Wales’ annual LGBTQ+ festival, Pride Cymru, will form part of a UK delegation joining this year’s São Paulo Pride Parade for the British Council’s UK/Brazil Season of Culture 2025-26.
Taking place on Sunday 7 June, the Parade is the world’s largest Pride event, with an estimated 4 million people attending. In 2026 it will also celebrate its 30th anniversary.
Pride Cymru is a grassroots volunteer-led charity event celebrating equality and diversity which takes place annually in Cardiff. Considered the main Pride event in Wales, it features a large public parade through the city centre, live music, cabaret performances and community activities.
Pride Cymru will be represented in Brazil by their Chair, Dan Walsh, who leads the charity’s strategy and operations; and drag artist and DJ Dr Bev, one of the charity’s patrons and an activist tackling HIV stigma and queer youth homelessness.
The UK/Brazil Season of Culture 2025-26 is a joint initiative between the British Council, the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, and Instituto Guimarães Rosa (IGR), part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil.
The season marks 200 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries and includes a free and diverse programme of events aimed at deepening cultural ties, promoting rich cultural heritage and building lasting relationships between both nations.
Other members of the UK delegation will include representatives from Pride in London (England), Oban Pride (Scotland) and Belfast Pride Festival (Northern Ireland). During their visit, the UK delegates will also take part in roundtables, social projects, cultural exchanges and networking activities, including engaging directly with approximately 90 Pride organisations from across Brazil.
Ruth Cocks, Director, British Council Wales, said:
“We’re delighted that Pride Cymru will represent Wales at this year’s São Paulo Pride Parade as part of our UK/Brazil Season of Culture. Wales is a diverse nation with a proud tradition of solidarity, inclusion and community. We hope the connections forged in Brazil will inspire new partnerships and deepen the ties between our two nations.”
For more information and interview opportunities, please contact Hayley Willis, Senior Media and Campaigns Manager, British Council: hayley.willis@britishcouncil.org
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2024–25 we reached 600 million people.
About the UK/Brazil Season of Culture 2025-26
August 2025 to June 2026 marks the celebration of the UK/Brazil Season of Culture, a joint initiative by Instituto Guimarães Rosa (IGR), part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, in charge of Brazilian cultural diplomacy, and the British Council, the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities.
The Season is part of the commemorations marking 200 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, featuring a free and diverse programme across multiple cities in both Brazil and the UK. Its aim is to strengthen ties through events that explore a wide range of artistic expressions and promote cultural dialogue as a powerful tool for transformation and connection between people.
Key themes include climate emergency, technology, joy, diversity, and representation; topics that reflect global challenges and opportunities. The initiative invites audiences to engage in creative and collaborative experiences, fostering lasting connections among artists, cultural leaders, and institutions from both nations.
About Pride Cymru
Pride Cymru is Wales’ biggest annual LGBTQ+ festival and volunteer-led charity, taking place in Cardiff (Coopers Field/Cardiff Castle) to celebrate equality and diversity. Known as the main pride event in Wales, it features a massive parade, live music, cabaret, and community stalls. The 2026 event is scheduled for June 13th-14th and will include a large pride parade through Cardiff city centre, live performances and a community market.