Sahir House announces Access Pride 2026

Liverpool-based LGBTQ+ charity Sahir House has announced the return of Access Pride, the city’s only fully accessible, sober Pride event, taking place on Saturday 25 July 2026 at The Brink, Parr Street, Liverpool.

The original Access Pride welcomed over 200 attendees and saw 80% of those who attended report feeling “welcomed, included, and valued.” Notably, 30% of attendees were taking part in a Pride event for the very first time, a powerful indicator of the unmet need Access Pride was created to address.

Access Pride was conceived directly from community consultation. Feedback gathered at Sahir’s Queer Town Hall made clear that mainstream Pride events across Liverpool and the wider Liverpool City Region were failing to meet the needs of many LGBTQ+ people, particularly those who are neurodivergent, disabled, in recovery, or simply seeking a safer and more inclusive space to celebrate.

The event was co-designed with members of Sahir’s peer support groups, including Prism, its group for neurodivergent LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as lived-experience community champions representing LGBTQ+ people with disabilities. Their input shaped everything from venue selection and workshop design to the provision of sensory aids, a quiet zone, sign language interpretation, and accessible seating.

Moon Scott, LGBTQ+ Community Engagement Worker at Sahir, said:

“Access Pride is a space to be, to breathe and to celebrate the nuances of being LGBTQ+ through creativity, self-expression and presence. It’s an important space for community, especially recently, to come together and feel hope, inspiration and proud to exist.”

Robin Panrucker, Volunteer from Taylor Wessing, said:

“We are incredibly proud to be sponsoring Access Pride for the second year running. It’s a powerful opportunity to stand alongside a community that champions inclusion, visibility, and belonging. For me personally, having the chance to volunteer at Access Pride makes it even more meaningful — seeing first-hand the impact of creating a safe, welcoming and alternative space where people can celebrate their identity in ways that truly work for them. Whether that’s quieter, more accessible, or simply different to the mainstream, Access Pride ensures everyone can feel seen, supported, and able to be themselves. Being part of this reflects our ongoing commitment to breaking down barriers and creating environments where everyone belongs.”

Access Pride features a curated open mic programme showcasing music, poetry, drag, and theatre from LGBTQ+ artists across the region, alongside community-led workshops. The day is structured to allow attendees to engage at their own pace, opening with a calm welcome hour before building into more lively performances and conversation throughout the afternoon.

As a fully sober, alcohol-free event, Access Pride provides a rare and vital space for LGBTQ+ people in recovery, those with sensory sensitivities, and anyone for whom mainstream Pride events have historically felt inaccessible or unwelcoming.

One attendee said:

“I didn’t realise how much I needed this until I was here. Everything was thought through. I felt seen.”

A spokesperson from The Brink said:

“Empowering Sahir to host Access Pride at The Brink feels like a natural fit. We’re all about creating welcoming, alcohol-free spaces where people can connect without barriers. Inclusive spaces don’t just happen, they’re intentionally created.”

With venue capacity previously reached and significant demand from both attendees and partners for a return, Sahir House is delivering a larger and more ambitious Access Pride 2026. Plans include an expanded programme of workshops and performances, and a continued commitment to centring lived experience voices, particularly from marginalised LGBTQ+ communities, at every stage of planning.

Sahir House said:

“Access Pride is about much more than putting on an event, it is about redefining what Pride can and should be. We want to create a space that is truly inclusive, free and where people of all backgrounds and experiences feel they belong. The response to our first event showed us there is a real hunger for this. We cannot wait to build on it.”

Sahir House is currently seeking performers, workshop leaders, volunteers, partners, and funders to help shape Access Pride 2026. Anyone wishing to get involved is encouraged to get in touch ahead of the 26 July 2026 event date.