Pride 2026: Five French Research Institutes Join Forces for More Inclusive Science

Published the 30 September 2026 By Aurélien Coustillac; Translation: AI-assisted

For the third consecutive year, the Institut Pasteur is participating in the 2026 Pride March in Paris (France). This year, it is marching alongside four other biomedical research institutes: the Institut Curie , Imagine Institute, the Cordeliers Research Center (CRC), and the Saint Louis Research Institute (IRSL). This collective effort reflects a shared conviction: the research ecosystem must be a space where everyone can be themselves, be respected, and contribute fully to science, free from discrimination.

For the third consecutive year, the Institut Pasteur participates in the Paris Pride March on October 3, 2026. This commitment is part of a comprehensive diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy, which has been driven since 2024 by the creation of a dedicated DEI department. By joining the parade, as it has in previous years (see Pride March 2024), the institute affirms that the diversity of life paths and identities contributes to scientific excellence and constitutes a founding principle of its 'Pasteurian' humanist values.

In 2026, four other research institutes will join the Institut Pasteur: the Institut Curie, the Imagine Institute, the Cordeliers Research Center, and the Saint-Louis Research Institute.

How does diversity strengthen scientific research?

When teams are made up of people with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, their approaches to formulating scientific questions and exploring problems are enriched, leading to a variety of perspectives that foster less conventional solutions and enable a better understanding of society’s needs.

Inclusion is also based on a fundamental principle: enabling each person to find their place and fully exercise their talents in a respectful and equitable environment.

The Institut Pasteur's Strategic Plan (Pasteur 2030) reaffirms this commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion—fundamental values that foster creativity and innovation. “By putting these values into practice, we ensure that every voice is heard and contributes to the fulfillment of our mission: to understand life in order to protect it.”

Why does participating in the 2026 Pride Parade go beyond mere symbolism?

Participating in the Pride March is a way for the Institut Pasteur and its partners to highlight this commitment and affirm their support for the LGBTQIA+ community. Members of the five institutes will march together, displaying the colors of the rainbow and carrying signs bearing their institutions’ logos, to remind everyone that the fight against discrimination and the creation of inclusive work environments are also the responsibility of scientific institutions.

L'Institut Pasteur à la Marche des fiertés 2024, à Paris, France. - The Institut Pasteur at Pride 2024, in Paris, France Institut Pasteur / Aurélien Coustillac

What does the participation of five research institutes in the Pride March signify?

Seeing five French biomedical research institutions working side by side demonstrates a commitment to making diversity and inclusion a collective responsibility. It serves as a reminder that research environments must be places where everyone feels respected and can contribute fully to the advancement of knowledge.

For the Institut Pasteur and its partners, participating in Pride is a public demonstration of the commitments they uphold every day—in hiring, management practices, and governance.

On October 3, 2026—as in 2024 and 2025—the Institut Pasteur reaffirms that scientific excellence goes hand in hand with an organizational culture that is open and respectful of every individual.

Five institutes, one shared commitment: because science is universal and collective, everyone should be able to find their place within it.

Learn more about the 2026 Pride March in Paris, France.