THE City of Fremantle’s decision to cancel the 2026 Freo Pride Festival has left a sour taste in the mouths of local LGBTQIA+ advocates.
The festival was a free, family-friendly event held at the Fremantle Library and Walyalup Koort in 2024 and 2025 and featured market stalls, live music acts and art.
The event gave locals an alternate option to the Perth CBD Pride parade and provided local artists, performers and activists a space to be accepted, supported and collaborative.
But the council said it had “regrettably” made the decision not to run the event this year.
“The decision was largely driven by the discontinuation of funding support from the Department of Communities, which had previously enabled us to deliver this event,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
A Department of Communities spokesperson said Fremantle failed to secure the finances in a “competitive funding process, which attracted a strong field of applications from community organisations and local governments”.
Freo Pride Fest sponsor Headspace Fremantle said it respected the decision, but “we are deeply disappointed by the news and recognise the impact it will have on our local LGBTQIA+SB community”.
Cockburn Youth Advisory Collective member Leila Diaz said the cancellation was a “shame”.
“I saw so many people show up from all ages and feel so seen being surrounded by fellow queer people,” Ms Diaz said.
“This event was also a great way to platform queer artists, which was one of my favourite aspects of the event.”
Dykes On Bikes WA president Nomes Holmes participated in the inaugural Freo Pride Fests in 2024 and 2025.
“It was a great day; I especially enjoyed seeing so many different generations being a part of it,” Ms Holmes said.
“One young woman said to me, ‘Thank you for doing the hard yards and making it easier for us’.
“It was great to show the youth that we see you, and can tell them everything will be OK,” she said.
With the council funding and organising celebrations in the streets of Freo in honour of the upcoming Dockers’ finals campaign, Ms Holmes questioned its priorities.
“Interesting to see the council can show support and hand money over for the Freo Dockers celebrations all over town but not find the cash to put on this great local festival that also reflects the pride we feel in our community,” she said.
“Why don’t they get creative and find the money somewhere else?
“Maybe one of the big guns like Woodside or Gina?”
When asked if the council would consider reallocating or finding alternative funding to keep Freo Pride Fest 2026 alive, a spokesperson for the council shut down the question.
“We’re not making any further comment on Pride Fest at this time.”
Local Pride Fest sponsors Headspace Fremantle and LGBTQIA+ friendly bar The Flaming Galah, hope to organise and deliver smaller-scale community events in Fremantle for Pride Month this November.
by LOUIS HADI