When is Chicago Pride?

The Chicago Pride Parade is one of the oldest and largest Pride celebrations in the United States, drawing nearly 1 million spectators and over 15,000 participants each year. It takes place on the last Sunday of June.

2026 Dates

In 2026, the Chicago Pride Parade is on Sunday, June 28, 2026, starting at 11:00 AM with free admission. The theme is "Free to Be Proud." The parade route is approximately 2 miles long: stepping off at Sheridan and Broadway, heading south on Broadway, then south on Halsted Street through the heart of Northalsted, east on Belmont Avenue, and finishing at Diversey Parkway near Lincoln Park.

Pride Fest

Chicago Pride Fest takes over Northalsted on June 20-21, 2026 — the weekend before the parade. It's a two-day street festival with live music on multiple stages, DJs, drag performances, food vendors, and community booths. Organized by the Northalsted Business Alliance, it's the official kickoff to parade weekend.

Northalsted Market Days

Chicago's other massive LGBTQ+ event is Northalsted Market Days — held the second weekend of August (August 7-9, 2026). Often called Chicago's "unofficial second Pride," Market Days is one of the largest LGBTQ+ street festivals in the Midwest, stretching half a mile along Halsted Street with live music on 4 stages, 250+ vendors, drag performances, and food. If you can only make it to two gay events in Chicago, Pride and Market Days are the ones.

Pride Month

Beyond the parade itself, Pride Month in Chicago (June) features dozens of events city-wide: bar parties, film screenings, art shows, drag brunches, and community fundraisers. Many venues along Halsted Street and in Andersonville host Pride-themed programming throughout the entire month.