News Maidstone gears up to celebrate Pride month
A fun quiz night, an art exhibition and a flagship event in Brenchley Gardens celebrating queer identity are among some of the activities being supported by Maidstone Borough Council this June.
The council is inviting residents to join the fun and take part in events that celebrate LGBTQ+ voices, stories and culture.
Working in partnership with Maidstone Pride, Creative Maidstone Arts Hub (Gabriels Hill) will be hosting a free a vibrant Pride Art Exhibition, showcasing artwork from local artists that explores and celebrates queer identity, creativity and community.
Running from 19 June to 4 July, the free exhibition will feature a diverse range of artistic styles and perspectives, providing a platform for local LGBTQ+ artists and allies to share their experiences and highlight the importance of representation through the arts.
Visitors can explore the exhibition and discover new artists, whilst promoting the inclusion that makes Maidstone a welcoming and vibrant community for all.
Maidstone Museum will also be hosting an LGBTQ+ and Pride quiz night on Tuesday 9 June, dedicated to queer history, culture and achievements. Booking is essential and tickets can be purchased on the museum website.
Teams of up to six people can put their knowledge to the test across a variety of topics, including music, art, politics, activism and popular culture. Whilst there is a prize for the winners, the event is about celebrating the contributions of LGBTQ+ communities throughout history.
The vibrancy of Pride month comes to life at ‘The Big Gay Out’, held in Brenchley Gardens on Saturday 13 June. Organised by Maidstone Pride, with support from a Creative Communities Grant from Maidstone Borough Council, the centrepiece event welcomes the community of all ages. The day will run from 12pm-5pm and will include stalls from queer artisans and crafters, charities partners and a full line-up of free entertainment on the bandstand.
The event falls in sync with Maidstone Borough Council’s own ‘Big Day Out’ to celebrate green spaces in and around the borough.
The Maidstone Pride volunteer team is headed up by Maidstone’s very own Drag Queens: Malachite Glorianna Arctic and Lucie Lastic, who said:
Maidstone Pride is a community-led initiative and our small team are so excited to bring it back for our third Pride celebration in the County Town of Kent.In 2025, we adapted our format to bring a month-long list of events and the positive feedback we received from Maidstone’s LGBTQIA+ community was overwhelming. We want to keep that spirit alive, bringing Pride back year-on-year, and continue creating and highlighting safe spaces for our community to celebrate being themselves.
Our team, plus town-centre partners, are hosting a series of events throughout June. The Pride 2026 programme is just warming up, with the return of our Big Gay Out, art exhibition, Queer Quiz, and new events including our Battle of the Bands with Harmony Maidstone, Drag Bingo and so much more to come. Keep an eye out on our website and social media in the coming weeks to stay up to date.
Councillor David Naghi, Maidstone Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion and Safety said:
Pride Month is a chance to celebrate the diversity in our community that makes Maidstone a vibrant and welcoming place. Through these events, people are brought together to share stories, learn from one another and celebrate creativity in all its forms.We’re proud to be flying the Pride flag at the Town Hall as a visible sign of our support for LGBTQ+ communities, and to recognise the importance of LGBTQ+ history and the role it plays in shaping a more inclusive future.
These celebrations are about visibility, understanding and ensuring everyone in Maidstone feels seen, valued and able to be themselves.
For more information about all Pride events in Maidstone, go to the Visit Maidstone website [ https://www.visitmaidstone.com/whats-on/maidstone-pride ] and follow Maidstone Pride, Creative Maidstone and Maidstone Museum on social media for updates.