Premier League launch ‘Premier League With Pride’ initiative for 2025–26 season

The Premier League has launched a new inclusion programme, ‘Premier League With Pride’, bringing together the League and clubs’ LGBTQ+ work under a single initiative designed to deliver year-round activity beyond matchdays.The League described the programme as part of its ongoing equality, diversity and inclusion commitments, following consultation with clubs, LGBTQ+ supporters’ groups and other stakeholders. It has been structured around three focus areas: education, celebration and action.Education work is being delivered through community and academy programmes, with refreshed LGBTQ+ resources relaunched in February 2026 and made available through Premier League Primary Stars, Premier League Kicks and Premier League Inspires. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: "“Premier League With Pride demonstrates our ongoing support for the LGBTQ+ community, and our commitment to ensuring that football is for everyone and inclusivity is embedded across all areas of the game.  “I am pleased that progress has been made in recent years and we will maintain our work with clubs to ensure this continues. This includes taking action against discrimination both in stadiums and online, as well as celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.  “We want everyone involved in football to feel welcome, supported and comfortable being themselves. Education is important to help people develop a stronger understanding of LGBTQ+ inclusion and the importance of showing support, challenging inequality and making the case for greater representation.” The League also set out a pathway for academy players from Under-9s to Under-21s, with age-appropriate learning on identity and inclusion supported by mandatory equality, diversity and inclusion training. The ‘celebration’ strand includes a dedicated match-round takeover this season running from 6–12 February 2026, aligned with LGBTQ+ History Month. Across those fixtures, the Premier League will provide matchday inventory to clubs in line with other League-led campaigns, including boards, flags, substitution boards, perimeter LEDs and pin badges.   Captains will not wear a dedicated campaign armband during the match round, after captains decided in pre-season to wear the standard Premier League armband for all matches in 2025–26.   The ‘action’ element centres on reporting and enforcement, with the League reiterating that discrimination, including homophobia, transphobia and biphobia, will not be tolerated.The Premier League highlighted strengthened reporting mechanisms, including guidance for supporters on reporting abuse to stewards or police in stadiums, via club text reporting services, and through wider channels such as Kick It Out, British Transport Police, or directly to the Premier League in cases involving online abuse towards key football participants and their families.   The League has also partnered with Switchboard to provide free, confidential support through an LGBTQ+ listening service available to fans, staff, players and the wider public.   The initiative sits alongside the Premier League Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Standard, which the League described as a framework requiring clubs to embed inclusion across their operations, including mandatory training and independently assessed compliance levels.