Guide to NYC Black Pride events: Latex Ball, Heritage Awards, and more

The 29th annual edition of NYC Black Pride is underway after kicking off on Aug. 19 with the annual Health as a Human Right Conference, which put a spotlight on the 45-year mark since the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s first report on HIV/AIDS. This year’s theme is Celebrating a Legacy of Resilience, which seeks to emphasize the four-plus decade fight against HIV/AIDS while also acknowledging that the Black LGBTQ community is continuing to face adversity from a hostile Trump administration. “Resilience is the key word,” Lee Soulja-Simmons, the lead organizer of NYC Black Pride, said in a recent interview with Gay City News. “We feel like we have been here before: Our healthcare and our rights are being attacked, DEI programs are being shut down, and we just feel like this is nothing new. We have survived these types of things before; we know we will get past things again.” NYC Black Pride events are continuing throughout the week, concluding on Aug. 23. For complete details on NYC Black Pride events, visit nycblackpride.org or check out NYC Black Pride's Instagram page: @nycblackpride. Below are some of the top events on the schedule: NYC Black Pride Opening Mixer Mother Nola Lee Soulja is hosting NYC Black Pride's opening mixer at Boxers HK at 735 Ninth Ave. on Thursday, Aug. 20. The late-night event, which begins at 11 p.m. and concludes at 4 a.m., will feature DJ Brown Liquah and MC Roy Jones on the main floor with hip-hop and R&B, while DJ Frankie Paradise will be in the lower house music room. Heritage Awards Ceremony This year's Heritage Awards Ceremony is set to take place on Friday, Aug. 21 at 3 p.m. at the Renaissance Harlem Hotel at 233 W. 125th St. According to Soulja-Simmons, this year's event will highlight changemakers in the community, including the Tony award-winning Qween Jean; Taylor Brown, the director of the Mayor's Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs; and Sean Coleman, who leads Destination Tomorrow. Mr. and Miss Black Pride International 2026 One of the most anticipated events of NYC Black Pride is the Mr. and Miss Black Pride International pageant, which will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21 at the same venue as the Heritage Awards Ceremony. Contestants will compete in several different categories, including Presentation, Formal Wear, and Talent. City Vibes NYC Black Pride festivities transition to a nightlife setting later in the evening on Friday, Aug. 21 at Harbor New York City at 621 W. 46th St. From 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., attendees will enjoy sounds by DJ Prettyfcknboy, DJ Ezzy, and DJ Poison Ivy. Latex Ball The Latex Ball will take place on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 6:30 p.m. at Terminal 5 at 610 West 56th St. Led by GMHC, the Latex Ball highlights house and ballroom culture while also serving as a platform to bring attention to HIV/AIDS issues. The event lasts until 2 a.m. Black Pride on the Pier Make your way to Pier 76 on Aug. 23 to join Black Pride on the Pier, which begins at noon and concludes at 6 p.m. Closing Party The final event of this year's NYC Black Pride festivities will take place at District at 246 W. 38th Street in Manhattan. The event, called "Sanctuary," is billed as the official Black Pride Closing Party. The party begins at 5 p.m.