London’s queerest extravaganza is coming back with a vengeance, and it’s bringing along a ten-time Grammy-winning powerhouse. Yes, Chaka Khan is headlining Pride in London 2025, and she’s not coming quietly. The iconic diva will belt out her greatest hits — from “I’m Every Woman” to “Ain’t Nobody” — from the main stage in Trafalgar Square, reminding everyone exactly what a legend sounds like. Set for Saturday, July 5, the annual event is locking in its fiercest lineup yet — and making a political statement in sequins while it’s at it.
The theme for 2025? Volunqueer — a fabulous mashup of service and sass, encouraging people to give back to their LGBTQ+ communities however they can: time, skills, or just a little love. “Volunqueering doesn’t need to be a grand undertaking,” said Tim Noblett, the event’s marketing director. “Even the smallest step can help enact meaningful change.” And in a year when queer rights are under scrutiny in the UK and abroad, this campaign is no glitter-drenched afterthought — it’s a call to arms in rainbow boots.
A Pride Built by, For, and About the Community
Five main stages — each with their own unique focus — will paint central London in every shade of the spectrum. Trafalgar Square is the epicenter, boasting names like drag darling La Voix, Eurovision 2025 winner JJ, Grammy-nominated Durand Bernarr, and drag superhost Asifa Lahore, among many more. If you like your queer celebration with a political punch, expect talks from LGBTQ+ leaders like Jake and Hannah Graf, Stonewall, and Not a Phase, keeping the protest spirit alive alongside the pop anthems.
The Soho Square Stage, curated by the unstoppable Mzz Kimberley, is all about uplifting the trans community, with activists, performers, DJs, and speakers bringing visibility and power to a group facing increasing global hostility. And don’t sleep on the Golden Square World Stage, where Amaria BB, Vanity Milan, Carter the Bandit, and DJ Mark-Ashley Dupé will be serving R&B, queer rap, and culture from every corner of the globe.
Meanwhile, Leicester Square is set to be a haven for LGBTQ+ women and non-binary babes, hosting acts like girli, Chloe Star, and DJ Kaylee Golding. And if cabaret is your love language, Dean Street has you covered, with performances from Trevor Ashley, Coco Deville, and a host of drag, burlesque, and spoken word artists.
Why This Pride Matters — Especially Now
Beyond the feathers and fierce dance tracks, this year’s Pride feels like a much-needed injection of joy and rebellion. At a time when trans rights are being chipped away and safe spaces questioned, the visibility of queer joy on this scale — not to mention with Chaka Khan leading the charge — is defiant in the best way. LGBTQ+ youth, especially trans and non-binary folks, will see themselves reflected in every speaker, singer, and sequined outfit on stage.
Representation matters — not just in politics but in pop culture, in music, in who gets a mic and who gets the spotlight. Pride in London 2025 is making it loud and clear: queer people, especially the most marginalized among us, are here, are beautiful, and are not backing down.
Whether you’re marching, voguing, or just soaking it all in, this Pride promises not just a party, but a powerful statement. Get your glitter ready — Chaka’s got the mic.