BREAKING: Budapest sees its biggest Pride march ever – PHOTOS, VIDEO
The 30th annual Budapest Pride parade drew masses to the heart of the Hungarian capital on Saturday, marking three decades of activism and celebration for the LGBTQ+ community. The event, which began in the early afternoon at Városháza Park, unfolded peacefully despite the presence of some counter-protesters and heightened security measures.
A jubilant and defiant gathering
Participants gathered at Városháza Park under rainbow flags, vibrant banners, and the sound of music, creating a festive and inclusive atmosphere. Organisers emphasised the significance of the anniversary, highlighting both the progress achieved and the ongoing challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary. The march proceeded along a central route through downtown Budapest, with demonstrators calling for equality, acceptance, and legal protection for sexual minorities.
Political support and notable attendees
Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony was among the prominent figures present, expressing solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community and reaffirming the city’s commitment to diversity and human rights. Several opposition politicians and public figures also joined the parade, underscoring the event’s political and social resonance in the current climate.
“We made history here today,” Viktória Radványi said. According to the president of Budapest Pride, more than 200,000 people took part in the Budapest Pride march.
Counter-protests and security
A visible police presence ensured the safety of participants, with authorities cordoning off the parade route to prevent clashes. Counter-demonstrators, including far-right groups, gathered at designated locations along the route, voicing opposition to the event. Despite some attempts at provocation, no major incidents were reported, and police successfully maintained order throughout the afternoon.
Elizabeth Bridge instead of Liberty Bridge
A notable development at this year’s Budapest Pride was the last-minute change to the parade route. Originally, organisers planned for the march to cross the Szabadság (Liberty) Bridge, continuing a tradition of traversing one of Budapest’s most iconic landmarks. However, due to a smaller counter-protest organised by the far-right Mi Hazánk party, which blocked the Szabadság Bridge, the route was altered for safety reasons and to avoid direct confrontation.
As a result, the parade crossed the Elizabeth Bridge (Erzsébet híd) instead, with marchers making their way across the Danube under a strong police presence. Despite the adjustment, the spirit of the event remained undiminished, and participants continued their celebration and demonstration for equality along the new path.
Budapest mayor Karácsony’s speech
Freedom only exists when everyone’s dignity, faith, conviction and orientation are respected, Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony said at the University of Technology and Economics, at the end point of the Budapest Pride march. “Good evening, Pride, good evening, love!” Karácsony greeted participants of the march, saying the clear message of the parade was that “the hateful powers that be have no power over us”.
He said there were always governments that tried to ban or eliminate those who think differently, believe differently, feel differently, or love differently. “But history has shown that this kind of rule comes to an end one day,” he added. The mayor said they had organised a “celebration of freedom” on the day of Hungarian freedom, commemorating the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary. “And since they already left once, we don’t need Putin’s followers to take their place,” he added.
Karácsony said the true legal and moral basis for the freedom festival was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which says that all human beings are born free, and have equal dignity and rights. “Freedom, dignity, equality: this is what we insist on, and we are either free together, or none of us are,” he said.
The strength and greatness of Budapest, Karácsony said, was in its diversity, adding that Budapest “cannot and does not want to be anything other than the nation’s capital”. He said the nation’s capital always stood by those whose freedom the authorities wanted to restrict. “When the powers that be attack civil organisations, we stand by them, when they move against the independent press, we stand by them, when they try to make a mockery of a people’s struggle for freedom, we don’t confuse the aggressor with the victim, and stand by Ukraine,” the mayor said.
“Europe is also with us, with Budapest and with you,” Karácsony said, thanking the representatives of European cities and parties for attending the event. “Budapest chooses Europe and the free world,” the mayor said at the end of his speech.
Messages of hope and resilience
Speeches at the opening rally and along the route focused on the importance of solidarity, resilience, and hope for a more inclusive future. Organisers and participants reflected on the evolution of Budapest Pride since its inception in 1997, noting both the achievements and the persistent obstacles facing the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary.
As the march concluded in the early evening, organisers called for continued advocacy and engagement, urging supporters to remain active in the fight for equal rights. The 30th Budapest Pride served as both a celebration of identity and a reminder of the ongoing struggle for acceptance and equality in Hungary.
Check out a live video of the event below!
Read also: