Millions Expected to Attend WorldPride in Washington, DC

PRIDE has always been an important event for the LGBTQ+ community, providing an opportunity to advocate for acceptance and equal rights, celebrate solidarity, and raise awareness of issues that affect the community. While thousands of events are held annually in the United States, it is rare that these events attract the worldwide community—until now.

From May 17-June 8, 2025, the city of Washington, DC will host WorldPride, a celebration that is expected to attract between 3-5 million people to the area. More than 50 different countries are expected to be represented at the event, which will bring together voices from around the world to support the LGBTQ+ community’s ongoing fight for equality, visibility, and justice.

“This is only the second time that WorldPride has taken place in America; the first was in New York in 2019,” explained Ashley Smith, president, board of directors, Capital Pride Alliance (CPA). While the group won the bid at the end of 2022 to host the event, no one was quite prepared for the changes that have taken place as a result of the 2024 election.

Welcoming Everyone to WORLDPRIDE 2025 Photo: Courtesy of Capital Pride Alliance

WorldPride – Welcoming to Everyone

Despite the fact that the current anti-trans, anti-gay political regime currently calls DC home, Smith believes that it’s important that people understand what the nation’s capital is all about.

“We’re more than the Capital and White House,” he said, noting that the District of Columbia has one of largest LGBTQ+ populations in the country. “DC is a large city, and we host a lot of great things. We are welcoming to everyone, and we want people to come and experience all that we have to offer.

“From a historical perspective, most national and international events take place in DC, so to create space for us here as a community is very, very monumental,” he added, noting that the occasion also marks the 50th year of Pride in DC, which will be celebrated as well.

The three-week-long event is expected to bring roughly $787 million into the city as a result of visitors spending money on entertainment, restaurants, hotels, and more.

Embracing the International Community

While they have seen some hesitancy in the international community, Smith says thousands of people are already signing up, engaging with the organization, and buying tickets to attend the events. “Our goal when we started was to attract at least 3-5 million people, but in the current climate, we can’t predict how many people will attend,” he said, noting that worldwide, cities usually see an influx of more than a million people when they host WorldPride.

There will be plenty to do for those who make the journey to DC. Starting events include a weekend of Trans Pride, followed by a weekend of Black Pride, with the kickoff event and opening celebration on May 31 featuring a concert by Shakira at Nationals Park.

“We’ll also be holding the Capital Cup for the first time in DC, which attracts gay teams from around the world, similar to the Gay Games,” said Smith.

Capital Pride Parade 2025 Photo: Courtesy of Capital Pride Alliance

Singers and Speakers from Around the World

An international choral festival will invite singers from around the world to collaborate and compete, and a Human Rights Conference will be held June 4-6, featuring a host of speakers from around the world speaking on topics impacting the LGBTQ+ community. In honor of DC’s 50th Pride anniversary, a Heroes Gala will honor those in DC and around the world who have done significant work in the LGBTQ+ community.

A two-day musical festival, a free concert, and a Global Dance Party will be held June 6-7, along with a “larger than normal” Pride parade. An International March and Rally will be held on June 8 to bring participants together and unite as a community with allies, rallying to move the movement forward and encouraging people to take an active role in their respective communities and around the world.

In addition to the WorldPride-hosted events, more than 300 partner events will take place in the city, ranging from film festivals and nighttime entertainment to art exhibits and installations throughout the city. There are both free and ticketed events, and all events are open to everyone. “I highly suggest that people book rooms and get their tickets ASAP; as events go on sale, they sell out in minutes,” said Smith, noting that some spaces do have limited capacity.

Capital Pride Event Photo: Courtesy of Capital Pride Alliance

Creating a World Class Experience

It’s no small achievement to put together an event of this size. Approximately 15 staff members are working with hundreds of volunteers to create a safe, exciting, one-of-a-kind celebration.
“We want to roll out the red carpet for those coming to DC so that they have the greatest experience ever,” said Smith, who is working with a roughly $20 million budget. “We have had some shifts in corporate and individual donors due to the political climate, but we’ve been fundraising in order to hit our initial targets to create a truly memorable experience.”

The organizers have been meeting with both city and federal agencies over the last year to ensure that participants are kept safe.

“These are the same groups that put on the inauguration,” said Smith. “Wherever our venues are, we are working with the police department, the mayor’s office, our LGBTQ+ businesses, and other agencies to make sure that they are fully secured. We need to make sure that our community has a space where they feel safe and comfortable.”

The festival will be fenced in this year, a first for the event. Visitors are asked to have their items in clear plastic bags to get through the points of entry more quickly.

“We want people to come together to celebrate Pride safely, and to leave feeling activated to do additional work in their communities to ensure that we all can live with a level of safety. We want to partner across the world to create safe spaces for our community,” said Smith.

To learn more about WorldPride events and schedules, visit www.worldpridedc.org.

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