QUEZON CITY —
Pride PH, University of the Philippines Diliman and the Quezon City Government formally renewed their partnership for the 2026 Pride Festival through a memorandum of agreement signed at the MICE Center of the Quezon City Hall, signaling the continuation of a multi-year collaboration that organizers say is “even bigger this time.”
The event, branded as #LOVELAB4N, will return to UP Diliman on June 27, 2026 and is expected to gather 300,000 to 400,000 LGBTQIA+ Filipinos and allies, once again positioning itself as Asia’s largest Pride demonstration.
A historic venue for a growing movement
UP Diliman remains the host venue, a site long associated with student activism, civic movements, and large public gatherings.
Organizers said the 2026 edition will expand beyond a single concert-style event into a campus-wide festival experience, with multiple hubs dedicated to advocacy, community engagement, culture, and entertainment.
What to expect at #LOVELAB4N
Pride March
The march remains the heart of the festival — a public demonstration demanding equality, dignity, and legal protection for LGBTQIA+ Filipinos.
Pride Expo
A community-centered space featuring advocacy groups, exhibits, interactive activations, and corporate partners supporting LGBTQIA+ inclusion.
QueerCon
A platform dedicated to queer-owned businesses and MSMEs, highlighting entrepreneurship within the community.
Pride Night
A large-scale celebration featuring queer artists and allies performing across four stages, giving attendees a more diverse and immersive festival experience.
A coalition-led movement
Present during the signing were Pride PH’s three national convenors — Rod Singh, Vince Liban, and Sky Teotico — alongside coalition organizations and partners, including Mujer LGBT+ Organisation from Mindanao, Dawn Mendoza, and CK Gatpandan.
The renewed agreement strengthens the long-running collaboration between Pride PH, Quezon City, and UP Diliman in staging one of the country’s largest civic gatherings.
Quezon City’s expanding equality agenda
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte highlighted the city’s continuing role in advancing LGBTQIA+ rights and inclusion.
“This is, after all, a protest, and it’s a fight for something we still don’t fully have, which is equality in the eyes of the law,” Belmonte said.
She emphasized that Pride should go beyond celebration and entertainment.
Belmonte said the expanded festival format will allow deeper conversations on LGBTQIA+ issues, including quality of life, discrimination, and access to opportunities.
“There will be more stages where advocacies can be further discussed, so it’s not just pure entertainment,” she said. “We will give opportunities to everyone in the community to be their authentic selves and celebrate all the gains we have made through the years.”
The mayor also noted that several local governments have begun recognizing and supporting Quezon City’s Right to Care Card initiative, including San Juan, Parañaque, Dasmariñas, Iloilo, and Cebu.
Pride beyond one day
Belmonte invited LGBTQIA+ Filipinos and allies from across the country to join not only the June 27 festival, but also a series of Pride Month activities in Quezon City.
Pride Run in the Morato area on June 6
Pride Talks, described as safe spaces for candid discussions on community issues
Pride Dance events
Business Summit supporting LGBTQIA+ MSMEs with LGBTQIA+ Philippine Chamber of Commerce.
Community bazaars and cultural activities throughout the month
“There is a lot of data that shows that when LGBTQIA+ businesses are fully empowered to participate in the economy, cities and countries benefit economically,” Belmonte said. “That is what we are doing in Quezon City.”
Looking ahead to #LOVELAB4N
The 2026 edition will mark the second time the festival is hosted at UP Diliman and the first time activities will prominently feature the area near the Oblation, making the event especially symbolic for organizers and attendees.
“Something not to be missed,” Belmonte said. “June 27, buong araw po tayo sa UP Diliman.”
