This year's edition of Gozo Pride celebrated its fifth edition this weekend. This year's theme, "Pride without Permission," marks a celebration of liberty, dignity, and equality, said the Ministry for Gozo and the Ministry for Equality and Civil Rights.
A ministerial statement on this celebration said that this year's theme promoted a "strong message in favor of freedom, dignity, and the right of every person to be themselves without fear of discrimination, prejudice, or exclusion."
Both the Minister for Gozo, Clint Camilleri, and the Minister for Equality and Civil Rights, Rosianne Cutajar, attended Gozo Pride 2026 this weekend.
Minister Camilleri said that Pride means more than just an annual celebration; it represents a journey of courage, voice and change that has led our society to make important strides in the field of equality and civil rights. He referred to progress made in Gozo in recent years to change attitudes and create an increasingly safe, open, and inclusive environment for the LGBTIQ+ community.
The Minister recalled that in 2023, Malta was honoured to host EuroPride for the first time and that this event also demonstrated the progress made by Maltese society and Gozo's contribution towards having a more inclusive community.
He said that this progress came out of continuous work, such as changes in laws and attitudes, but also from people and organisations who have supported equality and LGBTIQ+ rights for years.
The Minister for Gozo said that "progress is not measured only by the laws we pass or the policies we formulate. It is also measured by the daily experience of each person, by how safe they feel in their home, at work, at school, on the street and in their community." He added this year's theme, "Pride without Permission," emphasises that "freedom, dignity, respect and love do not need permission but are rights that every person has. And that is why we must continue to protect these rights."
Minister Cutajar said that the theme for Gozo Pride 2026 sends a clear and powerful message: "that every person has the right to be who they are, to love who they love and to live with dignity, without needing permission, approval or validation from others."
"The progress we have achieved as a country in the field of equality and human rights deserves to be celebrated, but we should never take it for granted. Rights must be protected, strengthened and passed on to future generations," she said.
She continued that GozoPride remains important since it serves as a reminder that that inclusion and respect are not one-offs or values that are to be embraced when it is convenient, but that they should be part of everyday life.
Roan Coughtry, an executive member of LGBTI+ Gozo, said that "we are not here just to celebrate, we are here to protest against injustice, discrimination and violence. We are here today as an act of visibility, remembrance and solidarity."
"History has shown us time and time again that rights are never guaranteed, they can be changed and taken away from us," she said.
Minister Camilleri concluded that the Ministry for Gozo will continue supporting LGBTI+ Gozo, which he said is doing important work to raise awareness, be a voice for this community, and work with this community in Gozo. He mentioned that the Ministry for Gozo had provided this organisation with its own office, the Qawsalla Hub, back in 2021, where services are provided to Gozitan members of the LGBTIQ+ community.