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Cape Town is the place to be when February rolls around. Queer communities from around the globe descend on the city for the annual Cape Town Pride Parade and Mardi Gras.
Yes, last year’s event was a divisive concoction of protests and anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric. Some political parties used the platform to pay lip service to voters. Others chose to advocate for fellow marginalised groups. Queers Demand Homes, Not Walls took to the streets to protest against the City’s N2 Wall project.
As for Reverend Oscar Bougardt’s call to create a “queer-free” Cape Town, that dream is squashed for the foreseeable future; Cape Town was announced as the first African city to host WorldPride in 2028.
A local delegation formally received the WorldPride mantle in Amsterdam in August. The South African edition is confirmed for 28 September to 14 October 2028.
Attendees won’t have to wait two years to celebrate the rainbow flag. Cape Town Pride has announced that next year’s Pride festival will run for an entire month, from Friday, 5 February to Sunday, 28 February.
Loud in Every Colour
The Pride Parade and Mardi Gras will be on Saturday, 27 February. The parade will start on Alfred St, De Waterkant and end at the Green Point Track, the Pride Mardi Gras venue.
Next year’s theme is: Loud in Every Colour - Every flag. Every letter. Every one of us, LOUD. Interpret that as you please.
On choosing the theme, Cape Town Pride’s Brand Ambassador, Nkosinathi Sangweni, said, “This theme deliberately names the whole spectrum, not just the rainbow flag but the trans, bi, intersex, and ace flags too, so nobody in the community thinks it is not about them.”
During the three-week-long Pride Festival, participants can look forward to events across the city, including book readings, film screenings, workshops, drag queen shows, and several other activities.
Pride Mardi Gras tickets will go on sale at the end of November. Visit Cape Town Pride’s official website for more details.
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