Hemel Hempstead Pride 2026 / Herts Pride 2026

Hemel Hempstead does not have a Pride of its own. The town lies in the Dacorum district of Hertfordshire, and the county's LGBTQ+ community celebrates together at Herts Pride, the official Pride of Hertfordshire. It takes place every year on a Saturday in late August in Cassiobury Park in nearby Watford, running from midday until late evening.

The event is organised by the Hertfordshire Pride Society. Herts Pride is a festival rather than a march: there is no parade through the streets. Instead the park fills with a main stage, stalls and several themed areas. The stage line-up mixes drag artists and drag kings, choirs, tribute acts and local bands, usually hosted by familiar faces from the drag scene and local radio.

Alongside the stage there is a wellbeing marquee, a market area, a sports zone and an emergency services zone where police, fire and ambulance teams meet visitors. A funfair and a dog show are fixtures of the day, as are food and drink stalls. Charities and support services from across Hertfordshire use the festival to introduce their work. Entry is ticketed, and children under thirteen go free with an adult.

Several district councils in the county support Herts Pride, among them Watford and Three Rivers, where the Pride flag is raised over the council offices for the occasion.

From Hemel Hempstead, Watford is a short journey away. Outside the Pride season, the charity Impactful Lives runs monthly social meetups for LGBTQ+ people in Hemel Hempstead and the surrounding area, so there is a way to stay connected with the local community all year round.