Grand Marshal Announcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GLOBAL BLACK PRIDE PARIS 2026 NAMES NIECY NASH-BETTS, LADY PHYLL, JÉRÉMY CLAMY-EDROUX, OLIVIA SHOLA, AND GISELLE PALMER AS GRAND MARSHALS

A distinguished slate of activists, artists, public leaders, and changemakers will help lead the world's largest global celebration of Black LGBTQI+ communities.

Paris, France, June 2026 – Global Black Pride is proud to announce its official Grand Marshals for Global Black Pride Paris 2026. Joining the ranks of honor this year are Niecy Nash-Betts, Lady Phyll, Jérémy Clamy-Edroux, Olivia Shola, and Giselle Palmer.

Selected for their extraordinary contributions to culture, advocacy, public service, human rights, positive visibility and community leadership, this year's Grand Marshals reflect the diversity, resilience, and excellence of Black LGBTQI+ communities around the world.

"Global Black Pride was created to celebrate the richness, diversity, and contributions of Black LGBTQI+ people everywhere," said Micheal Ighodaro, President of Global Black Pride. "This year's Grand Marshals represent the very best of our global community. Through their leadership, creativity, courage, and commitment to justice, they have expanded opportunities, challenged barriers, and inspired countless people around the world. We are honored to recognize their achievements and welcome them to Paris this September."

Emmy Award-winning actress, producer, and cultural icon Niecy Nash-Betts has spent more than two decades redefining representation in television and film. In 2024, she received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her performance in Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and was honored with the GLAAD Stephen F. Kolzak Award for advancing LGBTQ+ visibility and acceptance. Through her work on screen and her advocacy beyond it, Nash-Betts has become one of the most influential voices for inclusion in entertainment.

 Lady Phyll is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of UK Black Pride, the world's largest celebration for LGBTQI+ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Latin American, and Middle Eastern descent. For more than two decades, she has been at the forefront of global efforts advancing racial justice, gender equality, and LGBTQI+ rights. Her leadership has earned international recognition, including the European Diversity Awards Campaigner of the Year Award and an honorary doctorate from London South Bank University.

Jérémy Clamy-Edroux is a former professional rugby player and advocate for equality, diversity, and LGBTQI+ inclusion in sport and public life. As one of the first active professional rugby players in France to publicly come out, he helped challenge long-standing barriers within athletics and has continued to use his platform to advance visibility, representation, and human rights.

Olivia Shola is a pioneering transgender feminist activist and human rights defender from Benin whose work has transformed opportunities for transgender women and sex workers across West Africa. As Executive Director of IDENTI-T Bénin, the country's first organization led by and for transgender women sex workers, she has championed innovative approaches to advocacy, community empowerment, leadership development, and human rights protection. As Co-President of Égides, she has elevated Francophone and Global South voices within international human rights and LGBTQI+ movements, bringing a decolonial and inclusive perspective to global conversations on justice and equality.

Giselle Palmer is an award-winning model, dancer, actress, host, and internationally recognized ballroom icon. A member of the renowned House of Revlon Paris, she has become one of France's most celebrated transgender artists and cultural ambassadors. Her work spans fashion, entertainment, and ballroom culture, including collaborations with major international brands and performances with leading artists. In 2024, she received six honors at the Paris Ballroom Awards, including Most Outstanding Femme Queen of the Year, Face of the Year, Performance of the Year, All Around Femme Queen of the Year, and Statement of the Year.

The Grand Marshals will be recognized throughout Global Black Pride Paris 2026 and will participate in key events during the week, including the Global Black Pride Gala, the We The People March on Paris, cultural celebrations, community convenings, and official ceremonies.

Taking place from September 9–13, 2026, Global Black Pride Paris is expected to bring together thousands of participants from across Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America, North America, Asia, and the Pacific for five days of culture, advocacy, dialogue, celebration, and collective action. The event will feature a global leadership conference, community village, cultural programming, gala, march, festival, and a series of opportunities to strengthen solidarity and collaboration across Black LGBTQI+ communities worldwide.

As communities continue to confront rising anti-rights movements, discrimination, and inequality in many parts of the world, Global Black Pride remains a powerful platform to celebrate achievements, amplify voices, and advance a shared vision of freedom, dignity, and justice for all Black LGBTQI+ people.

For more information and registration details, visit www.globalblackpride.org.

Media Contact

Micheal Ighodaro
President, Global Black Pride
info@globalblackpride.org

About Global Black Pride

Global Black Pride is the world's leading international celebration of Black LGBTQI+ communities, bringing together activists, artists, policymakers, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and allies from across the globe. Through culture, advocacy, dialogue, and community building, Global Black Pride works to advance visibility, equality, and justice for Black LGBTQI+ people worldwide.