Waterford’s Pride of the Déise may be one of Ireland’s newer LGBTQ+ festivals, but the organisers have been pulling out all the stops since their first Pride festival back in 2019. 

Catch the raising of the Pride flag on May 27 and get ready for ten days of festivities to begin. On May 28, snag a ticket to a staging of Michael Lavery's 2023 play Confined Spaces about queer life in Belfast at the Garter Lane Arts Centre, and stick around for the funky post-show DJ set by Déise Doll. The next morning, refresh yourself with a caffeine hit at the Pride at Work's Coffee Club in Spraoi and have the chance to meet trans activist Philippa Ryder. Many events are still to be announced but the crown jewel of the festival, the Pride March, is set to start from Cathedral Square on May 31.

Mixture of free and ticketed events. Various venues, Waterford, Co Waterford, May 27 - June 6.

Have any plans for the June Bank Holiday? Head to beautiful Westport and celebrate Mayo Pride with outdoor adventures, late-night antics and great company.

Kicking off the celebrations on May 29 in the The Mariner is top-class drag queen Panti Bliss with her new show, 'If These Wigs Could Talk.' Expect cheeky anecdotes and salacious stories from her years in rural Mayo and London's sparkly West End. Besides the Mayo Pride Parade itself, other events include a Queer Trad Session in Matt Molloy's pub, a Pride Boat Cruise around Clew Bay, a Pride After Party and a drag brunch to get your Bank Holiday Sunday started the right way.

Mixture of free and ticketed events. Various venues, Westport, Co Mayo, May 29 - June 1.

Photo credit: @lucyniamhh_

LGBTQ+ organisation Heartlands Pride Athlone is well known in the community for their annual winter festival, but this year they're spreading even more vibrant joy with their first ever Summer Pride Festival. From May 30 to June 7, the town will be hopping with events including hands-on workshops, informative talks and quiz nights. 

If you fancy a boogie, head to The Piano Bar for their Pride Bash, with beats from DJ Kwen and antics from Irish drag star Bonnie Ann Clyde. The highlight of any Pride festival is the parade, and for its debut on June 6, the Athlone Pride parade will wind through the Shannonside town, starting at Dooley's Flowers on Magazine Road and culminating in lovely Burgess Park for an Outdoor Festival and Family Fun Day.

Limerick goes all-out for Pride, with a full week in early July set out to celebrate all things LGBTQ+ in the Treaty City. More events are still to be confirmed, but the festival is set to reach its peak with the annual Pride Parade, which will wind through the streets of Limerick on July 11.

For another year in a row, Dolans will pull out all the stops for the official Climax Party on July 11. Although they're keeping the full line-up under wraps, with three hopping venues under the one roof it's set to be a memorable night on the Shannon.

Mixture of free and ticketed events. Various venues, Limerick, Co Limerick, July 6-11.

Photo credit: @limerickinfocus

For the eleventh anniversary of Drogheda Pride, the celebration has expanded to include a second day of unbridled fun. On June 19, make your way to King Street for the lively Pride Parade which kicks off at 12pm on the dot.

Once the sun goes down, McHugh's Bar and Venue plans to keep the party going. Friday night will see their main stage filled with a mix of performers like comedian David McSavage, musician Tara Dignam and drag star Ryo for the Pride Pre Party. Come back the following evening for the Drogheda Pride Main Event where the wonderful Tailor Maid Colby will host fellow drag performers Bon Bon, AIDXN G and Avatar Guille for a night of amusement.  

Mixture of free and ticketed events. Various venues, Drogheda, Co Louth, June 19-20.

This year's Cork Pride is set to receive a makeover thanks to volunteer-led group Cork Community Pride taking the reins. Kicking off on August 1, the three-day celebration is about love and inclusivity for all ages. This year's full programme is yet to be announced, but their Pride March and Pride Family Picnic will make for a colourful day out for the whole family. 

Mixture of free and ticketed events. Various venues, Cork, Co Cork, August 1-3.

Summer is always busy in Galway, and the city will be celebrating another wonderful season of Pride from August 2-8. Alongside community gatherings, late-night parties and their energetic Pride Parade, past events have included everything from the Drag Bingo and a Pride Swim in the sea to a Gaylí (a traditional céilí with a rainbow twist) and a LGBTQ+ Tea Party. So, keep a keen eye out for this year's festival programme. 

Mixture of free and ticketed events. Various venues, Galway, Co Galway, August 2-8.

Photo credit: @galway.pride

Hosting one of the last Pride festivals in 2026, Laois Pride will be back for their fifth year in a row with the help of the Midlands LGBT+ Project, taking over the heart of Portlaoise for several days of inclusive entertainment. Event organisers are building up anticipation by keeping all event details tightly under wraps, but the programme will reach its peak on Saturday, September 12 with the parade and street festival.

Mixture of free and ticketed events. Various venues, Portlaoise, Co Laois, September 7-13.