Gozo Pride will return for its fifth edition on Saturday, 5 September, with this year's event taking place under the theme "Pride Without Permission", LGBTI+ Gozo said in a statement.
The organisation said the theme is intended to send the message that nobody needs permission to live authentically, love openly or live with dignity, while highlighting that rights gained by the LGBTIQ+ community should not be taken for granted.
Gozo Pride 2026 will form part of a two-week programme of cultural, awareness, celebration and activism events, culminating in the annual Pride March through the streets of Victoria and an evening of performances.
LGBTI+ Gozo said that Pride has never simply been a celebration, having originated as a protest against injustice, discrimination and violence and continuing to serve as an act of visibility, solidarity and remembrance.
It said the rights enjoyed by the LGBTIQ+ community today were fought for over decades, warning that history has shown that such rights can be challenged, weakened or taken away.
The organisation pointed towards recent developments in parts of Europe and the United States, as well as countries where consensual same-sex relationships remain criminalised. It also highlighted discrimination and exclusion faced by trans and gender-diverse people and said bullying, hate speech and violence continue to affect members of the LGBTIQ+ community closer to home.
"The theme 'Pride Without Permission' is a declaration that nobody needs permission to exist authentically, to love openly, or to live with dignity," the organisation said.
"It rejects the idea that acceptance should depend on the approval of others. Every human being has the right to live freely, safely and equally."
LGBTI+ Gozo also rejected what it described as a "false narrative" that Pride seeks to indoctrinate society, saying that sexual orientation and gender identity are not matters of persuasion or ideology.
"Pride exists to create visibility, build understanding and remind society that equality is an ongoing responsibility," it said.
The programme will begin ahead of Pride Day itself, with the "Pride Without Permission" exhibition running at Villa Rundle in Victoria from 28 August until 12 September. The exhibition will explore identity, visibility and resistance through art and storytelling.
Events will continue at Bell & Bastion in Victoria on 4 September, beginning at 6.30pm with a screening of exclusive excerpts from Inventing the Enemy: Gender, Fear, and Disinformation.
The documentary, produced by LGBTI+ Gozo and funded by the Commission on Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence, explores how misinformation surrounding gender and identity can fuel harmful stereotypes, discrimination and violence, while encouraging critical thinking and collective responsibility in preventing gender-based violence.
An Open Mic Night will follow at 9pm, hosted in collaboration with Two Black Cats Comedy and featuring comedy, music, spoken word and live performances celebrating queer creativity.
Gozo Pride Day will take place on Saturday, 5 September, beginning with a morning Pride Village at Villa Rundle between 10.30am and 1pm. It will feature community organisations, information stands, family-friendly activities and opportunities to meet local NGOs and allies.
The Pride Village will reopen between 4pm and 10pm, with entertainment, community stalls, food and activities taking place ahead of the Pride March and evening celebrations.
Participants in the Gozo Pride March will gather at it-Tokk in Victoria at 6.30pm, before opening speeches are delivered at 7pm, with the Pride float stationed near the Citadel Cinema.
The march will begin at 7.30pm and make its way through the streets of Victoria before arriving at Villa Rundle at around 8.15pm. Live performances on the Pride Stage will then take place between 8.30pm and 9.20pm.
The official Gozo Pride After Party will be held at Flamenco from 10pm onwards, featuring DJ Owen, DJ Haley and live performances by Trihanna and Phage Nefarious.
LGBTI+ Gozo said everyone is welcome to attend, whether members of the LGBTIQ+ community, relatives, friends or allies.
"Your presence sends a powerful message that Gozo is a place where everyone deserves to live openly, safely and without fear," it said.
"Because no one should ever need permission to be themselves."
Gozo Pride 2026 is supported by the Human Rights Directorate, the Ministry for Gozo and the Ministry for Equality and Civil Rights, the British High Commission and Lord Chambray Beer.