It’s a big year for Pride Canterbury! Saturday 6 June 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the city’s spectacular, family-friendly celebration of LGBTQIA+ identity, diversity, equality and progress.
The Pride Canterbury parade brings a burst of colour and sparkle to the city with over 50 groups taking part, attracting thousands of smiling faces along the city streets. This year, the newly reopened Dane John Gardens once again hosts Kent’s biggest Pride event with a diverse artist line-up, entertainment, marketplace, food, drink and much more.
A brief history of Pride Canterbury
The city’s first Pride demonstration was held by the then East Kent CHE (Campaign for Homosexual Equality) group in June 1973 and what was Kent University’s GLF (Gay Liberation Front).
Pride Canterbury, as we know it today, was set up many years later in 2016. A parade of around 500 was led by the Lord Mayor and Delilah Tickles, followed by a music show in Dane John Gardens with food, drink and market stalls. The turnout was 3,500 - modest by today’s numbers but a clear signal of the city’s appetite for the event.
Pride Canterbury has gone from strength to strength and is now a much-loved summer staple in the city, showing there is no place for discrimination or hate in Kent.
The pandemic stopped Pride Canterbury from going ahead as normal in 2020 - but it didn’t stop it sharing its message of inclusivity, with an online video and exhibition at The Beaney. Part of the exhibition asked people, “What would you say to your ten-year-old self?”
Spotlight on Delilah Tickles
Delilah is celebrated for supporting and representing Kent’s LGBTQIA+ community. Her portrait in The Beaney’s People and Places exhibition, by artist Hannah Rose, was the first in Canterbury Museums’ collection to represent a drag queen and member of the contemporary LGBTQIA+ community.
We caught up with Delilah / Dean to chat about Pride Canterbury and the city:
How did you get involved with Pride Canterbury?
A group of us got chatting at what was the Jolly Sailor pub in Northgate - a well-known LGBTQIA+ friendly pub - and agreed there was a need for better
LGBTQIA+ representation and celebration in Canterbury. We went on to organise the inaugural Pride Canterbury parade and festival and the rest is history!
What are your first memories of Pride Canterbury?
Marching past the Cathedral, being in the heart of Canterbury and seeing so many people lining the streets. There were crowds of people in Dane John Gardens, all supportive, all enjoying themselves - it was great to see such good engagement from the local community.
How different is the event now?
In many ways it’s actually very similar - it’s always been family-friendly with free
activities and market stalls - this was and is really important. When we launched Pride Canterbury there weren’t many, if any, local LGBT events that families could go to and we wanted something that was inclusive and welcoming to everyone.
Summer 2020 meant a very different Pride Canterbury. What are your memories of the event during the pandemic?
We knew it was important to mark the day somehow. We held an exhibition in The Beaney to celebrate Pride Canterbury’s history and heritage. I donated one of Delilah’s dresses for viewing and people were invited to write postcards to their ten year old self.
What does Pride mean to you?
Pride means feeling comfortable in my skin. It’s coming together to celebrate who you are. For some, the family you have is the family you choose.
What are your favourite parts of Canterbury?
I grew up on the Querns Road estate and spent my childhood around the city
centre. I loved the green spaces - Dane John, Westgate Gardens and the ‘secret’
Franciscan Gardens. I remember buying a £5 inflatable boat from Superdrug and floating down the Stour from the Westgate Gardens all the way to the Marlowe Theatre!
See Delilah’s upcoming gigs and booking details at kentdragqueens.co.uk
