D.C. Pride announces 2026 date change to avoid a clash with a certain someone’s birthday

The organization behind D.C. Pride in Washington, D.C., has announced a change of date for next year’s signature events.

Capital Pride Alliance issued a statement late last week saying, “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.”

The parade will now take place Saturday, June 20, followed by the festival and concert on Sunday, June 21.

“This change ensures our community can gather safely and without unnecessary barriers,” the statement says. “By moving the celebration, we are protecting our space and preserving Pride as a powerful act of visibility, solidarity, and resistance,” it says.

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Events to mark the 250th anniversary of the US will run from early June through to July 4th.

Speaking to the Washington Blade, Ryan Bos, the Capital Pride CEO and President, also noted the date change means the Pride festivities will avoid planned White House events to mark President Tr*mp’s 80th birthday.

This includes, for the first time ever, a UFC mixed martial arts fight on the South Lawn of the White House on June 14.

Undoubtedly, there will be a lot of the President’s supporters in DC on that weekend and lots of extra security measures… so Capital Pride’s date change makes a lot of sense.

Capital Pride says the DC Pride parade will take place along its usual route over the following Saturday. The open-air concert will also take place at its regular location: Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., between 2nd Street near the U.S. Capitol, to around 7th Street, N.W.

This past summer, newly-out R&B singer Khalid was among the headliners. Other acts to appear at the festival in recent years include Miley Cyrus and Troye Sivan.

“Our Pride events thrive because of the passion and support of the community,” Capital Pride Board Chair Anna Jinkerson said in the statement. “In 2026, your involvement is more important than ever.”

Seattle Pride and the World Cup

D.C. Pride is not the only US Pride event to face a potentially awkward clash next summer.

Seattle, Washington, will hold some of the soccer World Cup games in June 2026. As the tournament takes place during Pride season, Seattle Pride organizers planned to hold events around a match scheduled in the city on June 26. That’s the same day at the city’s Pride parade.

This was planned before the World Cup draw, which took place December 5 at the Kennedy Center. It turns out the countries scheduled to go head-to-head in Seattle on June 26 are Iran and Egypt.

Neither country is gay friendly. Authorities in both countries have now objected to their teams being involved with a Pride-related game.

Last Tuesday, the Egyptian Football Association issued a statement saying it “categorically rejects the holding of any activities related to supporting homosexuality” during the June 26 match.

Both it and Iran complained to FIFA, the sport’s governing body. However, it’s unlikely FIFA has any say on events taking place outside the stadium.

In a statement, local organizing group SeattleFWC26 said it would be “moving forward as planned with our community programming outside the stadium during Pride weekend and throughout the tournament.”

“The Pacific Northwest is home to one of the nation’s largest Iranian-American communities, a thriving Egyptian diaspora, and rich communities representing all nations we’re hosting in Seattle,” spokesperson Hana Tadesse told NPR. “We’re committed to ensuring all residents and visitors experience the warmth, respect, and dignity that defines our region.”

Seattle Pride will include a march through the downtown neighborhood on June 26 and a festival at the Seattle Center.

On June 19, Seattle will host a World Cup game between the US and Australia. That event will include Juneteenth activities.

Both events have been scheduled well in advance of the team draw on December 5. Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has also taken to X to champion the Juneteenth and Pride activities around the Seattle soccer games.

Our city is ready, the fans are ready, and I can't wait! FIFA World Cup is coming to Seattle, and we are excited to be a part of the global celebration. With matches on Juneteenth and pride, we get to show the world that in Seattle, everyone is welcome. What an incredible honor! pic.twitter.com/urnDyjJ9IC— Katie Wilson for Seattle Mayor (@wilsonformayor) December 7, 2025

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