Premier League With Pride is the Premier League’s own LGBTQ+ initiative from the 2025/26 season, built on three strands: education, celebration and action, with dedicated match rounds in February.
What the programme is
Premier League With Pride brings together and builds on the ongoing LGBTQ+ work of the league and its clubs, with the aim of delivering long-term change. It was shaped through consultation with clubs, representatives of LGBTQ+ supporters' groups and a wider set of stakeholders.
The league chose to run its own initiative from 2025/26 to reflect progress on equality, diversity and inclusion, and to support clubs in ways that are consistent, meaningful and tailored to their communities. Running it in-house also lets the league bring greater coherence to the work, give clubs clear support and extend inclusion activity beyond matchdays.
The programme sits on top of more than a decade of work, including clear policies, consistent education programmes, shared standards on behaviour and longstanding support for Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign.
The three strands
These are the three strands of Premier League With Pride.
| Strand | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Education | Programmes promoting respect and inclusive behaviour for children and young people in the league's community programmes, and for academy players |
| Celebration | Annual dedicated match-round takeovers, support for clubs' LGBTQ+ supporters' groups, and case studies and content |
| Action | Making clear that discrimination, homophobia, transphobia and biphobia included, will not be tolerated, with strengthened reporting and enforcement |
Each strand has a different job. Celebration covers the annual match-round activity and the support wrapped around club-linked LGBTQ+ supporters' groups, along with case studies and other content. Action covers the response side, making the league’s position on discrimination explicit and backing it with stronger reporting and enforcement.
Why the match-round window is in February
The dedicated match rounds take place in February. The window was moved there to line up with LGBTQ+ History Month, and that timing also strengthens alignment with the wider football pyramid.
That shift places the visible match-round element inside a clearer annual slot. It also fits the league’s stated aim of extending inclusion activity beyond matchdays.
Why education is treated as the main tool
The league treats education as the primary tool for long-term change on the basis that attitudes are shaped early and that understanding leads to more inclusive and respectful behaviour. In practice, that makes education the base layer of the programme rather than an add-on around the campaign window.
Clubs are supported to deliver LGBTQ+ inclusion sessions through resources and programmes used across schools, community settings and academies. The target groups include children and young people in community programmes as well as academy players.
The education work is designed for regular use beyond the annual match rounds. The league relaunched its LGBTQ+ education resources in February 2026.
Confidential support partnership
Premier League With Pride also includes a collaboration with Switchboard, which provides confidential support to members of the LGBTQ+ community. That adds a support route alongside the programme’s education, celebration and action work.
So the initiative is not limited to messaging around a match round. It also includes a confidential support offer within the wider structure.
FAQ
When is the Premier League Pride match round?
The dedicated match rounds are in February. The timing lines up with LGBTQ+ History Month and also matches the wider football pyramid more closely.
How does Premier League With Pride relate to Rainbow Laces?
From the 2025/26 season, the league’s own framework is Premier League With Pride. It builds on longstanding support for Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign, but it is broader in scope and organised around education, celebration and action.
Does the Premier League run LGBTQ+ education in academies?
Yes. Academy players are part of the education strand, which is built around respect and inclusive behaviour.
Does the Premier League provide LGBTQ+ support?
Yes. Through its collaboration with Switchboard, members of the LGBTQ+ community can access confidential support as part of the programme.