Twenty-five years after the first WorldPride was held in Rome in 2000, the idea of hosting a Pride celebration for the whole planet seems less ridiculous than it first did. The global celebrations have gotten more reliable, delivering activism and entertainment worth hopping on a plane for.
WorldPride in Washington, D.C. is the ninth edition. It takes place May 17 to June 8, marking the 50th anniversary of Pride celebrations in the United States capital. Washington won the bid to host WorldPride 2025 after Taiwan bowed out due to disagreements about the name of the event and the expectations of InterPride, the organization that chooses the host cities and manages the template of what a WorldPride experience should feel like.
The WorldPride schedule is kinda-sorta-maybe every second year: New York City was in 2019; the joint event of Copenhagen, Denmark/Malmö, Sweden was in 2021; Sydney, Australia, was in 2023—odd numbered years, right?—but Amsterdam’s will be in 2026, the year after Washington’s.
Why does WorldPride exist?
The mission of WorldPride is to promote “visibility and awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) issues on an international level.” Considering the Donald Trump presidency 2.0 and public sentiment in some countries leaning to the right, the event is a show of pride and even defiance to the world, a declaration that queers are here and we matter.
But there are less-inspirational motivations, too. By throwing a Pride on steroids, the host city expects that WorldPride will attract more visitors than they would with a regular Pride festival, and build its reputation as an LGBTQ2S+-friendly destination. Sydney, Australia, estimated that its Mardi Gras attendance went up as much as 40 percent when it hosted WorldPride in 2023, bringing an estimated AU$664 million into the economy. Meanwhile, attendees can expect more spectacular events and more fellow partiers than usual—it’s a perfect opportunity to meet Pride fans from all over the world. There are also benefits for the local community, which can show off what it’s capable of.
“We expect up to 1.5 million people will come to our celebration, allowing us to make connections all over the world,” says Michael Mullings-Whitaker, manager of donor engagement for Capital Pride Alliance, which is organizing Washington’s WorldPride. “We want to showcase what the LGBTQ2S+ community looks like in our many neighbourhoods, not just what’s happening on the National Mall. We want to show how Washington, D.C., is a melting pot of diversity, equity and inclusion.” He says they expect US$680 million in economic impact from the event.
What can I expect from WorldPride in Washington, D.C.?
In order to be selected as a WorldPride host, organizers must commit to putting on opening and closing ceremonies, a Pride parade and an LGBTQ2S+ human rights conference. Of course, host cities can go above and beyond these requirements—and Washington is definitely promising something above and beyond. Considering the anti-trans policies of the second Donald Trump presidency, expect this WorldPride to be especially political.
Here are the major events in chronological order. They’re spread out over more than three weeks, though the biggest stuff is happening the final weekend, June 6, 7 and 8.
Trans Pride Washington
The main organizer, Capital Pride Alliance, is working with many partners to pull off WorldPride. That includes Trans Pride Washington, which is organizing workshops, discussions and other programming on May 17, the first day of WorldPride. Details TBA.
D.C. Black Pride
Washington usually hosts two major annual Pride events: Capital Pride (this year rebranded as WorldPride) and D.C. Black Pride. For 2025, D.C. Black Pride will be part of the larger WorldPride package but still produced by the Centre for Black Equity, happening May 23 to 26. Details TBA.
Freedom to Play Sports
Are you an athlete? The inaugural Capital Cup Sports Festival will host a multi-sport tournament from May 28 to June 4. There are 20 different sport competitions being hosted. Washington has one of the largest networks of LGBTQ2S+ sports teams and leagues in the world, numbering more than 7,000 athletes, administrators and volunteers. So that’s a good number to start with, plus all the visiting athletes. Advance registration is necessary, with more details TBA.
Opening ceremony
Washington’s opening ceremonies will take place May 31 in Nationals Park (1500 S. Capitol St. S.E., Washington, DC). Yes, though there will be WorldPride events starting on May 17, the key time to visit Washington will be May 31 to June 8. First, there will be formal ceremonies with dignitaries and the like. The headliner for the opening ceremony concert is Shakira, who will repurpose her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour as WorldPride’s welcome concert. Ticket prices start at US$86.85 plus fees—not bad for a global superstar selling seats through Ticketmaster. Though it’s an outdoor venue, the event will take place rain or shine.
Freedom to Empower Human Rights Conference
Taking place from June 4 to 6, this is not the most public-facing aspect of WorldPride, but it’s at the heart of the event and is one of its essential ingredients. Attendees from around the world, most of them LGBTQ2S+ activists, need to preregister. There may be public presentations TBA.
Music Festival: Global Dance Party
Party boys and girls, and circuit queens, pay attention. This is one of the events Washington is throwing into the mix just for fun. Running June 6 and 7 at RFK Festival Grounds (2500 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, DC), the festival will feature three stages playing house, pop, circuit and techno—with some drag thrown in for good measure. Presented by Jake Resnicow’s Dreamland, the same team that put on the dance party at WorldPride in New York City in 2019. Headliners are Jennifer Lopez and Troy Sivan as well as Galantis, Grimes and Kim Petras. Two-day passes start at US$239.
Parade
The traditional Capital Pride Parade will be rebranded the WorldPride Parade, taking place on Saturday, June 7, at 1 p.m., starting at 14th St. and Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. The theme is “Free to Be Visible,” and it should be both colourful and political.
WorldPride Street Festival and Concert
On June 7 and June 8, the same weekend as the parade (and the final day of the Music Festival), Washington is hosting a festival and concert series from noon to 1 p.m. on Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., between 9th and 3rd streets. They’re planning on hundreds of exhibitors, artisans and food vendors, as well as beverage gardens. There will be multiple stages “showcasing an array of multicultural and multilingual performances,” many drawn from Washington’s queer talent pool.
International March on Washington and Rally
Just in case there weren’t enough politics in Saturday’s parade, there will be a march and rally on Sunday, June 8. The time and starting point are TBA, but the event will culminate at the U.S. Capitol.
WorldPride Closing Ceremony and Concert
For the closing concert on June 8, organizers are promising “performances by a variety of notable artists.” The evening will also feature an interactive art installation for attendees to leave their mark and the passing of the torch to the next WorldPride host destination, Amsterdam, which hosts in 2026.
Is that all?
No. Organizers should be making lots more announcements between now and the start of WorldPride. Other arts and cultural organizations and businesses will likely be hosting many WorldPride-related events in May and June.
What else do I need to know?
Because of the current political climate in the United States, and the Trump government’s policies targeting trans and nonbinary people, expect passionate crowds at the parade and at the march, as well as the possibility of counter protesters. Always be aware of who is around you in a crowd and pay attention to instructions from organizers.
If I miss Washington, D.C., when is the next WorldPride?
Amsterdam, Netherlands, hosts from July 25 to August 8 2026. There’s no WorldPride in 2027. Then Cape Town, South Africa, is set to host in 2028—the first time WorldPride will take place on the African continent. Cape Town’s exact dates are TBA.
