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The most anticipated queer event of the year, Johannesburg Pride, took place this past Saturday, 31 October 2026, bringing Sandton to a standstill and shutting down Katherine Street. Gathering thousands of members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies, the atmosphere was full of vibrant energy, big personalities and overall fabulousness.
High fashion
If there’s one thing Joburgers know how to do, it’s dress up. But the members of the community took it up a notch. Body paint, face paint and even diamantes covered their bodies. And the hair?
From big afros adorned with flowers to pixies and blonde brush cuts, everyone looked stunning.
The outfits were the star of the show. Think prints, mini skirts, sequins and corsets; every corner felt like attending a fashion week. The most talked-about look of the day undoubtedly goes to Kingsley Carrington, who wore large black feathered wings and gold body paint.
You simply could not miss his presence. Asked what inspired his outfit, he said it’s how he sees himself. This was a common theme across the board with most attendees, with some saying this is the only place they can fully express themselves without judgment or fear.
The importance of pride
As I was doing interviews, some attendees who couldn’t be on camera shared that their families would be shocked to find out they were members of the community. This strongly highlighted the safe space that Pride is, while also shining the spotlight on how prejudices are still rife.
Many marched loudly and boldly, breaking into song and dance through the streets of Sandton. Joining the march were a few famous faces, including radio presenter SelBeyonce, trans activist Yaya Mavundla and the Drag Diva, Adam, who returned as the grand marshal and political speaker for the event.
Influencer and model Ponahalo Mojapelo said Pride is a celebration of history and sacrifice. She said if she had to choose a theme song for Pride, it would be Lebo Mathosa’s Be Free.
The long queues
It would be disingenuous not to highlight the long queues that left everyone, including myself, frustrated. On Saturday, temperatures reached a high of 33°C. Now imagine waiting for hours to access the venue! I eventually went to the very front of the queue to try and investigate what was going on, but to my surprise, all I had to do was show the security personnel at the gate my ticket, get a wristband and enter. There was no scanning of tickets, so why were the queues that long?
Why not hand over the wristbands faster, considering it was a free event? This resulted in me and many others, unfortunately, missing the performances on stage.
This was not all. You still had to queue to get food and drinks, which felt overpriced—a mere boerewors roll was going for R100 with no side, and a 330ml cider was going for R55. Some people even went to the nearest mall to eat instead. Attendees also expressed their dissatisfaction regarding the very limited drinks menu.
There were mixed reviews regarding the VIP section: some clearly had a great time and commended the smooth service and clean bathrooms, while others claimed it wasn’t worth paying R250 for since they had to sit on the floor due to a lack of space, as seats were apparently reserved.
Overlooking all these shortcomings, I can confidently say that, in the general section, we partied up a storm! The DJs played as if their lives depended on it, playing various genres from house music to hip-hop. The cherry on top? Everyone was so kind and welcoming. It felt like a safe space where you could truly be yourself and be seen, which is really what Pride is all about.
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