Washington, DC Welcomes WorldPride 2025, from May 17-June 8; Spring into Action and Book Your Stay Today!

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Pride in Washington, DC, and the nation's capital is inviting guests from around the globe to join in the festivities by hosting WorldPride 2025.

A spectacular month-long slate of concerts, sporting events, cultural programming, and a major human rights conference will draw over 3 million queer and allied visitors to DC beginning in mid-May and culminating on the weekend of June 6-8, three days packed with parties, parades, and performances.

Setting the Scene, Citywide

Beginning on May 16, businesses, public spaces and private homes throughout the city and region will Paint the Town with Pride, showcasing queer-themed art installations and festooning themselves in rainbow decor to give all of DC a fabulous lewk for greeting guests.

It's a colorful kickoff to four high-energy weeks in a city infused with queer spirit and international flair. Check out some of the highlights below.

Make Room in Your Schedule and Book a Room for WorldPride

With WorldPride adding to the city's already alluring mix of parks, museums, restaurants, performing arts, and queer nightlife, you'll want to pick your dates and book your stay early. Whether your style leans toward grand hotels or boutique B&Bs, you'll find a room that suits you with the help of Washington, DC's exclusive WorldPride booking page.

Highlights of WorldPride 2025

There's a wide variety of ways to celebrate Pride over four festive weeks. Explore some of the featured events below, and keep up to date at the WorldPride website.

Trans Pride Celebration
Saturday, May 17

Trans Pride Washington DC will offer a full day of workshops, talks, panel discussions, and a resource fair centered on the trans, non-binary, and gender expansive communities at the Martin Luther King Memorial Library. (901 G. St. NW)

DC Black Pride
Friday, May 23 - Monday, May 26

On Memorial Day Weekend, DC's Black community will welcome members of the global African diaspora to celebrate and honor a diverse and vibrant heritage. Details and location forthcoming.

WorldPride Film Festival
Monday, May 27 - Wednesday, May 29

Documentaries and works of imagination will explore the drama, passion, and challenges of LGBTQI+ life around the world. Details and location forthcoming.

Capital Cup Sports Festival
Tuesday, May 28 - Wednesday, June 4

Whether as a participant or a spectator, you'll want in on the action as queer amateur athletes compete in a wide range of over 20 sports, including swimming, wrestling, soccer, roller derby, rugby, cycling, and even pickleball. Learn more here.

WorldPride Welcome Concert
Saturday, May 31

Global pop sensation Shakira headlines a stadium-scale extravaganza with a host of special guest speakers and performers at Nationals Park (1500 S. Capitol St. SE).

WorldPride Human Rights Conference
Wednesday, June 4 - Friday, June 6

Focusing on inclusion, diversity, and accessibility, international experts at the Human Rights Conference will speak and lead workshops centering the voices of the most marginalized members of the queer community. JW Marriott. (1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW)

WorldPride Music Festival
Friday, June 6 - Saturday, June 7

In an eagerly-awaited encore following its debut at the WorldPride Stonewall 50 celebration in Manhattan, this immersive three-stage genre-hopping global dance party, presented by Jake Resnicow's Dreamland, will feature over 60 performances at RFK Memorial Stadium. (2400 E. Capitol St., NE)

JLo heads a lineup of spectacular acts, with Troye Sivan, Kim Petras, Sofi Tukker, Rita Ora, Betty Who, and tons of other great acts slated to perform. Mama Ru herself will take DJ duties and a special closing set by Zedd will put a polish on the unforgettable experience!

DC's annual Capital Pride Parade gets beefed up and more buoyant than ever as the whole world joins in on the fun. Marching nearly 20 blocks along Constitution Avenue and traversing the heart of local queer history, the WorldPride Parade, sponsored by Love Travels by Marriott Bonvoy, is a show of solidarity, strength, and communal joy (14th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. NW).

WorldPride Street Festival and Concert
Saturday, June 7 - Sunday, June 8

See and be seen by the whole world on Washington DC's National Mall. Hundreds of thousands of LGBTQI+ community members and their allies will gather at the street festival to enjoy exhibits by queer organizations, businesses, and artists, bountiful food and drink, carnival games, and an array of dance parties and live music performances. (Pennsylvania Ave. NW, between 3rd and 9th Streets)

International March and Rally
Sunday, June 8

Inspired by the landmark 1963 March on Washington, at which Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his "I Have A Dream" speech, as well as the groundbreaking queer and women's marches that followed, delegates from dozens of countries will assemble outside the U.S. Capitol to address the ongoing fight for LGBTQI+ civil and human rights, worldwide. (Details and route forthcoming.)

Get all the info you need to plan a visit to Washington, DC for Pride or any time at washington.org.