{
    "title": "Antwerp Pride has chosen \u2018Fearless\u2019 as this year\u2019s theme",
    "modified_at": "2026-04-08 19:46:03",
    "published_at": "2026-04-08 19:46:00",
    "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/antwerp-pride-has-chosen-fearless-as-this-years-theme",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/dABd",
    "culture": "en_BE",
    "language": "EN",
    "slug": "antwerp-pride-has-chosen-fearless-as-this-years-theme",
    "body": "<p><strong>The 19th edition of Antwerp Pride will have &ldquo;Fearless&rdquo; as its theme. This year, the festival will take place from Tuesday 4 to Sunday 9 August.</strong></p><p>According to the organisers, the theme was chosen following discussions within the LGBTQIA+ community in the autumn of 2025. These discussions included concerns about the rise of the far right in Europe and a possible shift towards conservatism among younger generations. At the same time, resilience and solidarity within the community were also highlighted.</p><p>&ldquo;The theme means that we choose to remain visible despite the fear, for ourselves, for one another and within society,&rdquo; says Antwerp Pride chair Geert van Praet. &ldquo;Any form of hatred or exclusion is unacceptable. Day after day, in how we live, work and coexist. Pride began in 1969 thanks to people who were &lsquo;fearless&rsquo;. We still stand on their shoulders, even though our society has changed enormously. In a positive sense too, but it is precisely the good things that we must preserve and expand.&rdquo;</p><div id=\"bookmark-406a5aac-d1c7-4282-b44f-954f5f59fba9\"\n     class=\"release-content-bookmark release-content-bookmark--horizontal\">\n\n            <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__thumbnail\"\n           href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/violence-and-hate-speech-against-lgbtqia-people-rise-in-belgium\"\n           rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n           target=\"_blank\"           style=\"background-image: url(https://prezly.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.uc.assets.prezly.com%2Fd5e88576-7549-4833-8ad4-ceeed4ac27d3%2F-%2Fpreview%2F600x600%2F?ar=1%3A1&amp;fit=crop&amp;s=c589080568e878ae8ea9b2b14830c333)\"\n        ></a>\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__details\">\n\n                    <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__title\"\n               href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/violence-and-hate-speech-against-lgbtqia-people-rise-in-belgium\"\n               rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n               target=\"_blank\"               data-type=\"bookmark\"\n               data-track=\"Story WebBookmark Click\"\n               data-placement=\"content\"\n               data-id=\"406a5aac-d1c7-4282-b44f-954f5f59fba9\"\n           >\n                Violence and hate speech against LGBTQIA+ people rise in Belgium            </a>\n        \n                    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__description\">\n                Violence and hate speech targeting LGBTQIA+ people increased in Belgium in 2025, according to the latest annual report from ILGA-Europe. The group...            </div>\n        \n        <a href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/\"\n           target=\"_blank\"\n           rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"\n           class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider\"\n        >\n            <img class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider-icon\" src=\"https://avatars.prezly.com/favicon?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.belganewsagency.eu%2Fviolence-and-hate-speech-against-lgbtqia-people-rise-in-belgium&newsroom=6b71e247-a9ba-4732-aaa3-88be14c119db\" aria-hidden=\"true\" />\n            belganewsagency.eu        </a>\n    </div>\n</div>\n<p>The announcement also comes following tensions surrounding last year&rsquo;s Pride Parade, when a counter-demonstration by the far right was permitted along the route. According to the Pride organisers, who speak of &ldquo;great unrest&rdquo; within the Pride community at the time, constructive discussions have since taken place with the city, with the aim of guaranteeing a safe environment for participants and visitors.</p><p>This year&rsquo;s Antwerp Pride Parade will take place on Saturday 8 August and will once again be the highlight of the festival week, which also features cultural and festive activities across the city. The full programme will be announced at a later date.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><sup>#FlandersNewsService | The 2025 edition of the &#039;Antwerp Pride&#039; Parade &copy; BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK</sup></p><hr /><p><strong>Related news</strong></p><div id=\"bookmark-6362ae99-4724-4e65-a925-f7f1e8e446f8\"\n     class=\"release-content-bookmark release-content-bookmark--horizontal\">\n\n            <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__thumbnail\"\n           href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/record-turnout-and-rising-support-mark-antwerp-pride-2025\"\n           rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n           target=\"_blank\"           style=\"background-image: url(https://prezly.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.uc.assets.prezly.com%2F6f4f608c-44ab-4a80-a103-39b140275b49%2F-%2Fpreview%2F600x600%2F?ar=1%3A1&amp;fit=crop&amp;s=9f875ccf466eb63cd070e184407a86bf)\"\n        ></a>\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__details\">\n\n                    <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__title\"\n               href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/record-turnout-and-rising-support-mark-antwerp-pride-2025\"\n               rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n               target=\"_blank\"               data-type=\"bookmark\"\n               data-track=\"Story WebBookmark Click\"\n               data-placement=\"content\"\n               data-id=\"6362ae99-4724-4e65-a925-f7f1e8e446f8\"\n           >\n                Record turnout and rising support mark Antwerp Pride 2025            </a>\n        \n                    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__description\">\n                Antwerp Pride is on course for its biggest edition yet, with 90 delegations confirmed to take part in Saturday\u2019s parade. 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    "links": [
        {
            "description": "Violence and hate speech against LGBTQIA+ people rise in Belgium",
            "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/violence-and-hate-speech-against-lgbtqia-people-rise-in-belgium"
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            "description": "Record turnout and rising support mark Antwerp Pride 2025",
            "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/record-turnout-and-rising-support-mark-antwerp-pride-2025"
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            "description": "Brussels Pride 2025: A march for rights in troubled times",
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