2025 saw the launch of Oxford DIY Pride, the city's independent alternative to corporate-backed Pride events; and with lines out the door and a sellout night at the Old Fire Station, it's safe to say the day was a roaring success. Now in 2026, they're back for the sequel, hoping to bring the same queer magic and resistance to the East Oxford Community Centre - we got in touch to find out more.
Daily Information: It’s Oxford DIY Pride’s second year! Can you tell us a bit about the experience of running last year’s event for the first time?
Michaela: Looking back on last year, I’m really proud of the statement we made: not just that there is no Pride in genocide and capitalism, but also that the Oxford community is more than willing to rally for a cause that actually involves them. Running the event was a feat of our teamwork and making sure our volunteers were as involved as possible in every aspect of the day. Even then, we were delighted by how many other groups came through. Damascus Rose catered the event, Groovy Su — a local artist — decorated Florence Park Community Centre for the daytime event in upcycled materials, the Old Fire Station allowed us to use their theatre for free, and later in the day, a picnic naturally formed in the garden next to the Queer Yoga session. I was also so surprised by how many people turned up on the day; there was a queue out the door for most of the afternoon!
I’m also constantly reminded of how much it resonated with the Oxford Community. I’ve had people over the past year asking me when the next DIY Pride is, when and how they can get involved, and how important our event was to them because they were feeling really disillusioned with Pride.
DI: Who’s getting involved this year? Are there any new additions we expect to find at this year’s celebrations?
Michaela: We have some returning stallholders like Iliadtea, Butternutcreate, Strangely Natural, Oxford for Trans Rights, SolidariTee, Oxford Mutual Aid, SCRAPS, and the Oxford branch of the RCP. Oxford Poetry Library is running another open mic, and we have some drag acts who were either in last year’s daytime or evening show.
As for newcomers, I think a lot of our stallholders reflect both the increased politicisation of the community in general and the impression we left last year. The Oxford branch of Alzheimer’s Society will be there to discuss queer brain health, we’ll have a stall dedicated to local queer indie authors, and we have a student society — The Green Carnations — as well! We’re also going to have a gender-affirming care pop-up in partnership with T-Time, and Sapphic Bison (who to be fair was at last year’s event) will be providing guidance on how trans and non-binary folks can use their fingerprick blood tests.
Cairo: This year we're so excited to welcome familiar faces and some new performers to the line-up! Joining us are Noah and Sophie; Noah is a talented folk musician and multi-instrumentalist, while Sophie is an incredible folk singer. Together, they'll be performing a special 30-minute set. We're also delighted to welcome back Chloe August following her incredible performance at last year's event!
We will also see both our daytime and evening cabaret returning! Our daytime cabaret features seven fabulous performers, each bringing their own unique style and energy to the stage. The line-up includes returning host and performer Cairo (me), familiar face in the Oxford scene Paula Gravy, and exciting new faces, including UK Next Drag Superstar finalist Nikki Tene!!
The evening cabaret also brings together a fantastic mix of returning favourites and fresh talent, with 10+ performers for the eve. Familiar faces include Francis Lightningheart, who performed at last year's DIY cabaret. Alongside several exciting new performers including the exquisite Ratbrina Carpenter and Drag musical comedian Curly!
The full line up is on our instagram, please check it out if you can because if you like any form of live performance or cabaret, I really cannot recommend both of these cabarets enough! The line ups are such a huge showcase of a wide range of talent here in Oxford and surrounding areas!
DI: Can you take us through the schedule for the day on July 4th?
DIY: The celebrations actually begin on July 3rd, with Sapphic Bison’s fundraiser gig night that doubles as a DIY Pride pre-party! We will be there with QR codes to donate to our fundraiser and build some hype for the 4th.
On the 4th, we open the East Oxford Community Centre at 1pm, but please try to arrive as early as possible because upstairs, we’ll be starting off the day’s events with a little welcome speech at around 1:10pm. From there, the upstairs hall will be our performance zone and follow this timetable:
1:15-2pm: Oxford Poetry Library open mic
2-3pm: Live Music
3-4:30pm: Family-Friendly Cabaret + Oxford for Trans Rights speech
4:30-4:45pm: Community Raffle
4:45-5pm: Disco/Dance Party
Downstairs, we have several activities running the whole afternoon: a wellbeing/lounge space, arts and crafts and other family activities in the courtyard, and the community market in the ground-floor hall.
We’ll close at 5pm, clean up, then begin setting up for our evening cabaret, which opens at 7pm and will end at around 9pm. Like last year, this evening show will be 18+ and explore more of the political themes of DIY Pride.
DI: As well as Oxford, Reading, Brighton and Aberdeen have also created their own grassroots Pride events. Why do you think the DIY Pride movement has been getting so much momentum recently?
Michaela: Last year, it felt like we unlocked something important. It was a reminder that everything is connected; pinkwashing is not removed from, but an active statement of, complicity in atrocities like Israel’s genocide against Palestinians, imperialist-motivated wars in Congo or Sudan, as well as the starvation of Cuba and America’s wasteful war with Iran. Caring about people in other parts of the world and talking about their struggles has been disregarded as “righteous” or “pessimistic” but it’s just realistic. Pride means solidarity with all oppressed people, and boldly stating that we exist regardless of who tries to silence or eliminate us.
The more the state tries to suppress protest, the more we will rally to defend our values. The more AI companies and their models continue to rob us of job opportunities, produce misogynistic and transphobic content, and consume natural resources like drinking water, the more people will realize none of us want this future.
So of course local communities can and should reclaim Pride until they are no longer the “alternative”. Our governments, and the representatives within, have let us down. Mainstream Prides let us down when they prioritise flashy sponsorships over humanity, or rely on AI for their promotional materials regardless of how much they are stealing from their own communities.
I also wanna shout out Leeds, Sheffield and Birmingham who have put on their own “alt”/DIY Prides too!
Cairo: I think the increase in DIY Prides, grassroots events and community groups is really positive. I think many people are looking for spaces they feel more personally connected to and events that are community-led, grassroots and accessible, which is what Oxford DIY Pride and this movement is all about and what I believe Pride has always meant!
DI: The past year has been especially rough for LGBTQIA+ people, especially our trans friends and neighbours with the new EHRC guidance - what are some ways we can support the queer community beyond Pride, both locally and generally?
Michaela: Where it’s safe, join counter-demos against far-right figures — we did it to Tommy Robinson and we can do it again!
On an individual level, ensure that you cut through any transphobic or queerphobic rhetoric whenever you find it. The fact is trans people are being scapegoated for the failures of our governments and capitalism as a whole. The cost of living is not caused by trans folks seeking healthcare or gender-affirming care, nor is it improved by cutting disability benefits. Personally I’ve found that reminding people of that can give them pause and reorient their antagonism towards the powers that are actually harming them and their children.
Cairo: I love this question, as I tend to find a lot of people who want to help, find it difficult to really know how, but I think support is really not that complicated. At the most basic level, it starts with remembering we are all human. Regardless of how someone identifies, the first step is simply to be kind and compassionate towards each other.
Check in on people when you can, show up with understanding, and do your best to lead with humanity. You don’t have to attend every event or protest to make a difference, but you can still be supportive in everyday ways by being respectful, by listening, and by standing against discrimination when you see it.
Practical support matters too such as showing up for LGBTQIA+ events, protests, and supporting local queer-owned businesses.
DI: Where can we follow you for updates and info?
DIY: You can follow us @oxdiypride on Instagram to get updates, including accessibility info, all our lovely stallholders, and the casts of both our daytime and evening cabarets.
If you’d like to support us, you can donate any amount to our fundraiser. Any surplus will be donated to charity. We raised £355 for Medical Aid for Palestinians last year and would love to give even more this time around!
Oxford DIY Pride takes place on Saturday 4th July, at East Oxford Community Centre with a daytime event from 1 - 5pm and an evening cabaret from 7:30pm. Spots can be reserved for the evening show here.
Image credits: Feng Ho