Held under the slogan "25 Years of Pride and Riot," the march brought together members of the LGBTQ+ community, their families and supporters.
Participants carried rainbow flags and colourful banners while advocating for gender equality, protection from discrimination and legal recognition of same-sex relationships.
The event began at the so-called Equality Village, set up near Warsaw's iconic Palace of Culture and Science, where human rights groups, mental health organisations and educational initiatives hosted information stands and activities.
Before the march set off, Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski addressed participants, praising the parade's evolution from a controversial demonstration into a fixture of the city's public life.
"The Equality Parade has become part of Warsaw's identity and history," Trzaskowski said. "Today it is part of the city—open, tolerant and diverse."
He added that the event symbolised respect for human rights, diversity and solidarity with minority groups.
The parade was held under the auspices of Warsaw City Hall, as well as the European Commission and the German and Mexican embassies in Poland.
German Ambassador Miguel Berger told participants that Germany was marking 10 years since the introduction of same-sex marriage. He said he hoped similar legal recognition would eventually be adopted more broadly across Europe.
Among those appearing on stage before the march were two same-sex couples who have pursued legal recognition of their marriages in Polish courts, state news agency PAP reported.
Organisers said the parade had remained true to its grassroots origins since its launch in 2001, when only a small number of participants took part.
Marchers moved through central Warsaw accompanied by music played from trucks, following a route along the city's most prestigious streets before returning to the starting point.
Participants highlighted a range of demands, including stronger protections against hate crimes, legal recognition of same-sex marriages and civil partnerships, adoption rights regardless of sexual orientation, and measures to simplify legal and medical gender transition procedures for transgender people.
They also called for greater emphasis on tolerance and education in public discourse, and stronger protections for animals and the environment.
A small group of counterprotesters gathered along the route, voicing opposition to the march and to gay rights.
Ahead of the event, left-wing politicians held a news conference during which lower-house Speaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty described the day as a celebration of freedom and tolerance.
Government Equality Minister Katarzyna Kotula said legislation introducing new rights for common-law partners was expected to be considered by the upper house, the Senate, in the coming weeks.
She said she hoped the measure would be approved by President Karol Nawrocki when it reaches his desk.
All photos by Leszek Szymański/PAP
June is celebrated as Pride Month in Poland, with concerts, workshops and equality marches taking place across the country.
The Warsaw Equality Parade, first held in 2001, has grown from a small rally into one of the largest annual public events in the capital, attracting tens of thousands of participants.
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Source: IAR, PAP, TVP Info