Birmingham Pride boss unveils plans to make festival free by 2027

The director of Birmingham Pride has announced ambitions to make the festival completely free to attend by 2027, marking the event’s 30th anniversary.

Speaking to BirminghamLive, festival director Lawrence Barton said he hopes to “bring it full circle” by returning Birmingham Pride to its roots as a free community celebration. The festival was first staged in 1997 and was free to attend in its early years before rising costs led to the introduction of ticketed areas.

Mr Barton, who has led Birmingham Pride since 2009, said his long‑term goal is to remove all ticket charges for the anniversary year, despite mounting financial and logistical pressures. He said the cost of security, road closures, clean‑up operations, infrastructure and artist bookings had made ticketing necessary in recent years.

“This year and last year we’ve tried to strike a balance,” he told BirminghamLive. “But in my own mind, I’d love for it to be a fully free festival again for 2027.”

Birmingham Pride currently offers a free parade through the city, followed by a ticketed two‑day music festival in the LGBTQ+ village, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors. For 2026, ticket prices have already been significantly reduced as organisers seek to make the event more accessible during the cost of living crisis.

Mr Barton said making Pride entirely free again would require overcoming major challenges, but insisted it was achievable. He added that, if successful, he would consider stepping away from his role as director after the 30th anniversary.

“Once that’s done, I think it will be my time to pass the baton on,” he said. “Everybody in our community needs to see themselves, have their voices heard and help shape the future.”

Birmingham Pride is one of the UK’s largest LGBTQ+ festivals and has grown substantially under Mr Barton’s leadership, becoming a major cultural and economic event for the city.

Organisers are continuing discussions about the festival’s long‑term future, including funding, location and accessibility, as they work towards the 2027 milestone. The prospect of a fully free Pride has been welcomed by campaigners who say it would strengthen the event’s community focus and inclusivity.