The Strait Pride organizing committee announces that this year’s event for pride and the reclamation of LGBTQIA+ rights will not be held, as usual, in the months of June or July. The parade will pass through the streets of Messina on **12 September 2026**.
The reasons for the postponement
The decision to postpone was dictated by the coincidence with the next round of local elections, which will see citizens engaged in voting in the months of May and June. To guarantee maximum participation, safety and the necessary serenity in the public debate, the organizers have chosen to move the event to the end of the summer, transforming September in Messina into a central moment for the fight against discrimination.
The theme: “On the path of rights”
The theme chosen for the 2026 edition is “On the path of rights”. A powerful reminder of the maritime nature of the city of the Strait, understood not only as a geographical place, but as a metaphor of a collective journey towards inclusion and equality.
“In a historical moment of great changes – states the president of Arcigay, Rosario Duca – we want Messina to become the safe haven for all identities. Navigating the path of rights means not stopping in the face of the storms of prejudice and continuing to trace a path of freedom for every individual”.
Artistic collaborations and visual identity
The big news this year is the collaboration with Lelio Bonaccorso and Michela De Domenico, cartoonist and illustrator of Officina del Sole. The artists have chosen to actively support the cause by donating to the organization the official graphics for the t-shirts of this edition with the aim of visually summarizing the spirit of the event, combining the art of comics with civil commitment, with the aim of making the visual identity of Strait Pride 2026 a unique piece of art.
Towards September 12th: events and participation
The event, which aims to involve thousands of people from all over Sicily and neighboring Calabria, will be preceded by a series of meetings, debates and cultural workshops that will liven up the city in the months preceding September 12th.
Messina Pride thus confirms itself as an essential political and social event, capable of adapting to the contingencies of the territory without ever giving up its voice. In the coming months, the complete program with start time and route, patronage and sponsors, collateral events and participation methods will be announced.