Pride Month Returns to NYC: Celebrating, Honoring, and Rising Up

Pride March 2025

Sunday, June 29
Kicks off at 12:00 Noon

Route:

The march kicks off at 12:00 PM at 26th Street and 5th Avenue in Manhattan. From there, the route is as follows:

Down 5th Avenue (southbound) to 8th Street
Right onto 8th Street, then veers west onto Greenwich Avenue
Continues past the Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street
Turns north on 7th Avenue
Ends around 16th Street and 7th Avenue in Chelsea, with dispersal stretching up to 19th Street

Along the way, the march passes several key landmarks, including Madison Square Park, the Stonewall National Monument, and the NYC AIDS Memorial.

This route has remained consistent in recent years. No major changes are expected for 2025.

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It’s that time of year again when New York City erupts in color, courage, and community. As June arrives, so does the spirit of Pride—a time to honor the LGBTQIA+ community’s past, celebrate its present, and rise together in defense of its future. Pride Month 2025 is officially underway, and this year’s theme, “Rise Up: Pride in Protest,” serves as a reminder that Pride was born from resistance. In the face of growing hostility and discriminatory legislation across the country, NYC Pride calls on all to unite, speak out, and march forward—shoulder to shoulder, louder than ever.

At the center of it all is the NYC Pride March, returning on Sunday, June 29 at 12:00pm, stepping off from 26th Street and 5th Avenue. One of the world’s largest and most influential LGBTQIA+ marches, it continues to honor the legacy of the 1970 demonstration that marked the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. This year’s Grand Marshals reflect the resilience and activism at the core of the movement: Karine Jean-Pierre, the first Black and openly queer White House press secretary; Marti Gould Cummings, non-binary drag artist and political trailblazer; DJ Lina, a staple of NYC queer nightlife and trans advocate; Elisa Crespo, a powerful voice for trans equity and policy; and Trans formative Schools, an organization of trans and queer educators uplifting youth through inclusive education.

Accompanying the March is PrideFest, also taking place on June 29, running from 11am to 6pm along 4th Avenue. Known as the largest LGBTQIA+ street festival in the U.S., PrideFest is a daylong celebration of community, featuring themed zones like StageFest, BookFest, FamilyFest, and FoodFest, where queer artists, small businesses, activists, and families come together in an atmosphere of joyful protest and vibrant visibility.

The youth take center stage the day prior with Youth Pride on Saturday, June 28, hosted at the South Street Seaport. Designed as a block-party-style event for LGBTQIA+ youth and their families, it will include performances, food, games, and a Rise Up Rally led by Trans formative Schools, drawing attention to the urgent need to protect and empower queer youth in today’s political climate.

This year’s calendar also features a wide mix of free and ticketed events that reflect the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ experience—from a drag brunch fundraiser at Macy’s Herald Square, to the first-ever sober Pride cruise, to late-night celebrations like RE-UNITED PRIDE and POSH. The Road to Pride bar crawl series offers early celebrations across NYC neighborhoods, with proceeds supporting NYC Pride’s mission to keep events free and accessible.

Whether it’s your first Pride or your fiftieth, this year’s message is clear: Pride is not just a party—it’s a protest. It’s a stand against oppression, a demand for justice, and a celebration of survival and self-expression. In a time of escalating political attacks on LGBTQIA+ communities, especially trans youth, NYC Pride 2025 stands as a rallying cry: We are here. We rise. We endure.

Have a look at items from years past: