Ithaca Pride Festival 2026
“United We Rise”
June 12th - 14th, 2026
Multiple Locations in Downtown Ithaca
Our Celebration of Joyful Queer Community
Welcome to Ithaca Pride Festival 2026, the centerpiece event of the Ithaca Pride Alliance.
Our mission is simple yet vital: to advance the well-being, connection, and sense of belonging for the LGBTQ+ community across Ithaca and Tompkins County. Our annual four-day festival is an act of joy and queer power, an important event where we can gather in community and connect, celebrate, create art, and be loud and proud. Ithaca Pride is where we activate a visible queer community, standing together to celebrate our connections, support local LGBTQ+ businesses and connect to resources, play with our families and honor our queer history by making new memories. We can’t do it without you!
Your festival. Our spirit of pride.
Applications for this year’s Pride are now open! And, we’re hosting open community planning and information meetings for anyone to join. Upcoming events will be posted here, or let us know you would like to be involved by dropping us an email.
Check out the applications open now for ways to get involved at the events in June!
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you’re an artist, with music and art to share. Maybe you’re passionate about family & kid-friendly activities. Or maybe you have a creative project or advocacy idea to share with your community.
Whatever it is, your passion can make all the difference.
Ithaca Pride Festival 2026 Schedule
Our festival. Three days of joyful events.
As the highlight of our year, the Ithaca Pride Festival serves as a community-wide celebration and party, fostering inclusive initiatives and fun. Here’s a teaser of the main events planned:
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Amplify your pride and perform for your community. Our third annual Rainbow Fest hosted by Ithaca Underground features electric performances that showcase the diverse bands and performers from our region. Come for the music, stay for the shared energy of a rock show showcasing our queer talent!
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3pm-10pm on The Commons
We begin by celebrating by moving our bodies on the dance floor! Join us for an All-Ages Dance Party that invites kids and adults and everyone in our community to celebrate together. Expect guest speakers, a DJ and light show, and fun community activities.
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10am-6pm at Dewitt Park & Cayuga St.
Ithaca’s full-day festival will be held on Sunday, June 14th and is the centerpiece of a weekend-long celebration of inclusivity and belonging for our community. This year we are expanding the footprint of Pride so get ready for the biggest celebration yet!
Performance Stage: Drag artists and musicians, and family-friend story time and other entertainment
Community Hub: Expect shopping from local artistic vendors, information from organizations supporting LGBTQ+ resources and advocacy, and promotions from local queer-owned and queer-supporting businesses!
Family & Youth: Activities designed to ensure families of all structures feel a deep sense of belonging.
Connection: Pride is a place to meet neighbors and friends, and gain old friends and new.
Community members, social clubs, and local businesses also host Pride events all month long! The Ithaca Pride Alliance publishes community events happening in June in our annual Pride Guide, and share events on social media. Examples of community Pride events from previous years include clothing swaps, queer board game nights, drag shows, and more!
Anyone can host a Pride event in June. If you want to be featured just be sure to have your event details ready by early May.
Calling All Artists
$500 Prize to Design the 2026 Pride Festival Logo
Now accepting submissions of concept art (a well-developed sketch) that incorporates this year's theme, United We Rise. Artwork must work for a variety of sizes - small buttons, large banners, and t-shirts. The winning artist will be notified by April - the Ithaca Pride Alliance will work with the artist to develop the final design.
Submissions close Sunday March 29th, 2026.
Get Involved: Pride Applications
Applications due April 18th, 2026
Vending & Performing
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Many people attend Pride to learn more about LGBTQ+ resources in our community - get connected to thousands of Tompkins County households at our events. Organizations, businesses, and community groups that are interested in tabling will have two opportunities:
Saturday June 13th, 2026 from 3:00 - 10:00 pm on the Commons for Opening Ceremony & All-Ages Dance Party
Sunday June 14th, 2026 from from 10:00 - 6:00 pm at Dewitt Park and Cayuga Street for Ithaca Pride in the Park
Community tabling participants are not permitted to sell. These organizations offer information, activities, or provide resources to the community.
We appreciate it if you can provide your own tent and table - a limited number are available to reserve.
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Exhibit your work, provide food & beverages, & sell your wares! Organizations, artists, businesses, and community groups that are interested in selling goods or services on site are welcome to join us for two opportunities:
Saturday June 13th, 2026 from 3:00 - 10:00 pm on the Commons for Opening Ceremony & All-Ages Dance Party
Sunday June 14th, 2026 from from 10:00 - 6:00 pm at Dewitt Park and Cayuga Street for Ithaca Pride in the Park
Food vending will be for Pride in the Park on Sunday only.
We appreciate if you can provide your own tent and table - a limited number are available to reserve.
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Drag, musical acts, DJing and more! We can’t wait to see your artistic talents at work during Pride.
There are three opportunities to perform:
Friday June 12th at Noctural Cafe for Ithaca RainbowFest Queer Rock Concert (links & details to be provided by Ithaca Underground - keep an eye on IU social media and newsletters),
Saturday June 13th, 2026 from 3:00 - 10:00 pm on the Commons for Opening Ceremony & All-Ages Dance Party
Sunday June 14th, 2026 from from 10:00 - 6:00 pm at Dewitt Park and Cayuga Street for Ithaca Pride in the Park
Did you know the Ithaca Pride Festival is 100% funded by local businesses and donations,
and powered exclusively by volunteers?
Volunteering
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Do you have the time and passion to help take on a leadership role in organizing Pride? Supported by the Ithaca Pride Alliance Board & Pride Organizing Committee, lead volunteers help plan & execute key areas of pride:
Safety & Accessibility
Volunteer Coordination
Family & Kid Activities
Performing Acts
Vendor Coordination
& more! (what are you passionate about?)
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In 2025, over 150+ members of the community donated an hour or more to make Pride a success!
We begin recruiting general volunteers in mid-Spring, so be sure to keep an eye out on social media and our email mailing list for sign-ups.
Shifts are typically in 2-hour blocks. Take a look at last year’s Pride volunteer registration page for an idea of the opportunities!
Sponsorship Opportunities
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Ithaca Pride Festival is sponsored by local businesses making a difference in our community. To discuss sponsorship tiers and benefits, contact our Treasurer to see what we can do together.
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In addition to business sponsorships, Pride is funded by hundreds of small individual donations from members of our community just like you.
Can you spare a one-time or recurring donation to make Pride a success?
Can you help us fund a successful Pride Festival this year? The Ithaca Pride Festival is 100% funded by local businesses and individual donations - every dollar counts and is appreciated.