I’ve lived in New York City for over 20 years. Trust me: June is the city’s most colorful month, and I’m not talking about the New York Botanical Garden. (Though that’s terrific, too.) The last Sunday in June marks Pride, when the LGBTQ+ community and allies take to the streets to commemorate the Stonewall Riots.
By now, the night patrons of The Stonewall Inn defied police harassment has become a beacon for queer equality around the world. But New York City is still the epicenter.
Millions of attendees come to NYC Pride each year, and I’ve seen it all. I’ve watched, marched, and, on occasion, been lucky enough to secure grandstand seats with perks including dedicated restrooms (not to be undervalued in a crowd of 2.5 million).
But Pride is more than a march. The city glows with a rainbow-hued kinetic energy that is quintessentially queer. If traveling to New York City this June, here are a multitude of ways to celebrate NYC Pride for every kind of traveler.
Brooklyn Pride events
When: June 5-20, 2026
Where: Various locations throughout Brooklyn
Cost: Varies, though most events are free
Who says that Manhattan should get all the glory? New York City’s largest borough by population offers an array of Pride-related events to rival its sister across the East River. Highlights include:
- LGBTQIA+ Movie Night: Old Stone House hosts an outdoor showing of “The Birdcage” starring Nathan Lane and Robin Williams (June 11)
- The 30th Annual Brooklyn Pride Multicultural Festival: An outdoor fair featuring local vendors, food stalls, and community organizations (June 13)
- Brooklyn Pride Twilight Parade: After a day of revelry, Brooklyn Pride festivities conclude with a sunset walk along Fifth Avenue (June 13)
The Brunch
When: June 13 (two seatings, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.)
Where: Stella 34 Trattoria
Cost: $53-$314.25
What’s better than fierce drag queens and fried chicken and waffles? “It’s Giving Brunch” returns to Stella 34 Trattoria, located on the sixth floor of the flagship Macy’s Herald Square. Upgraded ticket options include VIP seating and a meet-and-greet experience with hosts. Proceeds benefit NYC Pride, which works year-round to produce and promote events that celebrate and amplify the LGBTQ+ community.
Youth Pride Parade
When: June 20, 11 a.m.
Where: Pier 16, 167 John Street, South Street Seaport
Cost: Free
Being a teenager is hard enough, but navigating LGBTQ+ identity amid hormonal changes, social pressures, and the current political climate can make adolescence even more challenging.
More than 2,000 attendees are expected at this year’s Youth Pride Parade. Live performances, free food and non-alcoholic beverages, and carnival activities are among the highlights, but spending the day in the heart of New York City with a welcoming community is priceless.
The March
When: June 28, 12 p.m.
Where: Begins at 25th Street and Fifth Avenue
Cost: Free
Some will argue that NYC Pride has become corporatized, and they’re not entirely wrong. Still, given the onslaught of corporate anti-DEI efforts, visibility is more important than ever. Expect sponsored parade floats and a massive amount of rainbow swag flying through the air from clacker fans and stickers to sunglasses and mini flags.
This year’s grand marshals include entertainers Dominique Jackson, Peppermint, and Bowen Yang, along with Bernie Wagenblast (the voice of NYC subway announcements) and the advocacy group Gays Against Guns.
Pro tip: The streets are less crowded toward the beginning of the route, with larger crowds as it heads south toward the West Village. Be sure to hydrate, especially if planning to stay for the entire march, which can last over eight hours.
NYC Pride also released its first-ever capsule Pride collection for those looking to sport this year’s theme, “For All of Us,” with all proceeds benefiting the organization.
PrideFest
When: June 28, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Fourth Avenue between Astor Place and 14th Street
Cost: Free, reserve a spot
Simultaneous with the march, PrideFest invites attendees to stroll along Fourth Avenue, where the event boasts the largest LGBTQ+ street festival in the U.S. Themed sections include areas for books, nonprofits and small businesses, families, food, wellness, and StageFest, featuring free live performances throughout the day.
Gay & Sober Dance on the River
When: June 28 (boarding begins at 6:30 p.m.)
Where: Circle Line Cruises, West 42nd Street and the Hudson River
Cost: $75-$100
The official sober party of NYC Pride, the Dance on the River takes over a 600-person excursion vessel for a night under the stars. The route circles Lower Manhattan, with plenty of photo opportunities, including Hudson Yards, the Statue of Liberty, One World Trade Center, and the Brooklyn Bridge.
VIP tickets grant access to the top deck, where DJ Syimone will be spinning today’s hits and queer dance classics, a private mocktail bar, and stellar city views.
Rocío García art exhibit
When: 12 p.m to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday,
Where: Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, 26 Wooster Street
Cost: $10 suggested donation
In the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “The Power of Power is Power,” artist Rocío García explores domination through a heightened creative lens. The Cuban-born artist asks viewers to reconsider power structures and homoeroticism, each pulled from a different chapter of the artist’s career.
“The objective of creating a sequential painting underlies the different series,” says García. “Each one responds to a narrated idea, where the use or abuse of power over the other is always questioned and satirized, whether in sexual, psychological, or socio-political relationships.”
Award-winning author Carmen Maria Machado curated the exhibition and offers her distinct perspective. “We are nothing if not creatures of distinct perseverance,” she writes. “Dizzy and silly and funny and cruel.”
Christopher Street Tours
When: Days/time vary
Where: Meeting spot: McCarthy Square, Charles Street, and Waverly Place
Cost: $59, $29 for ages 17 and under
LGBTQ+ history comes alive with Christopher Street Tours, which invites participants to walk the same streets as early activists such as Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson.
With a maximum capacity of 20 guests, the guided tour shares details of the 1969 Stonewall Rising and includes stops at The New York City AIDS Memorial, the Stonewall National Monument and Visitors Center, and several historic sites that no longer exist, including the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop.
Private tours (for up to 10 participants) can be customized, and it’s worth inquiring about founder Michael Venturiello’s availability, whose expertise and passion for LGBTQ+ history elevate the experience even further.
BGSQD bookstore
Where: The Center, 208 West 13th Street, Room 210
Hours: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday
Donnie Jochum and Greg Newton co-founded the Bureau of General Services—Queer Division (BGSQD) in 2012 and moved into its current space two years later.
For non-New Yorkers, finding BGSQD is half the fun. Tucked in a corner room of The Center, the building dates back to 1869 and has been the city’s queer hub since 1984.
The venue hosts a range of LGBTQ+ events, including book clubs, author interviews, and book launches. Discover new releases from major publishers, independent publishers, and zines.
Dinner at HAGS
Where: 163 First Avenue
Hours: Tasting menu reservations 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday. Pay-what-you-can Sunday brunch
Cost: $135 (vegan) to $165 (omnivore), wine pairing $75
While much of the East Village’s creative flair has made way for craft cocktail lounges and NYU students, there’s still something in the air in a neighborhood that once welcomed queer creators like Keith Haring, RuPaul, and Allen Ginsberg.
Life partners and restaurateurs, chef Telly Justice and wine director Camille Lindsley, opened their fine-dining restaurant, HAGS, in 2022. The venue continues to gain momentum, with Justice named one of Food & Wine’s best new chefs in 2025.
Described as “by queer people for all people,” the six-course menu changes seasonally. Descriptors (“rhubarb—our favorite leggy redhead!”) are as playful as the owners, but the culinary credentials remain top-notch. Expect a fantastic playlist underscoring the evening, original art on the walls, and a wholly unique LGBTQ+ dining experience.
See a Broadway show
Cost: Price varies.
The 2025-26 Broadway season recently concluded, grossing over $1.9 billion. LGBTQ+ themes and characters continue to gain visibility, offering an opportunity to see a range of lived experiences onstage. Highlights include:
- “Oh, Mary!”: Pulitzer Prize finalist Cole Escola imagines the life of first lady Mary Todd Lincoln as a budding cabaret star. Escola originated the title role, with Maya Rudolph playing Mary through July 5, followed by “Hacks” star Meg Stalter through the rest of the summer. (Lyceum Theatre)
- “Titaníque”: Céline Dion recounts the oceanliner’s fateful journey, including many of the Grammy winner’s biggest hits, a cameo by the iceberg reimagined as Tina Turner, and campy LGBTQ+ references for a once-in-a-lifetime theatrical sailing. (St. James Theatre)
- “Cats: The Jellicle Ball”: A reimagined “Cats” sets Andrew Lloyd Webber’s junkyard musical in the world of ballroom. This celebration of Black and Brown queer identity features over 500 costumes referencing pop culture and next-level choreography showcasing voguing, spins, and dips. (Broadhurst Theatre)
For a complete list of NYC Pride activities, visit nycpride.org.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
