since 2014, except during the Covid-19 pandemic, and is one of three Pride events typically organised in Cyprus each year.
Accessibility and rights highlighted
A major focus of Cyprus Pride 2026 was accessibility. Organisers said the march route and festival grounds were designed to be as step-free as possible and included accessible toilets, information and support points, as well as designated rest areas.
The event also paid tribute to late activist Costas Gavrielides and artist Andreas Karayan. Edward, the partner of Gavrielides, told attendees that the activist never stopped believing Cyprus could become a more inclusive society.
Accept-LGBTI Cyprus said the key demands highlighted during Cyprus Pride 2026 included marriage equality, adoption rights, legal recognition of gender identity, equal access to healthcare, improved accessibility measures and stronger protections against hate crimes and hate speech.
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