The UK government has confirmed it will host its first-ever Global LGBTQ+ Rights Conference in 2026, as part of its membership in the Equal Rights Coalition (ERC) — a network of 42 nations committed to promoting and protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ people worldwide.
The event, to be held in London, aims to unite policymakers, activists, and civil society leaders to share strategies for advancing inclusion, equality, and protection from discrimination. It marks the first time the UK has taken a lead in convening such a large-scale international forum on LGBTQ+ rights.
A spokesperson for the Government Equalities Office said the conference would “demonstrate Britain’s ongoing commitment to equality and human rights” and provide “a space for meaningful global collaboration.”
The decision to host the event comes as the UK faces both domestic challenges on trans equality and international scrutiny over its recent decline in European rights rankings. For ministers, the conference offers an opportunity to re-assert the UK’s reputation as a global advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Diplomacy and accountability
The Equal Rights Coalition, established in 2016, operates as a diplomatic partnership between governments and civil society organisations. Its goal is to promote legal reform, share best practices, and hold member states accountable for discrimination and hate-based violence.
Hosting the 2026 summit places the UK in a leadership position at a time when global progress on LGBTQ+ rights remains uneven. While many Western nations have strengthened equality protections, others have rolled back freedoms — particularly for trans and intersex communities.
The UK conference is expected to include sessions on gender identity, youth protection, decriminalisation efforts, and global health equality, alongside workshops highlighting the role of business, media, and education in promoting inclusion.
A test of credibility
For campaigners, the announcement is both welcome and complicated. While it provides a high-profile platform for dialogue, it also puts the UK’s domestic policies under the spotlight. Groups including Stonewall and Amnesty International have urged the government to ensure the event includes space for critical discussion, rather than becoming a symbolic exercise in diplomacy.
Commentators suggest the conference could help re-establish Britain’s role in international equality work, but only if the government uses it to engage honestly with concerns at home — particularly over healthcare access, gender recognition, and hate crime.
What comes next
Preparations for the conference will continue into 2026, with invitations to civil society organisations expected early next year. The UK government has said it will work closely with the Equal Rights Coalition’s steering committee to shape the programme and identify themes most relevant to global partners.
If successful, the event could become a regular fixture in international equality diplomacy — one that repositions the UK as a convenor for progress rather than a country struggling to keep pace with it.