Fantastic free lion trail is the centrepiece of the city’s Portsmouth100 celebrations - how to take part

Get ready to roar with excitement as a lion trail heads to Portsmouth in a spectacular celebration of creativity, community, and culture.

Over eight weeks, the city will come alive with a pride of lion sculptures, each uniquely designed by talented artists to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Portsmouth receiving city status.

The free Pride of Portsmouth trail will see 45 sculptures of lions - and a unicorn - hidden across the city from Monday, July 13 to Sunday, September 13 with residents and visitors alike invited to find them.

The trail, developed in association with Wild in Art, will include an app to download and ‘unlock’ each lion as you find them. For every lion which is unlocked there will be more information and rewards for those taking part.

A spokesperson for Portsmouth City Council said: “Whether you’re a local or a visitor, young or young at heart, this trail promises discovery, inspiration, and a whole lot of fun.

“Join in the fun as Portsmouth celebrates 100 years of city status and rich heritage, with art that’s bold, beautiful, and bursting with pride. Follow the lions, discover the pride!”

To help you find each lion, a free trail map will be available in all Portsmouth libraries - just show your library card when you visit, pick up your map and start your adventure. The map will also be at prideofportsmouth.co.uk and has also been published in the centre spread of this special supplement.

The Pride of Portsmouth trail is the centrepiece of the Portsmouth100 celebrations with hundreds of events - big and small - taking place throughout the city in 2026 as part of a year-long birthday celebration.

And the best news is that there is still more to come with even more fantastic events planned for the second half of 2026 - many of them free!

Future highlights include:

• Armed Forces Day - Southsea Common on June 20 - A free event, held to thank the people who serve, or have served, in the armed forces as well as shine a light on the military. There will be military parades, live music, parachute jumps, funfair rides, children’s activities and food stalls, plus a special moment to mark Portsmouth’s 100th year as a city.
• Paulsgrove & Wymering Carnival - Paulsgrove Green on June 27 - Free community event which features stalls, entertainment and lots of fun which starts with a spectacular parade at 10.30am.
• Southsea Food Festival - Palmerston, Clarendon and Osborne roads on July 4 and 5 - The two-day event showcases independent food and drink traders, regional favorites, as well as featuring an acoustic music stage, and a kitchen stage.
• Prom in the Park - July 15 at Victoria Park - This friendly free event, from 11am to 2pm, is held by Portsmouth Music Service and local schools. Schools will perform their own music, and there will be workshops where everyone can join in and sing or draw.
• Clipper Round the World & SailGP - Two big sailing events in just one weekend. The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race's 2025-26 edition concludes its 40,000-nautical-mile circumnavigation with the Grand Finale in Portsmouth from July 24–26. The fleet returns to Gunwharf Quays, bringing an eleven-month ocean adventure to a close with public fanzones, live entertainment, crew tours, and the final parade of sail. And on the same weekend SailGP makes a return to Portsmouth with fantastic sailing in front of Southsea Castle.
• Victorious - Southsea Common on August 28 to 30 - The three-day festival makes its return to the city over the bank holiday weekend with a fantastic line up which features Richard Ashcroft, The Black Keys, Kasabian, Scissor Sisters, The Streets, Nile Rodgers & CHIC and much much more. There will also be lots of family fun including a Kids Arena.
• Portsmouth International Kite Festival - September 12 and 13 - The free annual festival once again fills the skies above the common with life and colour. And in this special year, it has a special theme: 100 Kites to celebrate 100 years.
• Great South Run weekend - Southsea on October 17 and 18 - The brilliant 10-mile event returns to Southsea on the Sunday - with a 5k event, children’s events and even a mascot race taking place on Saturday!
• Portsmouth’s fireworks - November 3 on Southsea Common - The skies above Southsea Common will explode into colour with a huge free fireworks display. The site opens at 4pm, with stalls and entertainment for the whole family. Then, the big event itself is scheduled to take place from 7pm.
• Christmas light switch on events at the end of November - the festive spirit will return to Portsmouth once again with a succession of brilliant events, light switch-ons and entertainment.

For a full list of events for this year across Portsmouth visit www.visitportsmouth.co.uk/portsmouth-100/things-to-do