Hundreds of dads to march with prams in London calling for better paternity leave
Fathers and partners will march to Buckingham Palace to demand fairer paternity leave this April.
Thousands of new parents know the juggle of those early weeks all too well. Now, hundreds of dads and non birthing parents are set to take that conversation to the streets of central London.
On Saturday 18 April 2026, fathers pushing prams will march from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace to demand changes to the UK’s paternity leave system. The event marks the start of Equal Parenting Week and is already gathering momentum across the country.
Organisers say the aim is simple, to call for a system that allows dads and partners to be present in their children’s earliest days, without the financial strain many families currently face.
Why are dads marching?
In the UK, most fathers are entitled to just two weeks of statutory paternity leave, paid at £182 a week. For many households, especially during a cost of living squeeze, that level of pay makes taking time off difficult or, in some cases, impossible.
Campaigners argue that this short, low paid leave sends the wrong message about the role of dads and non birthing parents in family life.
Research from countries offering more generous paternity leave suggests there are long term benefits. These include a reduced gender pay gap, improved maternal mental and physical health, stronger parental relationships and positive outcomes for children’s development. Fathers themselves also report greater life satisfaction.
Who is behind the campaign?
The march is being organised by Parenting Out Loud, Growth Spurt and a coalition of organisations working with parents across the UK.
Elliott Rae, founder of Parenting Out Loud and Equal Parenting Week, has been vocal about the need for reform. He believes many fathers are ready to take on a more equal caregiving role, but policy is not keeping pace with modern family life.
Fathers are ready to step up, but the system is holding them back. Two weeks of poorly paid leave sends a clear message that dads are optional. We are marching to show that equal parenting is not a ‘nice to have’. It is essential for families, men’s health, women’s equality, and for children’s futures.
Joeli Brearley, founder of Growth Spurt and Pregnant Then Screwed, is also supporting the march. She has long campaigned for better workplace rights for parents and highlights the financial and emotional impact current policies can have on mothers.
Paternity leave rights in the UK are pathetic. This has a direct knock-on effect for mothers, who take on both the joy and the burden of care, losing an average of £65,000 in the first five years after their first child is born. We also know that maternal mental health in the UK is at crisis point. Better paternity leave has been proven to reduce the motherhood penalty and improve women’s mental and physical health. If this Government is serious about supporting families, it must drag the UK out of the dark ages and bring our paternity leave system in line with the rest of the world.
What is Equal Parenting Week?
The march will mark the beginning of Equal Parenting Week, a national awareness and action campaign running from Monday 27 April to Sunday 3 May.
The week is designed to challenge traditional gender roles in caregiving and champion a more balanced, inclusive approach to parenting, both at home and in the workplace. Organisers hope it will spark conversations among families, employers and policymakers about what modern parenting really looks like.
What to expect on the day
Families planning to attend can expect a family friendly atmosphere.
- Gathering point near Trafalgar Square, exact location to be confirmed
- Start time 11.30am on Saturday 18 April 2026
- March along The Mall towards Buckingham Palace
- Speeches and a community picnic in St James’s Park
- Event expected to finish at approximately 1.30pm
The event is open to dads, non birthing parents, mums, children and supporters. Prams are actively encouraged.
Why this matters for families
For many millennial parents, the early days with a newborn can feel like a whirlwind of sleepless nights, feeding schedules and emotional highs and lows. Having both parents present, without the pressure of rushing back to work, can make a real difference.
Supporters of the march argue that better paid, longer paternity leave could ease the load on mums, help dads build confidence in caring from day one and create a stronger foundation for shared parenting long term.
As conversations around flexible working and family life continue to evolve, this April’s march is set to put paternity leave firmly in the spotlight.
Parents who want to attend can reserve their spot via the official event page.
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Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.