Chicago celebrates Pride with 55th annual parade
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago's Pride Parade returned with color, music, and celebration on a near-perfect summer day, drawing hundreds of thousands of people along a 2-mile route from Broadway and Halsted to Lincoln Park.
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The festivities kicked off right on schedule, setting the tone for a day centered on visibility and celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. Paradegoers packed the route from start to finish, some attending for the first time and others continuing long-standing traditions.
Watch the full parade:
The 55th annual parade featured colorful floats, decorated vehicles, musical talent, walking contingents, and local government officials all in support of the LGBTQIA+ community.
"It's always beautiful and amazing and a great time," said Kryssy Albert, a parade-goer.
For many, the event was about the welcoming atmosphere as much as the spectacle.
"It's great. I love it. Everybody is so welcoming," said Jackie Padilla.
Others reflected on years of participation.
"Since I was 18. Since I came out," said Sergio Navarrete.
"My first one I was 16. I'm 32 now, and here we are. Still gay. Still proud," said Krissy Albert.
Carolina Cervanez said attending Pride has become an annual ritual.
"I love this every year bright and early. Put the tents out. We love celebrating," she said.
Chicago Pride has grown significantly since its beginnings in 1970, when no more than 150 people gathered for the first ever Gay Liberation March in the Loop. Since then the event has evolved into one of the nation's largest celebrations of the LGBTQ+ community, drawing families, longtime supporters and first-time attendees.
Therese Weimholt said bringing children to the parade is especially meaningful.
"It's important for them to see and be exposed to it. Especially in today's world. Values are changing. It's super important to be out here and be supportive of a community that is in danger frankly," she said.
ABC7's Val Warner and Hosea Sanders hosted the Chicago Pride Parade broadcast with Jason Knowles, capturing all the action live from the street. LGBTQIA+ community advocates will join the festivities, including Cody LaGrow (Emmy Award-winning journalist) and Kim Hunt (LGBT Hall of Fame and senior director of AIDS Initiative Chicago).
"ABC7 Chicago is proud of our decades-long commitment to pride, and we are thrilled to be the only Chicago station presenting two hours of live parade coverage on multiple platforms," said John Idler, president and general manager of ABC7 Chicago. "The station commitment extends well beyond the June celebration, and we look forward to great storytelling all year.
While drag performers brought signature flair and drama, elected officials also joined the celebration, alongside members of the ABC7 family.
"Everything has been going so wonderful. The crowd is energetic. Awesome," said Melissa Sanchez.
Scott Handley said the parade represents the full diversity of the community.
"I know we have a long alphabet in the gay community. But it really is to represent absolutely every little group you could be a part of and we want to bring them all together," he said.
Tracy Baim, Mona Noriega, Evette Cardona and The Alliance of Illinois Judges were the 2026 community grand marshals.
The annual parade celebration commemorates the Stonewall Riots, which occurred June 28, 1969, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City. Chicago's Pride Parade takes place the same weekend in the summer, replacing what was once a fight for civil rights with dazzling displays of hope and perseverance.
The 2026 theme is "Free to be Proud."
Organizers say the theme affirms "that the freedom to live openly, love authentically, and exist safely is neither abstract nor guaranteed."
Before the parade stepped off, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed three new bills, aimed at strengthening protections for the LGBTQ+ community, into law.
One safeguards the medical information of people receiving gender-affirming care.
The second expands access to hormone therapy, and the third ensures people can select the gender that appears on their state IDs.
The law protecting medical information went into effect immediately. The others take effect on Jan. 1.
All roads along the parade route reopened at 4 p.m., though parking restrictions in the area remain in place until 8 p.m.
The parade stepped off at 11 a.m. at Grace Street and Broadway and continued south along Broadway, then south on Halsted Street, east along Belmont Avenue to Broadway, then south to Diversey Parkway and east to Cannon Drive.
Residents, attendees and participants were told to anticipate street closures as early as 7:30 a.m. for participant staging areas and parade route closures beginning as early as 8:30 a.m., or as the crowd dictates for safety issues, including Irving Park Road and Wellington Avenue at Broadway and Addison Street, Grace and Roscoe Street at Halsted. Streets are expected to fully reopen by 4 p.m. or when deemed safe to do so.
SEE ALSO: Chicago police, organizers prepare for large crowds, heightened security for 2026 Pride Parade
Pedestrian crossings are located at: Addison at Halsted, Cornelia Street at Halsted, Buckingham Place at Halsted, Briar Place at Broadway and Wellington at Broadway.
Parking restrictions in the area, which will be in effect and strictly enforced, will begin at 2 a.m. Sunday for the assembly area at Sheridan and Broadway and the parade route. Call 311 to located towed vehicles.
Cooling buses, if needed, will be available at Addison west of Halsted, Roscoe west of Halsted, Belmont east of Broadway, Wilton Avenue north of Belmont, Waveland between Broadway and Halsted and Belmont westbound between Halsted and Clark Street.
Drones without Federal Aviation Administration waivers are not allowed in the area.
Visit https://pridechicago.org/ for more information.
