From Wednesday 5 to Sunday 9 August, Antwerp will once again be decked out in rainbow colours for Antwerp Pride . This year, the theme is ‘Fearless’ daring to be fearless and sending a powerful message together. It’s a message that has gained added resonance after the dreadful events at Christopher Street Day in Berlin earlier when one person was killed and many others injured in an Islamist attack.
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Antwerp Pride’s theme is ‘Fearless’: “Take to the streets” organisers say!
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“Antwerp Pride is about being visible, but above all about daring to be yourself,” says chair Geert van Praet. This year’s theme emerged following discussions within the LGBTQIA+ community in the autumn of 2025. These revealed, amongst other things, concerns about the rise of the far right in Europe and a more conservative trend amongst younger generations.
“Outspoken figures like Trump, Putin and Orbán in Hungary are fuelling this growing fear of the far right. And the influence of social media is also causing concern,” explains Van Praet.
At the same time, Antwerp Pride aims to send a positive message using this theme. “We want to show that fear must not paralyse us. It is precisely in this context that solidarity and connection are essential,” says the chair.
Safety in focus
Last year, during the Pride Parade there were concerns when a counter-demonstration by the far right was permitted along the route. “That was a very unfortunate turn of events and should not have happened,” explains Van Praet. “But it did prompt us to engage more closely with the city authorities to prevent such situations in the future.”
“The Pride Parade has always been a form of protest,” says Van Praet. “But at the same time, we also want to make it a place where everyone can be themselves and where we can celebrate freedom together.”
"Don’t let it get to you!"
According to the Antwerp Pride organisers there is no increased threat to the event following the fatal Islamist attack during Pride events in Berlin at the end of July. Last Saturday, a 21-year-old German of Lebanese heritage with links to Islamist circles drove a van into a festival organised by the LGBTQ+ community. One person was killed and 29 were injured.
The organiser of Antwerp Pride is urging visitors to make sure they come to Antwerp. Speaking immediately after the atrocity Geert van Praet said: “Attacks always make an impact, but my message is: take to the streets and don’t let it get to you. At the moment, the attack in Berlin appears to be an isolated incident, with no indications that further attacks are imminent in Europe. Based on what we know so far, it does not look as though there is any additional threat to Antwerp”.
Access routes blocked
According to Geert van Praet, the organisers and the police will be extra vigilant to ensure the safety of the Antwerp Pride route. “We’ll take another close look at it, but I assume that few, if any, adjustments will be needed.”
“Since the attacks in Nice, the protocols have already been updated and the access routes to Pride are being blocked off even more effectively. Antwerp’s police force is providing us with tremendous support, both visibly and behind the scenes.”