The charity responsible for organising Luton’s annual Pride celebrations has announced it is winding down, meaning this year’s festival will no longer take place.
Pride in Luton confirmed that it will be dissolving after trustees concluded they no longer have the capacity to continue running the organisation. As a result, the Pride festival that had been planned for June has been cancelled.
The group first launched the town’s Pride festival in June 2022 and has since worked to support the local LGBTQIA+ community by offering information, advice and community events. Last year’s festival was estimated to have attracted 10,000 visitors.
In a statement, the charity said: “This has been a difficult decision. After a challenging year, the trustees have concluded that we no longer have the organisational capacity required to sustain the charity in a way that delivers the governance, stability and impact our community deserves.”
Despite the decision to wind down the organisation, Pride in Luton said most of the events it has scheduled in the coming weeks will still go ahead as planned. The only cancellation confirmed so far is the annual Pride festival.
The charity added that any remaining funds would be distributed in accordance with its charitable aims and legal obligations.
Explaining its legacy in the town, Pride in Luton said: “We are proud of what Pride In Luton has achieved – creating visible celebration, building connection, and contributing to inclusion and belonging across the town.
“That work has mattered, and it continues to matter. The need for safe, affirming and community-led LGBTQIA+ spaces in Luton remains as important as ever.”
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