Johannesburg Pride
About This Event
Johannesburg Pride was the first Pride march on the African continent. On 13 October 1990, several hundred people (about 800 by one count) marched through Johannesburg behind GLOW, the Gay and Lesbian Organisation of the Witwatersrand. Simon Nkoli and others had founded GLOW as the first gay and lesbian group working in the townships. The march was as much against apartheid as for gay rights, and some marchers wore masks because they were afraid of being identified. Nkoli's statement that he could not separate being black from being gay is still the best-known line from that day.
The event today is very different. In recent years it has been held in Sandton, the city's business district. The march goes along Katherine Street and returns to a fenced Pride village with stages, food and bars that stays open from late morning until midnight. Entry is free and the event is corporate-sponsored: Mercedes-Benz, Google and Heineken were among the 2026 partners. In 2025 the city's mayor marched, only the second time a mayor had done so in the event's history.
The commercial turn has been argued over for years. In 2012, activists from the One in Nine Campaign staged a die-in on the route to demand a minute's silence for queer South Africans who had been raped or murdered, and were confronted by people in the parade. Smaller, more political alternative prides started after that. In 2025, EWN reported continuing calls for a boycott, and the Good Party pulled out, saying Pride had become a photo opportunity.
Pride Day is usually a Saturday in late October. It closes a month of side events branded Pride of Africa Month, including rooftop parties, an empowerment summit and the Queer Met, a networking and fashion night. The march leaves at about 2pm, so arrive by lunch.
The 36th edition ran on Saturday 25 October 2025 under the theme 'Purely, Queerly, African'. Nobody publishes an independent crowd count. For 2024, police planned security for about 10,000 marchers, and the organisers' figure for the whole day was much higher. Pride of Africa and its chair, Kaye Ally, have officially announced the 2026 march for Saturday 31 October 2026. In 2026 the gates open at 11:00, the march leaves at 14:00 and the festival runs until midnight. New this year: a business fellowship for LGBTQ+ small businesses and about 500 free certification licences in fields like data analytics and cybersecurity.
Where to stay during Johannesburg Pride
via Stay22Schedule & Sub-Events
+ Add EventDetailed schedule coming soon.
Check the official website for the latest programme.
Practical Tips
Head straight for Katherine Street in Sandton — three live-entertainment stages run from 11am until midnight.
Gautrain to Sandton Station puts you a short walk from the parade footprint.
Videos
STORYTIME || JHB Pride || Am I The Drama ? 😭
