Pride of the Déise 2026 Festival Schedule
Pre-Festival Fundraiser
May 21st | Music Bingo & Raffle Fundraiser
It's the start of Pride season laaaads and we're kicking it off properly. Music bingo, deadly prizes, and the kind of craic that only happens in this city. Join us for a lil' pre-festival fundraiser in aid of Pride of the Déise's 2026 festival. All welcome - and yes, you should come.
📅 Thursday 21 May | 7pm
📍Henry Downes' Bar, Thomas Street, Waterford
🎟️ €5 to play
Wednesday 27 May
Flag Raising Ceremony
Pride of the Déise 2026 opens on Wednesday 27 May at 5:30pm with a flag-raising ceremony at House of Waterford on the Mall. Now in its seventh year, Waterford's volunteer-run LGBTQ+ community festival marks the moment with a free, all-ages public gathering - a declaration, as much as an opening, that queer community in Waterford is thriving. The festival runs through to 6 June under the march theme Super Queeros.
reQueering the Record: LGBTQ+ History Talks
Wednesday 27 May | 6:00–7:00pm | The Garden Room, Medieval Museum, Waterford
Queer lives were always part of Ireland's story. This one's about the ones that got left out.
reQueering the Record opens Pride of the Déise 2026 with history, art, and a few things they didn't put in the textbooks — bringing together medieval historian Dr. Gillian Kenny, Resident Artist Róibí Ó Rua, and your host Amy Uí Ríordáin for an evening of talks and Q&A in one of Waterford's most extraordinary spaces.
Free to attend. Capacity strictly limited
Tea + coffee provided.
Thursday 28 May
Pride @ Garter Lane
Belfast, September 2023. The Sugababes are touring again. Things are looking up for young gay Irish men who want to start over. Confined Spaces is a sharp, funny, and uncomfortably honest new play by Michael Lavery - a dark comedy about toxic relationships, the queer community, and the rocky, horny road to self-acceptance.
Presented by Pride of the Déise and Garter Lane Arts Centre as a rehearsed reading, directed by Em O'Ceallaigh. Followed by a party in the gallery with Déise Doll on the decks and a pop-up bar by Tully's. €5. 15+.
Friday 29 May
Coffee Club at Spraoi with Pride at Work
Good coffee. Exceptional company. Pride at Work's Coffee Club comes to Waterford and they're bringing Dublin Pride's 2026 Grand Marshal with them.
Join us at Spraoi on Friday 29 May for a free, drop-in morning with Pride at Work and very special guest Philippa Ryder: trans activist, author of My Name Is Philippa, and one of the most important voices in Irish LGBTQ+ life. 10am to noon.
Free, but book a space!
Adult Storytelling with Fáin (@HogandDice)
18:00 - 20:00 | Waterford Gallery of Art, Waterford Cultural Quarter, O'Connell Street
Stories have always been how we've survived. Join us for an evening of adult storytelling with Fáin @HogAndDice - intimate, atmospheric, and the kind of thing that stays with you. This is community in its oldest form.
House of Sappho presents: Girls, Gays and Theys.
22:30 - Late | Shush, Waterford
Get ready Waterford for a Friday night full of fun, frolic and fashion. Friday the 29th May ✨ 10.30PM till Closing time.
This event is run by House of Sappho and is contributing funds to Pride of the Deise and ChillOUT LGBT+ Youth Project
[youth] ChillOUT: Keep it Clear, Keep it Queer! All Day Youth Event
15:00 - 22:00 | WSTCYS Youth and Community Centre | Manor Street, Waterford
Contact: chillout@wstcys.ie
An all day youth event with movie, munchies, followed by a gig and an open mic night.
Performances by Hazed, Ruin(ed) and Ashuu.
15:00-18:30 | Movies
18:30-22:00 | Gig
Contact WSTCYS's ChillOUT Coordinators @ chillout@wstcys.ie
For more information on the ChillOUT Youth Project go to:
https://wstcys.ie/services/chillout-lgbti-youth-project/
Saturday 30 May
Queer Carnival: Youth Takeover Party
Saturday 30 May 2026 | WSTCYS Youth and Community Centre | Manor Street, Waterford
Youth Ages 13-18
"Join us for a Circus Carnival Party for people ages 13+ filled with games, snacks, and a special art workshop with special guest local artist, Caoilfhionn Hanton."
Contact WSTCYS's ChillOUT Coordinators @ chillout@wstcys.ie
For more information on the ChillOUT Youth Project go to:
https://wstcys.ie/services/chillout-lgbti-youth-project/
Wexford Pride - 30th May
A bunch of us will be heading South-Easter to support Wexford Pride for their Pride Inside festival at Wexford Arts Centre from 12 PM - 6 PM. Due to low demand (and also less funding this year), we're not running a bus down but we hope to see you there!
Africa Day
Pride of the Déise joins the celebration of Africa Day on O'Connell Street - a joyful, vibrant, and genuinely class community event honoring the diversity and culture of African communities in Waterford City. All welcome.
Sunday 31 May
Youth Pride Breakfast
Sunday 31 May 2026 | WSTCYS Youth and Community Centre | Manor Street, Waterford
Contact WSTCYS's ChillOUT Coordinators @ chillout@wstcys.ie
For more information on the ChillOUT Youth Project go to:
https://wstcys.ie/services/chillout-lgbti-youth-project/
Community Breakfast @ Cathedral Square
10:30am | Cathedral Square, Museum Quarter
We're going to have a hope heap of Blaas (and gluten free options too) and we're fueling for the March so come down, bring a friend and get some food before the big day.
7th Annual Pride March
11:30 am | Cathedral Square
Speeches will be starting at 12:00 pm sharp and we'll be marching once they're done so get down early, join us for a breakfast Blass (or gluten free alternative) if you can!
Block Party
13:00 - 21:30 | O'Connell Street
After the march gets to O'Connell Street it's time to Party!
We are delighted to be bringing SexyTadhg back to Waterford, as well as Problem Patterns, Sofia Gillani, DJ Jacqui Kelleher and youth acts Mind Cemetery, Ashuu and more!
Full line up announcement coming soon - keep an eye on our socials and get the news first on our mailing list!
Queer Market
13:00 - 17:00
This year our Queer Market will be held in Garter Lane during the Block Party! We have another lovely array of crafters, makers and queer businesses and community groups to chat to and engage with. Support queer art and business!
More details to come.
Quiet Space with NeuroPride Ireland
13:00 - 17:00 | Waterford Gallery of Art
Running as always in Waterford Gallery of Art at the opposite enf of O'Connell Street to all the noise! A quiet space with fidgets, sensory aids, and other humans who get it.
Quiet Space with NeuroPride Ireland
Monday 1st June
Pride Picnic in People's Park
11:00 - 15:00 | Monday 1 June 2026 | People's Park, Park Road, Waterford
Join us for a wholesome day in the park for some Block Party recovery - a chicken fillet roll, gourmet picnic, or what ever you're having yourself. Get down early to grab a beanbag, or bring a blanket!
The wonderful people from Déise Pride FC for a kick about, as well as Science Communicator Gwen who will be showing us how to make kites and bubbles.
Tuesday 2nd June
[dátheangach | bilingual] Is Breá le Vicí Bród: Ceardlann Eagarthóireachta | Wiki Loves Pride: Editing Workshop
Leabharlann Ardkeen | Dé Máirt, 2 Meitheamh | 15:00–18:00
Ardkeen Library | Tuesday 2 June | 3pm–6pm
Free & open to all. / Saor in aisce & fáilte roimh chách.
Cabhraigh linn stair an phobail LADTA+ a chur ar thaifead - ar líne, go deo. Beidh ceardlann eagarthóireachta Wikipedia ar siúl againn mar chuid de Féile 2026, áit a bhféadfaidh tú lámh a chur le hábhar fíorluachmhar a chruthú faoi dhaoine, áiteanna agus eachtraí LADTA+ ar Vicipéid. Ná bíodh imní ort mura bhfuil taithí agat - fáilteofar roimh gach éinne, ó thosaitheoirí go heagarthóirí taithíocha.
Anuraidh, chruthaíomar leathanaigh nua do Izzy Kamikaze (íocón LADTA+ Éireannach) agus do Ionad Ealaíon Garter Lane. Cad a chuirfidh tú féin leis an gcomhrá i mbliana?
Help us requeer the record and make LGBTQ+ history visible online. Join us for a Wikipedia editing workshop as part of Féile 2026 — no experience needed, just curiosity and the will to contribute. Whether you're a first-time editor or a seasoned Wikipedian, come along and help us fill the gaps.
Last year we created new pages for Irish LGBTQ+ icon Izzy Kamikaze and Garter Lane Arts Centre. This year, who or what will you add to the record?
Queercal Comhrá
Tigh Downes, Sráid Thomáis | Dé Máirt, 2 Meitheamh | 19:00
Tar agus bí ag caint! Buaileann ár ngrúpa comhrá Gaeilge le chéile gach mí le haghaidh oíche shóisialta spraíúil i gcomhluadar an phobail aiteach. Fáilteofar roimh chainteoirí de gach leibhéal (ó thosaitheoirí go líofa) agus ní gá ach fonn cainte a bheith agat.
Beidh an cruinniú speisialta seo ar siúl mar chuid de Féile 2026 — tar i ndiaidh na ceardlainne Vicipéid in Leabharlann Ardkeen agus déan oíche iomlán de!
Downes' Bar, Thomas Street | Tuesday 2 June | 7pm Saor in aisce | Free entry
Come and have the cúpla focal — or a lot more! Our monthly Irish-language social is back as part of Féile 2026 for an evening of easy conversation and good company in the heart of Waterford.
All levels welcome — whether you have a few words or a full fluent flow, there's a place for you at the table. No pressure, just craic agus Gaeilge.
Wednesday 3rd June
Queer Tramore Meet-up @ The Beach
Wednesday 3 June | 2pm–6pm | Tramore Beach
In collaboration with Queer Tramore.
Come as you are and bring a blanket — we're heading to the seaside for an afternoon of sun, snacks, and good company. Join us on the beach at Tramore for a relaxed meet-up and picnic, with a swim for the brave. Pop-up changing tents and floaties provided.
All welcome. No booking required but if you would like to avail of the beach wheelchair do let us know and we can reserve it.
Thursday 4th June
Sober Roller Disco @ Pride of the Déise
Thursday 4th June | 6PM–9PM Activate Waterford, Williamstown Road
Queer joy on wheels Sober, inclusive, and a whole lot of fun - with pizza, great tunes, and good company. Book fast, 2025 sold out - twice!
🛼 The Sober Roller Disco is back, and we suggest booking fast it sold out (twice) last year.
Join Pride of the Déise for one of our most-loved events: two hours of skating, music, pizza, and pure queer joy - no alcohol, no pressure, just a brilliant night on wheels.
Friday 5th June
Feral Cabaret and Club Night
20:00 - 02:00 | The Reg, Waterford
Get ready for an unforgettable night of wild fun at the Feral Cabaret and Club Night!
Join us 8pm for our Cabaret staring your Waterford favourites, Bonnie Boux, Miz Meg and Kitty Killshot. For performances, Games and Prizes.
Saturday 6th June
Quare Boaty — The Grand Finale of Pride of the Déise 2026
Close out Féile 2026 in style aboard the Barrow Princess for 2 hours on the River Suir. Dr. Phil on the decks, a fully licensed bar, two levels to explore, and your whole community around you for one last bash.
Dress up. Show out. Bon Queerage. 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
📍 Pre-sail meet: 1:30pm at Jordan's Bar, The Quay
🚢 Departs 3pm sharp from beside the Tower Hotel
🏁 Back by 5pm
🎟️ €20 | 18+ | Limited availability
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Supported by Waterford City and County Council Festival Grant Fund 2026.