D.C.’s LGBTQIA+ Pride parade and festival are moving to new dates after President Donald Trump announced the White House would host a UFC event on the weekend traditionally set for Capital Pride’s biggest events.
The date change will ensure “our community can gather safely and without unnecessary barriers” as Washington prepares to host events for the United States’ 250th anniversary, Capital Pride said.
Capital Pride said it worked with the D.C. government to move the parade to June 20, 2026. The festival and concert are set for June 21.
The Capital Pride Parade and Festival have been scheduled for the second weekend of June for over a decade. Organizers say they are rescheduling those events to the following weekend because of “major events and preparations for the 250th anniversary of the United States.” (The first officially recognized Pride celebration in D.C. was on June 22, 1975.)
Capital Pride previously announced 2026 festivities would happen from June 8-14.
Trump announced in October the White House UFC event would take place on June 14, which is Flag Day and the president’s birthday. A few weeks later, on July 4, the nation will commemorate 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Moving the dates of the Pride parade and festival will help ensure the community can gather safely, Capital Pride said in a press release.
“For over a decade, Capital Pride has taken place during the second weekend in June, but in 2026, we are shifting our dates in response to the city’s capacity due to major events and preparations for the 250th anniversary of the United States. This change ensures our community can gather safely and without unnecessary barriers. By moving the celebration, we are protecting our space and preserving Pride as a powerful act of visibility, solidarity, and resistance,” a statement from Capital Pride said.
Last year, D.C. hosted WorldPride after preparing for years to host the international event celebrating LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities. Anti-LGBTQ policies kept many people away, out of fear or protest, experts say. Transgender people were especially worried about their safety while traveling.
“As we look ahead to 2026, we’re transforming the legacy of WorldPride into a rallying cry, demanding visibility, defending our rights, and organizing for the safety and freedom of our community,” Ryan Bos, CEO and President of the Capital Pride Alliance, said.
The theme for next year’s Pride festivities is set to be announced in February.
Capital Pride events are set to kick off on June 12 with the Capital Pride Honors and conclude on June 21 with the festival and concert.
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
