Cincinnati Magazine Pride Party 2026

About Cincinnati Magazine Pride Party 2026

The Cincinnati Magazine Pride Party 2026 kicks off Pride weekend the night before the big day, taking over the new Elm Street Plaza downtown on Friday, June 26, from 5 to 8 p.m. Presented by Cincinnati Magazine in partnership with 3CDC, this annual happy-hour celebration is one of the most popular early-weekend parties on the Cincinnati Pride calendar, and it benefits Queen City Charities. Set in the 2.5-acre Elm Street Plaza, a fresh downtown event space in the Convention District that opened in late 2025, the party brings together a DJ set from DJ Boywife, a drag show, and a DanceFix workout session, plus food and a festive after-work crowd. The vibe is celebratory and inclusive, an easy outdoor spot to start your weekend with coworkers, friends, or a date before the parties and the parade take over. Twenty-one-and-over guests typically receive drink tickets, and there are plenty of mocktails and food to go around for everyone. Elm Street Plaza sits on the 500 block of Elm Street between 5th and 6th, steps from the Cincinnati Bell Connector streetcar and an easy walk from downtown garages and Fountain Square. Check cincinnatimagazine.com/pride for current ticket details and timing before you go. Arrive close to the 5 p.m. start to beat the after-work rush, bring a valid ID for the bar, and treat this as your warm-up. With the parade and festival the very next morning, the Magazine Pride Party is the perfect on-ramp to Cincinnati Pride 2026 weekend.