NEW YORK (WABC) — More than a million people celebrated at New York City’s Pride March on Sunday afternoon, forming a sea of vibrant colors in celebration of LGBTQ+ pride.
Organized by Heritage of Pride, the event began as an annual demonstration commemorating the 1969 Stonewall Riots, and has since evolved into a global symbol of resilience, unity and activism.
ABC 7 New York is a proud sponsor of the event and broadcasted and streamed the event, anchored by Eyewitness News’ Sam Champion, Lauren Glassberg, Kemberly Richardson and Pedro Rivera.
The March started at 26th Street and Fifth Avenue and continued through Lower Manhattan before dispersing at 15th Street and Seventh Ave.
Pride 2026 Theme: “For All of Us”
The official theme for 2026: “For All of Us.”
The theme references a quote widely attributed to LGBTQIA+ activist and Stonewall veteran Marsha P. Johnson: “There is no pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.” As our trans and non-binary siblings face a growing wave of hateful attacks at every level of government, this year’s theme recalls the queer trail-blazers who came before us and centers the ongoing fight on the most marginalized among us.
As Pride events face economic and political threats around the world, it’s vital that those local LGBTQIA+ populations in Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma and more still have safe spaces to discover and celebrate their community. This year’s theme seeks to welcome LGBTQIA+ individuals everywhere to join us as we honor the legacy of the very first NYC Pride March in 1970, which commemorated the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising.
“LGBTQ+ Pride events are under attack around the world, but NYC is determined to march on,” said Im Lynde, NYC Pride executive director. “We invite our LGBTQIA+ community from near and far to join us in the birthplace of Pride as we continue the fight for LGBTQIA+ equality – for all of us.”
Pride 2026: For All of Us is WABC-TV’s annual Pride special, featuring stories about New York City’s LGBTQ community and beyond.
Grand Marshals for Pride 2026
Joining the ranks of honor this year were Dominique Jackson, Peppermint, Bernie Wagenblast, Bowen Yang, and Gays Against Guns. Nominated by the community and allies, the Grand Marshals were selected to celebrate and uplift their meaningful impact on the fight for LGBTQIA+ equality.
“Our Grand Marshals have blazed trails and opened doors in entertainment, media, and advocacy,” said Lynde. “Their visibility alone is worth celebrating, but they are fighting for opportunity, support, and safety for our entire LGBTQIA+ community.”
You can read more about each of this year’s grand marshals on the NYC Pride website.
Pride Events
PrideFest: Where Equality Takes Center Stage
PrideFest returned on Sunday, June 28, with its renowned LGBTQIA+ street fair for its 32nd anniversary. As the largest LGBTQIA+ street festival in NYC, PrideFest promised a day filled with excitement and celebration. This event encompasses various components, including StageFest, FamilyFest, CommunityFest and FoodFest, offering a diverse range of experiences for attendees of all backgrounds.
Youth Pride
Youth Pride took place on Saturday, June 27 at the South Street Seaport Museum – Pier 16 and The Seaport – Pier 17, ages 13-24, for a carnival-style celebration features exciting carnival activations, live entertainment, talented DJs, free drinks and snacks, and more.
In the spirit of this year’s theme, “For All of Us”, Youth Pride also showcased a wide variety of gender- and queer-affirming resources and activities, focused on LGBTQIA+ history, self care and expression, beauty tutorials, safety and advocacy, and community-building.
This free outdoor event kicked off with community activists and partners coming together for a rally to demand enhanced funding and protections for trans and queer youth.
The celebration closed with the return of “Dance on the Pier”, featuring DJ Nikki Jax soundtracking a dance floor for all ages and identities.
June has been an important month for the LGBTQIA+ rights movement since New York City’s first Pride march – then dubbed the “Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day” march – on June 28, 1970.
That event marked an act of defiance from the year before, a 1969 uprising at New York City’s Stonewall Inn. After a police raid at the gay bar, a crowd partly led by trans women of color channeled their anger to confront authorities. It was a catalyst to what became a global movement for LGBTQIA+ rights.
For more than a half-century, the annual marches have been an opportunity to demand action on specific issues such as the AIDS epidemic and same-sex marriage while also serving as a public celebration.
Discover more Pride coverage at abc7ny.com/pride
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