Highland Pride in Inverness.

About Highland Pride

Highland Pride took place in Inverness on Saturday 6 June 2026. Its city procession began and ended at Eden Court, with an indoor market, outdoor activities and a theatre performance afterwards. The organiser, Highland Pride SCIO, is a Scottish charity run by volunteers. Its work supports LGBTQ+ people across the Highlands, including residents, visitors, friends and allies.

Pride combines celebration with the protest tradition that helped make LGBTQ+ people visible and demand equal treatment. You do not need a large group or a particular outfit to feel part of the day. A short visit to the market, watching the procession or attending a performance can each provide a useful first introduction.

A 2027 date was not announced on the organiser’s official pages checked. This guide describes the 2026 edition and the permanent travel landmarks useful for another visit. Eden Court and Inverness station help explain the geography; they do not confirm next year’s venue or programme. Keep future accommodation flexible until the organiser publishes its next plans.

Highland Pride march route and start time

For 2026, participants were asked to arrive at Eden Court at noon for a safety briefing before a 12.30pm departure. The procession returned to the theatre rather than finishing at a separate festival park. That made it possible to plan the march and subsequent activities around one base. Follow a future edition’s assembly instructions before deciding when to arrive.

The council’s approved 2026 route ran from Eden Court along Bishops Road and Ness Walk, over Ness Bridge and up Bridge Street. It continued through Church Street, Baron Taylor Street, Inglis Street and the High Street, then returned along Bridge Street, Ness Bridge and Bishops Road to Eden Court. The organiser’s description additionally named Ardross Terrace and Ardross Street; its street detail differed slightly from the council list.

The organiser asked groups of five or more to register using the form linked from its 2026 event page. The form is now closed. No parade group fee or submission deadline was retained in the inspected material. For another year, use the organiser’s next form and ask about terms before submitting an organisation’s details.

Where to watch

Ness Walk, Church Street and the High Street were part of the published 2026 procession corridor. Compare them with the next route before selecting a place. Look for space to stand away from doorways and crossing points. Ness Bridge links both banks, so leave its pedestrian movement clear rather than gathering across the pavement.

Highland Pride free events and what’s on

The organiser described its 2026 event as free and family-friendly. The outdoor village and indoor market brought together charities, information stands, makers and other traders. The market was on Eden Court’s first floor. A visit could therefore combine community information and shopping with time outdoors, without needing to spend the whole afternoon beside a stage.

The 2026 party took place in the Empire Theatre, with performances by Venus GuyTrap and Sugar Browne. The organiser described it as a show without an age restriction. It also promoted sports demonstrations outside with LEAP Sports Scotland and a design exhibition inside. These are historical programme features, rather than activities already booked for a later edition.

Ticket prices and booking

The 2026 theatre party was free, but tickets were released through Eden Court’s website and box office. Free admission does not remove the need to reserve a seat when a performance has its own booking process. Start with the organiser’s current programme, then follow the venue link for the particular show you want.

The 2026 stall application deadline was Monday 13 April. Information stalls were free; vendors paid £15. Those were stallholder terms, separate from public admission or parade group registration. Applications did not guarantee a place. Anyone planning to trade at a future event should read that year’s application and conditions rather than carrying these charges forward.

Families and a comfortable visit

The organiser’s 2026 programme gave families several ways to join in, including the market, outdoor sports demonstrations and the theatre show. Choose according to your children’s interest and tolerance for noise or waiting. Joining a parade can involve standing before it moves. Watching part of the route and returning for a shorter activity may feel easier.

Plan a meal, toilet visit and rest rather than trying to cover every part of the programme. Keep children close beside the river and at busy crossings. Agree a recognisable meeting place in case your party separates. Let an event worker know promptly if someone is lost, and explain any communication needs before entering a crowded space.

Bring hearing protection if amplified music is difficult, and make the next decision based on how everyone feels. A family-friendly event is still busy and can be tiring. Eden Court has permanent quieter areas, but its venue advice says they are shared and may not always be quiet. Ask staff for help finding a more suitable break space.

Highland Pride travel and getting there

Inverness railway station is on Academy Street. Eden Court’s own directions put the walk from the station at approximately 15 minutes. Its route uses Union Street, Church Street and Bridge Street, crosses Ness Bridge, then follows Ness Walk and Bishops Road. Allow longer for luggage, slower walking or a pause to find the correct theatre entrance.

The venue is at Bishop’s Road, Inverness, IV3 5SA, on the west bank of the River Ness. Save that address for arrival rather than a general city-centre map pin. If attending the parade, aim for its published assembly point. If arriving for a performance, check the booking’s theatre and access instructions as well.

Eden Court also places the central bus station on Margaret Street about 15 minutes away on foot. Its travel page says there is no bus service directly to the theatre. Check the operator’s actual arrival stop and leave time for the final walk. A coach arrival at Inverness is not an arrival at the Pride meeting point.

ScotRail provides timetable links for Inverness, including routes towards Aberdeen, the central belt and the north Highlands. Check the specific journey and engineering notices before booking. No Pride-specific extra trains or usable 2027 road-closure timetable were confirmed. A procession permission records its route and start, rather than promising access for every vehicle throughout the day.

Eden Court has a paid car park behind the building, and the Cathedral public car park is nearby. The venue warns that parking can be busy. Check current charges, restrictions and an alternative before driving. If your hotel includes parking, compare leaving the car there with trying to move it during a city procession.

Getting home

Decide your departure around the last suitable connection to your actual destination. A train leaving Inverness may still miss an onward service elsewhere. Check each leg, including a local bus or taxi at the far end. The next Pride programme should establish when performances finish; do not infer a finishing time from the 2026 parade departure.

Leave a margin for getting out of the venue, crossing the river and reaching the station. The venue’s approximate 15-minute walk is ordinary travel guidance, not an allowance for event queues. Save an earlier return as a fallback. Keep the ticket and departure details available offline, and check live disruption before leaving the activities.

If using a taxi, agree the pickup location and any vehicle requirement when booking. Ask whether the procession or another event affects access. Arrange a sensible waiting place without blocking the theatre entrance. Staying centrally can remove the final transport leg and give you more freedom to stop for food or return early.

Where to stay

Hotels on Ness Walk put you on the same bank as Eden Court and the historical parade’s riverside section. Ness Bank offers other nearby choices across the river; check the actual crossing rather than drawing a straight line to the theatre. A station-side room can make arrival and departure easier. Our Highland Pride hotel guide compares six nearby hotels, three budget alternatives and rail-connected overflow towns.

Food and evening options

The 2026 event page placed Highland Food Trail food trucks on the approach to Eden Court. The venue also has its own riverside Café Bar. Check the current menu and service times when organising a future visit. For an allergy or a dietary need, speak to the particular food provider rather than treating a mixed trader list as a guarantee.

The city centre gives you the option of a seated meal before or after your Pride visit. Look along your intended walk around Church Street, the High Street and the river approaches, then check each restaurant’s own information. Book when a dependable table matters. A meal near the station can be useful before an onward train, provided you leave a clear departure margin.

No separate official 2027 after-party programme was available in the inspected pages. For nightlife, read the venue’s own date, age conditions, admission and access details. A theatre ticket does not establish entry elsewhere. You can also finish after the daytime programme; a quiet dinner and a short walk back to your room are valid Pride plans.

What to wear and bring

June weather can change during a day beside the river. Check the forecast shortly before travelling and bring layers you can adjust indoors and outside. A light waterproof, comfortable shoes and sun protection are sensible starting points. Avoid planning around a single temperature. Keep essential medication and anything needed for a longer journey easy to reach.

Bring a charged phone, a payment backup and saved theatre and hotel details. If your visit includes a show, keep its ticket separate from your rail ticket so you can find the right one quickly. A small bag is easier to manage in a parade and market. Check the next event’s rules before bringing bulky items.

For a family or access plan, include hearing protection and the items that help someone rest or regulate. Carry enough for the journey to and from Pride, not just the event itself. Our wearing and packing guide helps turn the actual route, forecast and length of visit into a manageable checklist.

Accessibility and taking breaks

Eden Court publishes a wheelchair-accessible entrance, designated parking bays and bookable wheelchair spaces for performances. It warns that some seats involve steps, so confirm the chosen position with the ticket sales team. Those permanent facilities help with planning, but do not confirm the access arrangements of a future Pride production or city procession.

The venue has shared Quiet Areas and provides more enclosed Quiet Spaces for specified relaxed performances. These are different provisions. Ask which will be available during the event you want to attend. Our Highland Pride accessibility guide covers theatre booking, toilets, quieter breaks, railway access and the questions to settle before travelling.

Highland Pride questions

More Pride planning

Browse the Pride calendar and regional guide before choosing another visit. Compare our Dundee Pride guide, Isle of Wight Pride guide and Newport Pride guide for different city and travel arrangements.

Our first Pride guide, family guide and accessible planning guide help you build a visit around the activities you want. Keep the organiser’s next programme beside the plan and leave room for a slower pace.