Twin Cities Pride Sports 2026: Twins, Lynx, MNUFC, Saints & Wild Pride Nights

The Twin Cities Pride parade and Loring Park festival are the centerpiece of Pride season in Minnesota — but they're not the only place to fly the rainbow. Every one of the Twin Cities' major pro sports franchises hosts an annual Pride Night, with team-themed giveaways, ceremonial first pitches, drag performances, and partnerships with local LGBTQ+ nonprofits. They're spread across the calendar from March through September, which means you can catch Pride at the ballpark, the soccer pitch, the basketball court, or the hockey rink long before — and after — the parade rolls down Hennepin.

This guide covers all five Pride Nights at Minnesota's pro teams in 2026: the Twins, the Lynx, Minnesota United FC, the St. Paul Saints, and the Wild. Below you'll find what to expect at each, where to grab a drink with the gays before puck/first pitch/kickoff, and how to make a full day of it.

• 5 Pride Nights across MLB, WNBA, MLS, MiLB, and NHL
• Most happen in summer (June–August), with the Wild's in March
• Annual giveaways typically include Pride-themed hats, scarves, T-shirts, or jerseys
• Pre-game gay bar density is excellent — Target Field, Target Center, and CHS Field/Xcel are all walkable from downtown Minneapolis or downtown St. Paul gay bars
• Confirm 2026 dates on each team's official Pride page (linked in every section below)

Why Minnesota Pro Teams Do Pride Right

Minnesota is one of the more reliable sports markets when it comes to Pride Nights. The Lynx, in particular, are among the WNBA's most consistent LGBTQ+ allies — multiple players have been openly queer for years, and Pride Game is one of the loudest crowds at Target Center. The Saints lean fully into camp at every theme night, so their Pride Night is genuinely fun and not just a logo on a hat. The Twins have run Pride Day for over a decade and partner with local nonprofits. MNUFC has worked with You Can Play and OutFront Minnesota since the team's MLS launch. And the Wild's Pride Night, held during the NHL's Hockey Is For Everyone window, is one of the more visible queer-affirming nights on a team that plays in a town with a big and well-organized LGBTQ+ community.

For a queer sports fan, the Twin Cities is a city where you can comfortably wear a Pride shirt to a regular Saturday game — but the official Pride Nights still feel special.

Minnesota Twins Pride Night

When: Annual Pride Night, typically scheduled in June for Pride Month Where: Target Field, 1 Twins Way, Minneapolis (downtown / North Loop) Tickets & official info: mlb.com/twins/community/pride

The Twins' Pride Night is one of the longest-running in Minnesota pro sports. It's typically held on a weekend home game in June and pairs the regular MLB experience with rainbow team-branded giveaways (recent years have included Pride caps and T-shirts), ceremonial first pitches from LGBTQ+ community leaders, and pre-game performances at Target Plaza. The team has historically partnered with OutFront Minnesota and donated a portion of ticket proceeds to local LGBTQ+ nonprofits.

Target Field itself is one of the best ballparks in baseball — open-air, tucked into the North Loop, with skyline views over the right-field wall. Bring a Pride flag and you'll see plenty more in the stands.

Don't miss: Target Plaza pre-game programming (when scheduled). Past years have had drag performances, DJs, and community booths in the hour before first pitch.

Walkable from: Brass Rail, Gay 90's, The Saloon — all about 8–12 minutes on foot from Target Field.

Minnesota Lynx Pride Night

When: Annual Pride Game, typically scheduled in June or July during the WNBA season Where: Target Center, 600 1st Ave N, Minneapolis (downtown) Tickets & official info: lynx.wnba.com

If you go to one Pride Night this year, make it the Lynx. The WNBA has been a queer fan space for decades, and the Lynx are one of the league's most decorated and most LGBTQ+-supportive franchises. Pride Game at Target Center is consistently one of the louder, gayer crowds you'll see in Minneapolis — fans wear Pride colors all season, and the Pride Game itself amps everything up: special pre-game performances, rainbow giveaways, on-court Pride-themed activities, and recognition of LGBTQ+ community partners.

The Lynx have multiple openly queer players in the league at any given time, and the WNBA is the only major US pro league where queerness is a baseline assumption rather than a footnote. That energy carries onto the court.

Don't miss: Pre-game DJ sets and the Lynx's tradition of inviting LGBTQ+ community partners onto the floor for a half-time recognition.

Walkable from: Target Center is on First Ave N, directly across from First Avenue and a few blocks from The Saloon, Gay 90's, and Brass Rail. Easy gay-bar-to-arena pre-game.

Minnesota United FC Pride Match

When: Annual Pride Match, typically scheduled in June for Pride Month Where: Allianz Field, 400 Snelling Ave N, St. Paul (Midway) Tickets & official info: mnufc.com

The Loons' Pride Match is one of the most atmospheric Pride Nights in town. Allianz Field has one of the best supporters' sections in MLS — the Wonderwall — and Pride Match brings out the team's LGBTQ+ supporter groups, rainbow scarves, and a stadium-wide Pride tifo display. MNUFC has partnered with You Can Play and OutFront Minnesota since the team's MLS debut and tends to run pre-match programming with local LGBTQ+ orgs in the plaza outside the stadium.

If you've never been to a soccer match in the Twin Cities, Pride Match is a strong introduction: the supporters' culture is loud, queer-friendly by default, and far less corporate than what you'll get at Target Field or Target Center.

Don't miss: The Pride Match tifo and the supporters' section chants — both go up a notch on Pride night.

Pre-game in St. Paul: Allianz is in Midway, between the two downtowns. If you're closer to St. Paul, Black Hart of Saint Paul is the city's beloved gay sports bar (and the official meeting spot for the soccer-loving queer crowd) just a short drive from the field.

St. Paul Saints Pride Night

When: Annual Pride Night, typically scheduled in summer (June–August) during the MiLB season Where: CHS Field, 360 Broadway St, St. Paul (Lowertown) Tickets & official info: saintsbaseball.com

If you think minor league baseball can't be fun, you've never been to a Saints game. The St. Paul Saints — now the AAA affiliate of the Twins — are famous for theme nights that go all the way: pig mascots, between-inning bits, drag bingo, postgame fireworks, and a stadium that feels like a neighborhood block party. Their Pride Night fits right in. Expect rainbow giveaways, drag performances during pre-game and inning breaks, LGBTQ+ community partners on the field, and the loosest, friendliest crowd you'll find at any Twin Cities sporting event.

CHS Field is in Lowertown St. Paul — a walkable downtown neighborhood with one of the best craft beer halls in the metro right next door (Bad Weather, Tin Whiskers, Lake Monster) plus easy access to the rest of downtown St. Paul.

Don't miss: The drag-themed between-inning entertainment and the post-game queer DJ sets some years feature.

Pre-game nearby: Black Hart of Saint Paul and Camp Bar and Cabaret are both in St. Paul and a short Lyft (or 15–20 minute walk) from CHS Field.

Minnesota Wild Pride Night

When: Typically held in March, during the NHL's Hockey Is For Everyone month Where: Xcel Energy Center, 199 W Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul (Lowertown) Tickets & official info: nhl.com/wild

The Wild's Pride Night sits outside the rest of the calendar — March, not June — because the NHL ties its LGBTQ+ programming to its league-wide "Hockey Is For Everyone" initiative, which runs February into March. That means if you live in the Twin Cities, you can start your Pride sports calendar early: by the time the Twins are throwing first pitches in June, you've already had a Pride Night at the Xcel.

Wild Pride Nights have included rainbow stick tape during warm-ups, pre-game LGBTQ+ community partner recognition, and ceremonial puck drops featuring local LGBTQ+ leaders. The Wild front office has been one of the more publicly supportive in the NHL — a league that's had real internal turbulence around Pride warm-up jerseys in recent years — and the State of Hockey Pride community has built a meaningful presence at games.

The Xcel is one block from CHS Field, so the same Lowertown St. Paul pre-game options apply: Black Hart, Camp Bar, plus the cluster of downtown St. Paul restaurants and breweries.

Don't miss: Pride-themed warm-up gear (when worn) and Hockey Is For Everyone night programming inside the concourse.

Pre-game nearby: Black Hart of Saint Paul is a 10-minute walk from the X and is the de facto queer hockey bar in town.

Where to Pre-Game: Gay Bars Near Each Stadium

Half the fun of a Pride Night is getting there with a group. The Twin Cities make this easy because the gay bars are clustered tightly in two pockets — downtown Minneapolis (Hennepin Ave) and downtown St. Paul (Lowertown / West 7th) — and four of the five stadiums are within a short walk or rideshare of those clusters.

Downtown Minneapolis (for Twins & Lynx)

For Twins games at Target Field and Lynx games at Target Center, your pre-game routes are basically the same. Both venues are within a 10–15 minute walk of the Hennepin Ave gay bar cluster.

• The Saloon — Minneapolis's biggest and longest-running gay bar, a few blocks from Target Field and Target Center. Multiple rooms, a patio, and a crowd that ranges from happy-hour pros to pre-game groups. Fastest stop if you want one strong cocktail before walking to the gates.
• Gay 90's — The legacy Hennepin Ave institution. Multiple bars and a drag stage on weekends, so it's a fun spot if you're catching an evening Twins or Lynx game and want to come back after for the late show.
• Brass Rail — Smaller, dive-ier, and right on Hennepin. Strong drinks, friendly bartenders, easy in-and-out before tip-off or first pitch — the ideal "just one before the game" spot.
• 19 Bar — Loring Park's neighborhood gay bar, about a 15-minute Lyft from either stadium. Stiff drinks at neighborhood prices and zero pretension. Best if you're starting your day in Loring Park anyway.

Loring Park / Uptown / Northeast (for any Minneapolis game)

• LUSH Lounge & Theater — Northeast Arts District, cabaret-and-cocktails energy. Pick this if you want a slightly fancier pre-game — strong drinks, plush seating, and live performances on the calendar most nights.
• A Bar of Their Own — The Twin Cities' women's-sports bar in the Mill District. The natural pre-game for Lynx Pride Night specifically — the WNBA is on screen all summer and the crowd already knows every player. Walkable to Target Center.

Downtown St. Paul (for Saints, Wild, MNUFC)

CHS Field, Xcel Energy Center, and Allianz Field are all in St. Paul. Black Hart and Camp Bar are the two anchor gay bars in St. Paul and both run sports-bar-energy on game nights.

• Black Hart of Saint Paul — The Twin Cities' queer soccer bar. Runs official Loons watch parties, a 10-minute walk from Xcel and a short Lyft to CHS Field. The default pre-game for MNUFC matches and Wild games — bring scarves.
• Camp Bar and Cabaret — St. Paul's more laid-back gay bar, with karaoke and drag programming. Great for a slower warm-up before a Saints game at CHS Field, especially if you want food and a few rounds without the watch-party crowd noise.
• Eagle MPLS — Across the river in Minneapolis, but worth the Lyft if you're rallying a leather/bear group for an MNUFC match. Strong meet-up energy and the kind of pre-game where everyone leaves together for the field.

What to Expect at a Pride Night (First-Timer Notes)

If you've never been to a pro sports Pride Night, here's a quick rundown of what's typical across all five teams:

• Special giveaways. Most Pride Nights include a Pride-themed item — hat, scarf, T-shirt, jersey, or pin — for the first 5,000–10,000 fans through the gates. Show up early; these go fast.
• Pre-game programming. Many teams host community partner booths, drag performances, or live music in plazas or concourses an hour before first pitch / kickoff / puck drop.
• Ceremonial roles. Local LGBTQ+ leaders often throw out the first pitch (Twins, Saints), drop the puck (Wild), or kick off the match (MNUFC).
• Charity component. A portion of ticket sales typically benefits a local LGBTQ+ partner — OutFront Minnesota, Rainbow Health, RECLAIM, and JustUs Health are common partners.
• Inclusive crowd. Pride Night crowds skew younger, queerer, and more diverse than a regular home game — but the crowd is still mostly the team's regular fanbase plus an extra LGBTQ+ contingent. Expect a friendly, low-key vibe, not a club atmosphere.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Twins Pride Night 2026?

The Minnesota Twins typically schedule Pride Night for a weekend home game in June. Confirmed dates and Pride-package ticket bundles are usually announced on the Twins' official Pride page several months in advance — check there in spring 2026 for the exact date.

Is the WNBA Lynx really an LGBTQ+ event?

Yes. The Lynx are one of the WNBA's most consistently LGBTQ+-supportive franchises and the WNBA itself has the highest concentration of out queer players, coaches, and fans in major US pro sports. Lynx games — Pride Night or not — are some of the most welcoming queer-friendly sporting events you'll find in the Twin Cities. Pride Night just turns the dial up.

When is Minnesota Wild Pride Night?

The Wild's Pride Night happens in March, tied to the NHL's "Hockey Is For Everyone" month, not in June with the rest of Minnesota's Pride sports calendar. The exact 2026 date depends on the NHL schedule — bookmark nhl.com/wild and check after the season schedule is released in July 2025.

How do I get tickets to a Pride Night game?

Tickets are sold through each team's official site (linked above in each section). Some teams release Pride-themed ticket bundles that include a Pride giveaway item plus a charity donation — these are usually a great deal and tend to sell out faster than regular tickets, so grab them early.

Is there a discount for LGBTQ+ groups?

Many teams offer LGBTQ+ group ticket packages with a per-ticket donation to local LGBTQ+ nonprofits. Contact each team's group sales department a couple of months ahead of Pride Night if you're organizing 10+ people — group rates are usually good, and your ticket dollar goes further when it includes the partner donation.

Can I bring a Pride flag into the stadium?

Yes — all five Twin Cities pro venues (Target Field, Target Center, Allianz Field, CHS Field, Xcel Energy Center) allow flags as long as they're on a flexible pole or no pole. Check each venue's bag and flag policy on the team's site before you go, since rules can change game to game.

Are the stadiums accessible by light rail?

Yes for most of them. Target Field and Target Center are on the Blue and Green lines (Target Field Station). Allianz Field is on the Green Line at Snelling Ave. CHS Field and Xcel Energy Center are walkable from Union Depot in Lowertown St. Paul, also a Green Line stop. The Wild and Saints venues are about a 20–25 minute Green Line ride from downtown Minneapolis — easy if you're starting on Hennepin Ave.

What if I can't get tickets to Pride Night?

Honestly? You don't need the official Pride Night to feel comfortable wearing a Pride shirt to a Twin Cities game. The Lynx, Saints, and MNUFC all have meaningfully queer-friendly fanbases all season long. If Pride Night sells out, pick any home game and bring the rainbow yourself.

Plan Your Twin Cities Pride Trip

Looking for the rest of the Pride season? See our complete Twin Cities Pride 2026 guide for the parade, festival, and weekend party calendar, or our LGBTQ+ guide to the Twin Cities for year-round recommendations on where to go, where to drink, and where to stay.

For all upcoming events across both cities, browse the live calendar at outxout.com/events/minneapolis-mn. For our full directory of LGBTQ+-friendly bars, restaurants, and venues, see outxout.com/venues/minneapolis-mn.