Leazes Park was awash with colour on Friday evening as Dame Kelly Holmes fired the starting pistol for this year’s Pride 5K and the accompanying Junior Pride Run, in what organisers describe as the largest event of its kind in Newcastle since before the pandemic.
Attendance and atmosphere
The sell-out run attracted 450 runners, many wearing rainbow attire, and followed a junior race that involved more than 60 children. The event, organised by LGBTQ+ community running club Newcastle Frontrunners (NFR) and sponsored by Lumo, marked the formal start of a busy Pride weekend in the city.
- Venue: Leazes Park
- Main event: 5K Pride Run — 450 participants
- Junior event: Junior Pride Run — 60+ youngsters
- Sponsor: Lumo
Wider Pride weekend
Organisers expect the Pride weekend to draw crowds across Saturday and Sunday, with more than 80,000 people anticipated to attend various events in the city. Headline performers scheduled at Times Square include Nadine Coyle, Katy B, Bimini and Danny Beard.
| Measure | Number |
|---|---|
| 5K participants (2026) | 450 |
| Junior participants | 60+ |
| Expected Pride attendees (weekend) | 80,000+ |
| 5K participants (pre-pandemic high, 2018) | 600 |
Organisers and community message
Andrew Melville of Newcastle Frontrunners said the event had been planned for nine months and sold out for the first time since the pandemic. He framed the race as a response to rising hostility towards LGBTQ+ people nationally and locally.
"It's been the best 5K Pride Run in the history of the event. We sold out of tickets for the first time since the pandemic, which is brilliant. ... It was fantastic to have double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes start the race," Andrew Melville said.
Dame Kelly Holmes, who has served in the armed forces and spoken publicly about facing discrimination, not only started the race but also took part. The start line was animated by local performers including drag entertainer Miss Gloria Love, singing group Heaton Jukebox, Northern Proud Voices and the Metrognomes. Andrew Gardiner, 2024 Mr Gay GB and a dance artist, led warm-ups prior to the run.
Results and community impact
The Junior Pride Run, held at 6pm, was won by Isla Dehler, 11, from Whitley Bay. The main 5K at 7pm was won by Angus Williams. Event organisers said the aim was to make this year’s race larger and more celebratory in light of recent anti-LGBT and anti-trans rhetoric.
For residents and visitors, the weekend promises a mix of sporting, musical and community-led events across the city. Those travelling to Times Square and central Pride sites should expect higher pedestrian numbers and some localised road closures; attendees are advised to consult official Pride communications for accessibility and scheduling details.
This year’s turnout is a reminder of the continuing role that such events play in community visibility and solidarity in Newcastle.
