Overview

• Mayor Gergely Karácsony reclassified Pride as a municipal event to bypass the parliament’s March law that threatened fines and prison for rainbow rallies.
• Approximately 200,000 people joined the march peacefully despite heavy police surveillance using facial-recognition cameras installed along the route.
• Delegations led by Italy’s Elly Schlein and European figures like Daniel Cohn-Bendit underscored cross-border support for LGBTQ+ rights and highlighted stalled protections at home.
• Prime Minister Viktor Orbán denounced the protest as “ripugnante e vergognoso,” accused Brussels of orchestration, and warned of legal repercussions for participants.
• The demonstration has intensified debate over Hungary’s rule of law and LGBTQ+ freedoms as Fidesz faces declining approval ahead of 2026 elections and ongoing EU Article 7 proceedings.