Newport Pride has announced its lineup of events for Pride Month 2026, kicking off June 2 and culminating in a full weekend of festivities later in the month.
The month begins with the annual Pride Flag Raising Ceremony on Tuesday, June 2. The event starts with a sidewalk parade from Equality Park — home of the city’s three rainbow crosswalks and the site of Newport’s first Pride Fest — and proceeds to the steps of Newport City Hall, where community members will deliver speeches. Since 2018, Newport City Hall has raised the Pride flag for the duration of June, accompanied by a proclamation from the mayor recognizing June as Pride Month.
The centerpiece of the month is PrideFest 2026, set for Saturday, June 27, at the Great Friends Meeting House. A parade steps off at 11 a.m., escorted by cars, bikes and the Newport Police Department, followed by the festival from noon to 5 p.m. The family-friendly event is expected to draw around 5,000 attendees and will feature approximately 60 vendor spots, food trucks, and a diverse performance lineup including drag artists, singer-songwriters, DJs and all-age dance groups.
Later that evening, Pride Afterdark will keep the celebrations going for those 21 and older. Details on performers, DJs and the venue are forthcoming.
The weekend wraps up Sunday, June 28, with Drag Bingo on the rooftop of the Brenton Hotel — a 21+ event featuring light fare, drag performances and bingo. Additional details are expected to be announced soon.
More information is available at newportprideri.org/festivalandparade.