Shining brightly, more than 600 LGBTQ+ young people from across Ireland led the 2026 Dublin Pride parade with Belong To, turning the city centre into a joyful, visible celebration and underlining why youth-focused Pride spaces still matter.

  • Big turnout: Over 600 young people aged 14–23 travelled from counties such as Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan and Wicklow to march together.
  • Supportive start: A special Pride breakfast, hosted with Dublin City Council, offered music, face painting and a safe space to gather.
  • Visible voices: Youth were joined by politicians and civic leaders who heard first‑hand accounts of growing up LGBTQ+ in Ireland today.
  • Youth-led planning: Belong To’s Youth Pride Committee played a central role, helping shape events and peer support.
  • Warm atmosphere: The morning felt celebratory and reassuring , full of dance, posters and new friendships.

A bright, loud start to Pride , and it felt personal

This year’s Dublin Pride began with a breakfast that sounded like the happiest school assembly you never had: music, laughter, face paint and the steady hum of young people finding one another. According to Belong To, more than 600 LGBTQ+ young people assembled before the parade, and the scene carried a palpable mix of relief and celebration, the kind you get when you finally step into a room where you belong. For many it was their first Pride march, and the buzz of nervous excitement soon turned to confident singing and cheering.

Why a breakfast matters , safety, community and practical support

Belong To and Dublin City Council framed the morning as more than a meet‑up: it was a deliberately safe, youth-focused environment designed to make participation accessible. Parents, schools, youth groups and Youthreach centres sent young people from across the country, offering practical support for travel and supervision. Events like this matter because they reduce the stress of arriving to a massive city parade alone and give staff and volunteers a chance to check in and signpost services.

Youth voices leading the conversation

The parade wasn’t just symbolic , it was deliberately youth-led. Members of Belong To’s Youth Pride Committee headed up planning and programming, and young speakers shared how vital peer networks are. Aaron O’Neill, a committee member, spoke about the loneliness some queer young people feel as social and political pressures rise, and urged peers to join groups like Belong To for practical and emotional support. There’s a clear throughline: when young people design events, they’re more likely to feel welcome and stay involved.

Political attention and real talk about challenges

The breakfast was also attended by public figures, from a government minister to an MEP and a senator, giving young people a chance to speak directly to decision‑makers. That kind of access matters , it moves Pride beyond performance into accountability and policy discussion. Belong To’s CEO, Kieran O’Donovan, framed the gathering as a reminder that no young person should grow up isolated, and described the organisation’s work as life‑changing for those who find it.

How this fits the wider picture of youth LGBTQ+ support

Belong To has been running youth services, registration for Pride events and social programmes like Rainbow Ball and Stand Up workshops, building a landscape of support across Ireland. The large youth presence at Dublin Pride signals growing confidence among young people to be public and visible, but it also underlines why staffed, safe spaces remain essential in a climate where some feel increasingly under pressure. If you’re wondering how to help: local groups, registration pages and community events are the first and most practical places to start.

It's a small change that can make every Pride safer and more welcoming for young people.

Source Reference Map

Story idea inspired by: [1]

Sources by paragraph: