The heart of Skopje pulsed with vibrant colours and voices celebrating diversity and equality, as many gathered for the 2026 edition of Skopje PRIDE under this year’s slogan: “Let Everyone Know!” This year march, both a celebration of diversity and a call for equality, was co-supported by the European Union and Council of Europe, demonstrating broad solidarity for LGBTI rights and freedoms.
The motto – “Let Everyone Know” – resonated far beyond the city streets, standing as a bold message against the silence and invisibility often imposed on the LGBTI community. The organisers explained that the slogan directly confronts the notion that safety and acceptance can only come at the price of silence and pushes back against the lack of response or action regarding their demands. “It is a message against the systemic erasure and exclusion of LGBTI people from public space, culture, and collective memory.
Powerful speeches and creative performances underlined the persistent struggle for LGBTI rights in North Macedonia. Participants highlighted that LGBTI people are an indispensable part of families, friendships, workplaces, and everyday life, and should not be forced to reduce or hide themselves in order to be accepted. The march also drew attention to the ongoing challenges faced by many in the community.
As the parade wound through Skopje’s main avenues, the city stood witness to a message impossible to ignore: the LGBTI community demands its rightful place not just at Pride, but in every corner of social life.
The Skopje PRIDE was also supported through the Action “Combating Hatred and Intolerance in North Macedonia” as part of the joint EU and Council of Europe’s “Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Türkiye” programme.
