Newcastle Pride has announced “with great disappointment” that this year’s Fair Day will not go ahead due to a lack of sponsorship and grant funding.
Last year’s Newcastle Pride Festival Fair Day was one for the record books. Over 18,000 attendees were welcomed to Gregson Park.
The day was filled with community spirit, families, allies, and LGBTIQ+ visitors from around the state.
“The increase from 13000 to 18000 estimated visitors on the day shows support from the wider community,” a Newcastle Pride spokesperson told QNews.
“Hopefully, we will be appealing for sponsors to get behind us in 2026. Securing sponsorship needed to run this year’s festival was a big challenge this year.”
In 2025, the team at Newcastle Pride thanked all of our sponsors, including the continued support they recieved from Coles.
On Monday, the Newcastle Pride team announced that this year’s Newcastle Pride Fair Day would not go ahead.
Courtney Act performing at Newcastle Pride Fair Day 2025Photo by Harlem Starlet
“It is with great disappointment that we have made the difficult decision to pause Newcastle Pride Fair Day in 2026,” a statement said.
“Despite our best efforts, we were unable to secure the level of sponsorship or grant funding required to deliver Fair Day at the standard our community deserves.”
“Rather than significantly reducing the event and compromising what makes Fair Day so special, we have chosen to pause, rebuild and come back stronger. This is a pause, not goodbye.”
Related content:
- Newcastle Pride Festival breaks records celebrating visibility and community
- Greens call for NSW pride fund after another LGBTQIA+ event is cancelled
- ‘There’s nothing quite like it’ Greg Gould gets ready for Newcastle Pride Fair Day
‘Other Festival events will continue’
Newcastle Pride has celebrated sexuality and gender diversity in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter Region for nine years.
The volunteer-run organisation work hard to celebrate and elevate the regional LGBTQIA+ communities. In May, Newcastle Pride won Best Event or Festival at the Newcastle Hospitality & Tourism Awards for their 2025 festival.
“Our other Festival events will continue throughout 2026, while we focus on strengthening the sustainability of Newcastle Pride and planning for Fair Day in 2027,” the team said.
“Since 2018, Newcastle Pride has been run entirely by volunteers. Committee members have given countless hours alongside their paid employment, family commitments and other personal responsibilities, working year after year to secure sponsorship, grants and funding, and grow our Festival.”
View this post on Instagram
“It has taken an enormous amount of time, energy and dedication to build Newcastle Pride into the organisation it is today. We remain committed to our community and to ensuring Newcastle Pride has a strong and sustainable future.
“A heartfelt thank you to Newcastle Pride members, volunteers, community, businesses and organisations who support us year after year.”
This year, NSW regional Pride festivals have been postponed, scaled back or ended due to lack of funding or sponsorship.
In May, Tamworth Pride announced they would be postponing the festival until 2027.
Wagga Wagga’s Mardi Gras announced the festival was ending after five years.
NSW Pride events rely on ‘piecemeal fundraising and short-term grants’
NSW Greens LGBTQIA+ spokesperson, Dr Amanda Cohn, renewed her calls for the NSW Government to create a dedicated Pride events fund similar to Victoria.
“Pride events in NSW are often left to rely on piecemeal fundraising and short-term grants, with no specific or long-term government funding,” Dr Cohn said.
“LGBTQIA+ community events are vulnerable, despite their enormous cultural and social value. These events are crucial, especially for young people and for those living in regional and rural communities, where visibility and connection can be life-changing.”
Courtney Act performing at Newcastle Pride Fair Day 2025Photo by Harlem Starlet
Dr Cohn has started an online petition calling the NSW Government to establish a dedicated funding stream for Pride events.
“The Sydney Mardi Gras relies on Tourism NSW funding, but Pride events are more than tourist attractions,” Dr Cohn said.
“They are opportunities for queer people to connect, celebrate and show communities that LGBTQIA+ people belong and matter. This is crucial at a time where hatred and threats towards queer communities is on the rise.”
A dedicated LGBTQIA+ Pride event fund supported by the NSW government would make a huge difference to regional Pride events.
We know how vital these events and community connection are in regional spaces. For many, they are a lifeline.
For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, and community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
