High Wycombe Pride 2
High Wycombe Pride 2

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Pride comes home to BNU: Bucks Students’ Union to host 2026 celebrations on campus

High Wycombe is set for a historic celebration this summer as Bucks Students’ Union hosts the town’s Pride event, in partnership with Buckinghamshire New University (BNU), on campus for the first time.  

In a landmark move for the region, BNU has stepped up as the principal sponsor and “home” for the event due to be held on Saturday 13 June. The partnership is believed to be one of the first of its kind in the UK, where a major university campus serves as the primary hub for a town-wide Pride celebration.  

The day kicks off at 11am with a unique inclusive service led by All Saints Church on the campus concourse, before BNU Vice-Chancellor Damien Page joins representatives from Bucks Students’ Union to officially open the festivities at midday.  

The campus will be transformed for the day, hosting more than 30 local businesses and organisations, alongside activity led by Bucks Students’ Union. Visitors can expect a festival atmosphere with a focus on family-friendly fun, featuring:  

  • The festival hub: Stalls from local institutions such as High Wycombe Museum and the Fire Station.

  • Local flavours: The Kitchen is open for coffees, sandwich, pastries and cake as well as providing a wide BBQ menu, The Venue are providing a licensed bar and soft drinks refreshments throughout, Rusty’s Roadhouse will be serving freshly made sourdough pizzas and there will be an ice cream van and sweet treats.

  • High-tech support: Audio expert Focusrite is backing the event to ensure the soundtrack matches the festive spirit of the day.  

For BNU, hosting this event is more than just a sponsorship deal. It’s a statement of intent regarding the university’s inclusivity and role in the local community.  

Damien Page said: “Inclusion is part of the DNA here at BNU, so it feels only right that we open our campus to host High Wycombe Pride this year. We are a university that belongs to its community and partnering with the Students’ Union to celebrate our LGBTQ+ staff, students, and neighbours is something we are very happy to do. It’s going to be a great day of bringing people together, and I’m looking forward to welcoming everyone to our High Wycombe home." 

Several hundred visitors are expected during the event, which runs from morning until the late-evening closing party, delivered in partnership with Bucks Students’ Union. Organisers promise a milestone event for High Wycombe’s social calendar.  

Tristan Tipping, CEO of Bucks Students’ Union, added: said: “We are so proud to be hosting the event and building on our work right across the year to support the University in offering the most inclusive and accessible experience we can. Having BNU as our principal sponsor and host allows us to create an incredibly visible and welcoming space for everyone in the town and the wider area, and the support from organisations like HWBIDCo and Focusrite has been invaluable."   

Want to join?  

The event is free to attend and open to all. For the full line-up of guests and activities, visit here.