WorldPride Amsterdam 2026 is fast approaching, and the city is heating up – in just a few weeks, Amsterdam will become the momentary centre of all things LGBTQIA+ Pride around the world, and we couldn’t have thought of a more fitting location for this year’s festivities. That’s not only because Rob Jetten became the first openly gay Prime Minister of the Netherlands earlier this year, and several anniversaries celebrate the country’s achievements towards greater inclusion of queer people, but also because Amsterdam has stood as a beacon of progressiveness in a world caught in a storm. To help you celebrate in style, here is our official WorldPride Amsterdam 2026 guide!
WorldPride Amsterdam 2026 is set to be unmissable. The annual canal parade is legendary as is, with visitors flooding the city to celebrate along the canal and boats full of party people passing by. This year, the celebrations will be kicked up to another level by the addition of WorldPride and the 25th anniversary of Amsterdam hosting the world’s first legal gay marriage.
The local parade is still on the first Saturday in August. Now, however, there are events as different as daytime markets and club nights from July 8 through August 8. There’s so much going on, it can be hard to narrow it down. But trust us in doing so anyway (and thank us later): Here are The Experientialist’s top suggestions for events, performances, and parties around WorldPride Amsterdam… See you there!
Events
Pride March and Pride Park, July 25
Happening a week before the canal parade, this is many Amsterdammers’ kick-off for Pride. It begins with a joyful march from Dam Square to Vondelpark, where there’s a market, food trucks, and performances. More importantly, it’s a chance to sit in the sun with your friends – and meet new ones.
You might be surprised to see the Salvation Army giving out water with rainbow signs saying, “God Loves You Just the Way You Are”. The Salvation Army here was shaped by a woman who was friends with the owner of the first gay bar and didn’t believe in judging others. On that note, WorldPride is organising a parade to end festivities on August 8 that will be larger and give a podium to international organisations.
Queer Power at the Eye Film Museum, June 26 to September 2
All summer, the museum hosts screenings, talks, and events around international queer cinema. It’s a way to make connections amongst the international crowd gathering for WorldPride. It can also take you across the water to the Noord neighbourhood, a vibrant multicultural neighbourhood of artists and activists from both the Netherlands and further afield. It’s a side of Amsterdam you must see.
Queer Heroes Walk, July 8 to August 8
Part of Pride is remembering that we come from a line of heroes. For centuries, LGBTQIA+ people have fought not just for each other, but for a better world for everyone. Unfortunately, this story often gets narrowed down to the fight for queer rights. That’s why we at Badass Tours run a tour every evening during Pride that tells these incredible stories.
WorldPride Village, August 5-8
Amsterdam’s famous Museumplein will be taken over by food trucks and stages. It will combine music, performances, and conversation with an opportunity to keep the Pride party going. Best of all, it boasts a wedding chapel for couples who want to mark our community’s anniversary by renewing or making their own vows.
Performances
Unwanted Words at Theater Bellevue, July 9
The queer poetry collective, which recently published its second Queer and Feminist Poetry Anthology, produces events that include poetry and storytelling across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum and the breadth of a community with roots all over the world. On the intimate Klein Bellevue stage, visitors will get an entertaining and thought-provoking look into their varied experiences.
LGBTQ Storytelling at Mezrab House of Stories, July 28
Live storytelling is a popular art form in Amsterdam, and Mezrab is its spiritual home. Its international community performs in what feels like a living room that’s expanded to hold a wide cross-section of Amsterdam. This storytelling night by and about Amsterdam’s broad LGBTQIA+ community will surprise and move you.
Trans Podium at Paradiso, August 6
This event celebrates our trans community by giving them a stage to share their talents. The evening includes everything from music to spoken word to unheard performances. It’s a celebration of trans voices and personal expression, and it’s becoming a beloved tradition in a cosy performance space in a former church.
Parties
Milkshake Festival, July 25-26
This massive electronic dance festival focuses on underrepresented artists. As they say, “Life is a party thanks to the great diversity of skin colours, body shapes, sexual preferences, and gender identities”. People come from all over the country to celebrate in a place that’s welcoming to everyone (there are even buses to get people safely to and from the festival). Get your tickets early; the festival tends to sell out.
Street parties, especially the Reguliersdwarstraat, July 31
The night before Pride is always epic. Friday night before WorldPride Amsterdam might just take down the whole city. Any street party will be great, but we recommend the Reguliersdwarsstraat, the colourful centre of Amsterdam’s queer nightlife. Local clubs and bars will be packed, but some of the best partying will be on the closed street between them. If you can get in, pregame at queer punk space Café de Lellebel around the corner.
Canal Parade, August 1
No matter how late you stay at Reguliersdwarsstraat, make sure to get to the Prinsengracht early to snag your spot. The closer you are to Westerkerk, the closer you are to the massive party, but the Amstel can be an easier place to grab a seat. The small canal is packed with people drinking and dancing. Many allies are attending wearing rainbows, though, so make sure your gaydar is up and running.
The end of the parade means the parties turn up a notch, and the home base for extravagance is the Homomonument. If you’re looking for a more female- and enby-oriented space, head over to Café Saarein on the Elandstraat. The Caribbean restaurant Waterkant on the Marnixstraat is a more BIPOC-oriented venue. Or, if you’re partied out, you can head to the world-famous Concertgebouw to sit and listen to Our People, a concert celebrating Black and queer voices.
There is so much more to see and do, so let this be your inspiration, not the end of your planning. In a turbulent year, WorldPride in Amsterdam looks to be a truly joyful immersion in art, parties, and queer culture. Happening only 25 years after the world’s first gay marriage, it’s both a sign of how far we’ve come and a call to work towards where we need to go. Perhaps most importantly, it’s a chance to relax into community.
This article was produced in collaboration with Badass Tours, the Amsterdam-based walking tour company giving visitors to the city a behind-the-scenes look at iconic, yet frequently overlooked sites that tell the stories of diverse people who have shaped it: from LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities to women’s history and Jewish history.
Photography courtesy of The Amsterdamian and via Unsplash
