Budapest Pride Organizers Defy Government Ban, Citing EU Court Ruling

Organizers of Hungary's annual LGBTQ+ rights march have announced that the 31st Budapest Pride event will be held on June 27. This announcement comes after the government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, implemented a ban on Pride marches and similar events in March 2025, imposing heavy fines for violations.

Budapest Pride organizers declared the 2025 ban an arbitrary and illegal infringement on fundamental human rights. They cited a recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) as grounds for their assertion. "The illegal decision of the Orbán government undermined our fundamental rights, and the court's decision means that based on this ruling, the arbitrary 'Pride ban' adopted in 2025 cannot remain in effect," the organizers stated.

The CJEU ruling specifically invalidated an older Hungarian law from 2021, which targeted "homophobic and transphobic propaganda," deeming it contrary to EU law. Activists argue that this precedent renders the more recent 2025 ban on Pride events legally untenable. They expect Hungarian authorities to fully cooperate and respect the right to freedom of assembly.

Last year's 30th Budapest Pride march, held in June despite an official prohibition, saw a record number of participants advocating for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. The mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karácsony, had led the march, facing initial criminal proceedings that were later suspended.

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The illegal decision of the Orbán government undermined our fundamental rights, and the court's decision means that based on this ruling, the arbitrary 'Pride ban' adopted in 2025 cannot remain in effect.