Cape Town Pride has achieved a landmark victory, securing the bid to host WorldPride 2028, the first time this globally recognised LGBTQ+ celebration will take place on the African continent. This milestone positions Cape Town as a hub of inclusivity and diversity, with the event anticipated to attract tens of thousands of visitors from around the world, spotlighting South Africa as a destination for LGBTQ+ tourism and advocacy.

“This is a Pride for Africa,” says Michael Gladwin, MD of the Travel and Event Company, and one of the leaders behind Cape Town’s bid. “It will have a global reach, and the LGBTQ+ conference element will ideally have a massive impact on the human rights issues faced by all Africans in the community.”

Gladwin said the tourism value of the event could be monumental, considering that Sydney WorldPride 2023 attracted over a million festival-goers.

“While WorldPride is essentially a human rights event, the attraction for international tourists is huge. There will be a series of amazing, world-class events for the entire diverse community.”

Gladwin and fellow project lead Viola May, along with Thomas Patterson, CEO of Cape Town Pride, City of Cape Town representative Roberto Quintas, and activist Carmen Prins, presented the bid at the InterPride General Meeting in Medellín, Colombia, where it received overwhelming support from international representatives.

May acknowledged the critical role of city leaders and stakeholders in achieving this victory. “The support we have received from the city has been invaluable, and we look forward to their continued support to help us create a successful event.”

WorldPride, licensed by InterPride, is an international event promoting LGBTQ+ pride and equality through vibrant parades, discussions, and gatherings. Apart from the significant tourist benefits, the upcoming edition in Cape Town is set to combine celebration with advocacy, offering a platform for dialogue around critical human rights issues. The event aims not only to promote pride but to generate lasting, positive change across Africa’s LGBTQ+ community.

Planning kicks into gear

To ensure a transparent and structured approach, a new non-profit organisation, Queer Initiative for Africa, has been established to oversee event planning. This group will bring together stakeholders from Cape Town Pride, African LGBTQ+ organisations, and key partners across the continent, ensuring diverse representation and collaboration.

Meanwhile, travel and tourism industry partners are preparing to cater for the needs of LGBTQ+ visitors.

Afrigay Travel, the official travel partner for the event, will work alongside LGBTQ+ training platform All Stay to implement training initiatives for tourism operators, equipping them to deliver truly inclusive experiences.

“There is a lot of work that still needs to be done to change perceptions, debunk myths, and help tourism establishments and organisations to be truly inclusive,” Gladwin pointed out.

Although challenges for the LGBTQ+ community remain, including shifting local perceptions, Gladwin’s outlook remains positive.

“For now, we are choosing to celebrate our massive win. We’ll tackle the challenges as our process unfolds.”