Surrey Pride cancelled amid funding shortfall

Surrey's annual Pride celebrations will not return until 2027 after organisers announced they were unable to secure enough financial backing to stage the event.

The LGBTQ+ festival and parade, which had been due to take place in Guildford on 8 August, has been shelved following what organisers described as a significant increase in operating costs coupled with a drop in promised corporate sponsorship.

In a statement shared on social media, Pride in Surrey said the decision had been taken reluctantly after efforts to keep the event running proved unsuccessful.

Organisers said they had examined a range of alternatives, including seeking additional funding and rescheduling the festival for next year, but ultimately concluded that neither option was workable.

The cancellation reflects wider challenges facing Pride events across the country, several of which have struggled with rising costs and reduced commercial support in recent years.

The announcement comes against the backdrop of Surrey County Council's decision to step back from the event in 2025. The authority said at the time that concerns had been raised over whether Pride in Surrey adequately represented the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community, leading it to withdraw official participation by council staff and services.

Ticket holders affected by the cancellation have received refunds, organisers confirmed.

Despite the setback, Pride in Surrey said plans are already being developed for a return in 2027. The next festival is scheduled to take place at Stoke Park in Guildford on 11 September that year.

Organisers said work on the event would begin shortly, expressing hope that the festival would return on a stronger footing.