World Pride 2026
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Ahmad Joudeh, dancer and choreographer, performing at the historic WorldPride Amsterdam UNITY Concert
Envy Peru, the Netherlands-based drag queen, actor, model, and makeup artist, celebrated at the 2026 Canal Parade.
Unity across amsterdam
From July 25 to August 8 2026, Amsterdam, a city known as a bastion for human rights and inclusion, hosted WorldPride — a biennial celebration hosted by different cities that promotes visibility and awareness of LGBTQIA+ people and their right to live openly and safely, to fall in love regardless of gender, and embrace the many forms that love may take.
The 2026 theme was UNITY. An estimated 1 million people attended. At a time when many places are experiencing a rolling back of hard-won LGBTQIA+ rights, Amsterdam’s history of inclusion offered a reminder of numerous firsts for rainbow communities’ human rights, including:
The 25th anniversary of marriage equality. Commemorating the world’s first legal same-sex marriage, performed in Amsterdam City Hall.
41 years of legal gender recognition laws on official government IDs — among the first European nations. The law was updated in 2014 to allow people to self-determine the gender marker on their IDs without medical intervention.
The 80th anniversary of COC, the world’s oldest operating LGBTIA+ organisation, which was founded in Amsterdam.
While visibly a rainbow celebration — as seen in the city’s historic canal parade, street parties, and concerts — Pride is an important protest for equality and acceptance of LGBTQIA+ people. Today, 63 countries still have same-sex activities in their criminal codes, and violence towards LGBTQIA+ people persists. This became all too real with the Amsterdam WorldPride opening day coinciding with a violent attack at Berlin’s Pride.
Pride Amsterdam Director Lucien Spee de Castillo Ruiz, Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema, and Queen Máxima walking toward Pride Village at the World Pride 2026 opening.
Being who you are, loving who you want — that’s normal, isn’t it?”
— Queen Máxima
Queen Máxima opened WorldPride 2026, becoming the first reigning queen to participate in and lead a march for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. The King and Queen of the Netherlands have a history of supporting LGBTQIA+ rights.
Queen Máxima greets crowds at the opening of World Pride 2026.
pride Portraits from the canal parade
The annual Amsterdam Canal Parade has been a tradition for 30 years. World Pride 2026 saw 80 decorated boats celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community sail through the city’s canals. The following are portraits of some of the parade participants.
Pride Concerts
On this iconic evening, we celebrate who we are: loud, proud and unfiltered! From every corner of the world, we’ve come together to honour the strength of our community, to let our voices be heard, and to never forget that love knows no borders.
April Darby, Benji James, Berget Lewis, Beth Ditto, Billy Porter, Bryan B, Emma Kok, Gustaph, Kyara, Joss Stone, Mickey Callisto, New Amsterdam Orchestra, Paul Morris, Ryan Song, Sera, Tara McDonald & Zulu Green.
The evening will be hosted by Conchita Wurst & Envy Peru.
During the Wedding Party XXL we'll celebrate love itself in the heart of Amsterdam! This year we mark 25 years of marriage equality. The Netherlands was the first country where same-sex couples could legally marry. On 1 April 2001 the first four couples in the world were married in Amsterdam. National and international artists will join us to celebrate this joyful milestone. You can also take part in a symbolic wedding ceremony in the wedding chapel.
Line up: Billy Porter, Bimini, Boyband in the Buff, HAAi, Heather Small, House of Bodega, House of Spiders, KI/KI, Powerpop Musical & Juliet, Sunny Jansen & Vengaboys. Hosted by Jurre Geluk & Sylvana Simons.
