Pride of Portsmouth lion trail

Pride of Portsmouth kicks off on 13 July and runs until 13 September, a city-wide art trail that's the centrepiece of the Portsmouth100 celebrations. It's the 100th anniversary of Portsmouth receiving city status, and the trail is one of the hundreds of events marking the occasion throughout 2026.

There are 45 lion sculptures and one unicorn, each uniquely designed by an artist and placed across the city's streets, parks, and open spaces. They aren't all in one spot, so you'll find them scattered from Port Solent and Cosham through to Hilsea, Copnor, Baffins, Fratton, and Southsea. A couple of the ones to look out for are Leonardo da Pompey by Louise Braithwaite and The Town Crier by Andrea Martin.

There's a companion app you can download to unlock information and rewards for each sculpture as you find them. The whole thing is a collaboration between Portsmouth City Council and Wild in Art, and it's free to take part, so you can do as much or as little of it as you fancy.

It's part of a year-long birthday celebration for the city, with hundreds of events running alongside it. That includes Armed Forces Day, the Southsea Food Festival, the Portsmouth International Kite Festival, and the Great South Run, so if you're already heading into town for one of those, the lions are an easy addition. The trail runs from 13 July to 13 September, and it's free.