Chicago Pride Parade

The Chicago Pride Parade is an annual LGBTQ+ parade run entirely by volunteers of PRIDEChicago. The roughly four-mile route runs south from Broadway and Montrose through Uptown, Northalsted and Lakeview to Diversey and Sheridan in Lincoln Park. The first march in 1970 began as a protest, and 2026 was the 55th parade, with more than 150 groups taking part.

PRIDEChicago, the all-volunteer 501(c)(3) that produces the parade, bills it as the oldest Pride parade in the country. It traces the event to the Stonewall Riots of 1969 and the courage of queer activists, especially Black and Brown trans women, and stresses that the first Chicago march was a protest. The group belongs to InterPride and the United States Association of Prides and describes its mission as year-round advocacy as well as a parade.

The parade is held on the last Sunday in June and steps off at 11 a.m. Its published route starts at West Sheridan and Broadway, runs south on Broadway and Halsted, turns east on Belmont back to Broadway and continues south to Diversey. Staging closes the Sheridan and Broadway corner, so viewing starts at Grace and Broadway. The lineup has about 155 registered entries, from floats and decorated vehicles to marching bands and performance groups.

The Northalsted stretch of Halsted between Belmont and Addison draws the biggest crowds. Broadway from Belmont to Oakdale, Belmont between Halsted and Broadway, and Diversey near Clark tend to be less packed. An accessible viewing area and accessible portable restrooms are set up near 600 W. Diversey, with portable restrooms along the full route.

The 2026 theme was Free to Be Proud, and the community grand marshals were Tracy Baim, Mona Noriega and Evette Cardona, joined by the Alliance of Illinois Judges.

Pride events celebrate LGBTQ+ people and mark the Stonewall uprising of June 1969. Most combine a parade or march with a festival of performers, community groups, vendors and food.

Chicago Pride Parade has included parade.

Chicago Pride Parade was first held in 1970. Organizers reported more than one million spectators people in 2026.

The next edition is June 27, 2027. It usually falls last Sunday of June.