Mighty Hoopla 2026

Not your typical Pride parade, Mighty Hoopla is London’s self-proclaimed “biggest pop festival,” an outrageous two-day music festival that has become a de facto Pride celebration for tens of thousands of LGBTQ+ folks and their allies.

Taking place from May 30-31st in Brockwell Park, Mighty Hoopla is a kaleidoscope of glitter, nostalgia, and unabashed queer joy. While not officially part of Pride London, its timing at the start of June and its overwhelmingly LGBTQ+ crowd give it the feel of a giant Pride party – think of it as London’s carnival of pop where “everyone is welcome as long as you’re fabulous.”

With 10 stages and over 200 artists spanning pop, drag, and dance music, this festival attracts around 60,000 attendees over the weekend. If you’re a fan of 1990s/2000s pop anthems, outrageous costumes, and a safe, inclusive atmosphere, Mighty Hoopla is the place to be!

Festival Lineup and Attractions

Mighty Hoopla’s lineup reads like a who’s-who of pop idols and queer icons, and 2026 is no exception.

Headlining this year’s festival are Lily Allen and Scissor Sisters, joined by a stacked lineup including Perrie, Jessie J, Alexandra Burke, JLS, Cascada, Agnes, Louise, and Liberty X. There’s also a dedicated “Gay Icon” slot this year featuring Jane McDonald.

The festival returns to Brockwell Park on May 30–31, 2026, transforming South London into a two-day pop playground.

But the music is just one part.

Mighty Hoopla is built around experience. Expect multiple themed stages, from the main stage to club-style takeovers hosted by iconic LGBTQ+ party collectives. The Sink The Pink stage remains a core fixture, bringing drag, dance-offs, and full-throttle camp energy.

Elsewhere, you’ll find stages dedicated to pure pop nostalgia, cabaret tents with drag and alternative performance, and a constant sense that something unexpected is about to happen.

Across the park, there are carnival rides, street food, glitter stations, and interactive spaces that lean into Hoopla’s playful chaos.

And then there’s the Hoopla Choir. Thousands of people, one pop anthem, no holding back. It’s part singalong, part spectacle, and one of the defining moments of the weekend.

Mighty Hoopla: The Gay Glastonbury

Mighty Hoopla may not have “Pride” in its name, but it was born from London’s queer nightlife scene. Launched in 2016 by a group of party promoters, it aimed to create a mainstream-friendly pop festival that kept a safe, inclusive atmosphere for LGBTQ+ fans. It started modestly at a Butlin’s holiday camp and then a single-day event in East London, but by 2017 it landed in a London park and has grown year-on-year to a two-day, 50,000+ capacity extravaganza.

Organizers credit its success to offering something traditional rock festivals didn’t: a space where you can wear whatever you want, be whomever you want, and dance like no one’s watching – all without fear of harassment. It’s often affectionately dubbed “the gay Glastonbury”, but truthfully, it draws a mix – a lot of LGBTQ+ folk, but also bachelorette parties, groups of friends of all orientations, and pop enthusiasts of every stripe.

The tone is joyously camp. Think sequins, neon, and drag queens on stilts roaming the grounds. Security and staff are notably friendly and trained in inclusivity (reports of homophobia or transphobia at Hoopla are virtually nil – it’s considered a very safe space in the festival circuit).

Fashion and Fun at the Festival

One does not simply attend Mighty Hoopla in jeans and a T-shirt! Attendees treat it as a costume ball meets Pride parade. You’ll see friend groups in coordinated themes – e.g, all dressed as ABBA, or each as a different Spice Girl. Glitter, face gems, extravagant wigs, and DIY ensembles are the norm. The festival actively encourages you to “dress as your most fabulous self." There’s no such thing as overdressed here! Just make sure you have comfy shoes since you'll no doubt be dancing all weekend long.

Hoopla Afterparties

The fun doesn’t stop when the official festival ends. Because this is London, dozens of unofficial afterparties sprout up in Brixton and Central London. Many bars in Soho and Vauxhall offer Hoopla ticket-holders a discount entry on those nights. So you can theoretically festival all day, then club-hop all night – if you have the stamina of a Britney circa 2000. Even if not, the festival itself will leave you happily exhausted.

Where to Stay for Mighty Hoopla

Regular tourist crowds combined with Mighty Hoopla attendees mean hotels around the festival area tend to sell out early. Check out our list of gay-friendly hotels in London and book your accommodation ASAP!