Kirsty Gilmour backs Pride House Glasgow 2026 as key funding announced
It has been announced today that Pride House Glasgow 2026 will receive core support from the Commonwealth Sport Foundation and the Glasgow 2026 Festival Fund. The Leap Sport Scotland initiative will provide a welcoming and inclusive space in the heart of the city during this summer’s Games.
Scottish badminton star Kirsty Gilmour has backed the project as preparations continue for Glasgow 2026, with Pride House set to bring together LGBTIQ+ people and allies to celebrate sport, community and inclusion and deliver a programme of community engagement, public events and cultural activity during the Games.
At the centre of Pride House Glasgow 2026 will be the Pride House Lounge at Speakeasy, a drop-in space where visitors can gather to watch live sport, meet others and enjoy the atmosphere of Glasgow 2026 in an inclusive environment.
A wider Pride House campus will also be created across Glasgow city centre, including the Pride House Events Room at Boardwalk, Impact Arts, which will host workshops and discussions, alongside the Pride House Reading Room at Bigglestone Books, featuring literary and cultural programming during the Games.
Street exhibitions and public installations will also form part of the programme, bringing Pride House activity into the wider city centre and creating visible moments of inclusion and celebration throughout Glasgow 2026.
Pride House is the official LGBTIQ+ community space delivered alongside major sporting events around the world, offering a welcoming environment where people can come together to experience sport and connect with others.
Speaking about the announcement, Cara Shearer, Vice-Chair of LEAP Sports Scotland, said:
“Pride House Glasgow 2026 will create a welcoming space where LGBTIQ+ people and allies can come together to experience the Games, celebrate our communities and connect through sport and culture.
“Through our consultation work, we’ve heard clearly that people want Pride House to be visible, welcoming and community-led, and this support will help us deliver a programme that reflects those ambitions during Glasgow 2026.”
Adrian Lismore, Chair of the Commonwealth Sport Foundation, added:
“It is fantastic to see Pride House confirmed for Glasgow 2026. We’re pleased to support this important programme, a space to celebrate sport and inclusion at the heart of Glasgow 2026, where LGBTIQ+ athletes and allies can come together, connect and enjoy the Games.”
Gilmour also spoke about the importance of Pride House and the impact it has had on her at previous Games.
She said:
“I've had the pleasure of attending Pride House during the Glasgow 2014 and Birmingham 2022. Each time I entered a space that I didn't think was possible.
“It feels like a safe haven where queerness was the norm and judgment is left at the door. Aside from being a warm and welcoming environment, it is also a place of education.
“I can't recommend a visit to Pride House enough to anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community. I would also encourage allies to go along and show some real, visible and vocal support.”
Further details about the Pride House Glasgow 2026 programme and opportunities to get involved will be announced in the coming weeks.
For more information, visit the Pride House Glasgow 2026 website.
