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Where to Celebrate Pride in Albany, New York

Every year, Albany celebrates Pride throughout the month of June.

From parades and festivals to historical lectures and drag shows scroll on for just some of the ways to celebrate Pride and the LGBTQ+ community in Albany this year.

See the Empire State Plaza Light Up

Celebrate Pride and snap a few pictures at the Empire State Plaza’s electrifying light display all month long. During various evenings in June, the Plaza will light the night with colors of the Progress Pride Flag alternating between colors of the rainbow and pink, white, and light blue. Check out the Plaza Lighting Calendar to find out when to expect the display! 

Pride at the Plaza

Wednesday, June 10 | Empire State Plaza Convention Center | 6 to 9 PM

Now in its fourth year, Pride at the Plaza returns with a night of drag and celebration presented by NYSTEC. This year’s show is headlined by “RuPaul’s Drag Race” stars Detox and Willam, with a lineup of local queens kicking off the evening. Expect community tabling, vendors, and food and drinks available for purchase. The event is free.

Say It Loud! BIPOC* Pride

Saturday, June 13 | Washington Park | 12 to 5 PM

In Our Own Voices marks a milestone this year with the 20th anniversary of Say It Loud! BIPOC* Pride! The celebration recognizes the contributions, resilience, and joy of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color within the LGBTQ+ community across the Capital Region. head to Washington Park for live music, food, vendors, and community all afternoon.

Capital Pride Parade and Festival 2026

Sunday, June 14 | Parade along State Street, Lark Street, Madison Avenue | Festival in Washington Park | 11:30 AM to 5 PM

The Capital Pride Parade and Festival is the largest Pride celebration in the Northeast outside of New York City and Boston. Presented by Hannaford Supermarkets and hosted by the Pride Center of the Capital Region, the parade steps off at 11:30 AM down State Street to Lark Street and onto Madison Avenue, leading into the festival at Washington Park, which runs until 5 PM. This year’s festival features a performance by David Archuleta, along with live music, food, a family carnival zone, and hundreds of vendors. The Pride Center, one of the oldest continuously operating LGBTQ+ community centers in the country, has served the region for more than 50 years.

Bethlehem Pride '26

Saturday, June 20 | First United Methodist Church, Delmar | 1 PM

Now in its third year, Bethlehem Pride brings the celebration to Delmar with a free, family-friendly festival at the First United Methodist Church on Kenwood Avenue. The event spreads across all three parking lots with a main stage, food vendors, and more than 30 arts, craft, and nonprofit booths. Vendors open at 1 PM and performances begin at 2 PM. Families can head to the Kid Zone for a bounce house, balloon art, and free face painting, henna, and glitter tattoos.

Pride Celebrations at the New York State Museum 

This year marks the 15th anniversary of New York’s Marriage Equality Act, and the New York State Museum is commemorating it with a new exhibition, New York Pride: The Fight for Marriage Equality. The exhibition traces the decades-long push for marriage equality in New York, from LGBTQ+ activism in the 1970s through the landmark 2011 law. On Tuesday, June 16 at noon, Senior Historian Ashley Hopkins-Benton leads a guided gallery tour through the exhibition. Admission to the museum is free.

Find More Pride Events on our Calendar

Those are just the headliners. Pride in Albany County runs all month and reaches every corner of the city, from drag brunches and trivia nights to gallery events, neighborhood celebrations, and late-night after-parties. Browse the full calendar below to plan your June.

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