WorldPride 2026 is heading to Amsterdam, The Netherlands, from 25 July to 8 August 2026, with major events like the Music Festival (July 31-Aug 1) and the iconic Canal Parade, celebrating 25 years of marriage equality in the city that pioneered it, promising a huge celebration of LGBTQIA+ unity and culture. In addition to celebrating Marriage Equality, more landmark events in LGBTQIA+ history will be commemorated:
- 30 years of Pride Amsterdam
- 55 years since the abolition of Article 248bis, a key legal tool for persecuting gay men (and to a lesser extent, lesbians) in the Netherlands for over 60 years
- 80 years since the establishment of COC Netherlands, a Dutch LGBTQ+ rights group founded in 1946
Amsterdam is known as a city of tolerance. Home to 180 nationalities, it is one of the most diverse cities in the World. This diversity is also related to their strong and vivid LGBTQIA+ community, which strengthens its atmosphere of tolerance and creativity. Everyone has the right to be who you are and love who you want. The Pride Amsterdam Foundation wants to draw permanent attention to human rights in general and the acceptance and equality of LGBTQA+ persons in particular, anywhere in the world. Pride is a grand celebration and at the same time an impressive plea for the emancipation of LGBTQA+ persons. Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors come to the capital to attend Pride Amsterdam. With its partners, Pride Amsterdam offers a range of activities and events in the fields of debate, art, theatre, film, (dance) parties and sports. The highlight is the famous Boat Parade, where content and entertainment come together to create a vibrant spectacle.
In 2001 the world’s first same-sex marriage was conducted by the then mayor, of Amsterdam, a point of great Pride. The 25th Anniversary of Marriage Equality will be a focal point of WorldPride in Amsterdam. Internationally tolerance for and freedom of the LGBTQIA+ community is under threat, so Amsterdam stands as a beacon having put serious effort into protecting the LGBTQIA+ Community. Amsterdam Pride is one of the biggest in Europe, with the whole city celebrating. WorldPride 2026 will be the perfect opportunity to promote the celebration of Pride in a bigger and more meaningful way.
WorldPride in Amsterdam will be celebrated over 15 days and will include over 500 activities, World Pride Music Festival from July 31st – August 1st, two-night celebration of music, unity, and pride, bringing together global headliners and cutting-edge DJs, is one of the highlights.
Other events include the Human Rights Conference, an open-air Film Festival, a Wedding Party, exhibitions, sporting events, parties and more.
As the next hosts of WorldPride 2028, a delegation from Cape Town Pride will be attending WorldPride in Amsterdam for the official handover of the event to Cape Town.
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