A community cultural event filled weekend, featuring artists including CowGays, Dominique Sanchez, Alexis Mateo, Lydia von Hof, Kai Coggin, and Athena Sinclair.
LITTLE ROCK, AR, UNITED STATES, September 10, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — 14th annual 2026 Arkansas PRIDEFest Weekend Oct 15-18th, Little Rock, AR
Central Arkansas Pride proudly presents the historic 14th Annual 2026 Arkansas PRIDEFest Weekend, Thursday, October 15 through Sunday, October 18th, 2026—and this year, making history again with a four-day celebration: From Capitol Avenue in Downtown Little Rock to the largest and longest-running gay bar in the Mid-South, Triniti/Discovery Night Club, the original home of the Miss Gay America pageant! That’s right! Gather and celebrate in sight of the Arkansas Capitol along Capitol Ave, plus other culturally significant venues across Little Rock—uniting as a powerful, joyful force for equality, visibility, and celebration.
2026 Theme: UNITED IN PRIDE
This year’s theme is more than just words—it’s a movement. “UNITED IN PRIDE” reflects the strength of the shared history, our cross-generational resilience, and the power of solidarity in the face of adversity. As the community continues to stand strong—from the legislative halls to the dance floor—this theme reminds the community that strength is in unity.
Proud to stand arm-in-arm with fellow organizations, including SOMA Pride, Little Rock Black Pride, and all Pride organizations from across the state, and celebrate all the ways Arkansas shows up for love, identity, and community.
14th annual 2026 Arkansas PRIDEFest weekend is now a four-day event. Visit arpride.org
Thursday, October 15th, 2026: Central Arkansas Pride Pageant Miss /Mr/ Mx. A celebration of impersonation and performance art pageantry, including a star-studded show of former winners. Trinti Night Club Time: 6 PM- 11 PM Address: 1021 Jessie Road, Little Rock, AR 72202. 18+ venue with small cover charge. Portions of proceeds dedicated to upcoming history project to highlight LGBTQIA+ leaders in Arkansas.
Friday, October 16th, 2026: “Arkansans for Autonomy” is showcasing Pride With Purpose as we join other nonprofits in the area for a day of advocacy training at the Arkansas State Capitol. Training is from 2- 5 p.m. at 500 Woodlane Street, Little Rock, AR 72201. All ages are welcome. Free to attend.
Friday, October 16th, 2026: Arkansas PRIDEFest Meet and Greet. Featuring an evening of Spoken Word with headliners KAI COGGIN, Inaugural Poet Laureate of Hot Springs, AR, Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellow, hosting, and Indie performance artist LYDIA VON HOF, along with local artists including Bryan Borland, Toni Garcia-Butler, Caroline Earleywine, Raven Rose, and Skyler Jay Shankles. The evening will close with an open mic for the LGBTQIA+ community and allies. Time: 5 PM- 10 PM. Address: Vino’s Brew Pub, the longest-running craft brewery in Little Rock. Address: 923 West 7th Street, LR, AR 72201. An 18+ venue. Entry is $10, with a portion of proceeds going to Arkansans for Autonomy.
Saturday, October 17th, 2026 14th annual ARKANSAS PRIDEFEST AND PARADE
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
1110 W Capitol Ave, Little Rock, AR 72201
Free to attend, an all-ages event for the state to showcase the LGBTQIA+ community and our allies as we complete our mission of educating, inspiring, and uniting to build a better, more inclusive Arkansas.
-Arkansas PRIDEFest Parade
Join the community on Capitol Avenue from Arch Street to Pulaski Street for a vibrant celebration of love and liberation with peace, joy, and resilience! Parade kicks off at 11 AM—registration is FREE and open now at arpride.org. Bring your floats, flags, your friends, and your fiercest outfits! Volunteer to carry our parade flag at arpride.org
-Arkansas PRIDEFest Highlights
A community cultural celebration with LGBTQIA+ entertainers, vendor booths, food trucks, community organizations, interactive zone, businesses, and headlining performances by national and many of Arkansas’s world-class LGBTQIA+ artists! We are proud to announce our 2026 headliners: ADAM MAC, country queer artist and Billboard rookie of the year; ALEXIS MATEO, Puerto Rican drag queen, TV personality, and fashion designer; DOMINIQUE SANCHEZ, legendary drag artist and multi-pageant titleholder; and ATHENA SINCLAIR, former Miss Gay America Arkansas and Hairwitch owner. Featuring KAI COGGIN, poet, and LYDIA VON HOF, indie artist, and DJ Kecia. We will offer nonstop entertainment, featuring performances by Arkansas’s talented artists, including drag, spoken word, vocalists, and bands. Bring your lawn. For more details on the lineup, visit arpride.org for artist biographies. Contact Tasha, our Festival Director, at tasha@arpride.org with additional questions. Free to attend and open to all ages. Applications for vendors, parade, and food trucks are now open: https://www.eventeny.com/events/14th-annual-2026-central-arkansas-pride-fest-and-parade-saturday-october-17-2026-25037/
Sunday, October 18th: AR PRIDEFest BRUNCH. Theme: United in Pride, with a panel discussion exploring your power at the Capitol and storytelling about engaging with our legislators. With performances by our host, Athena Sinclair, Dominique Sanchez, DJ Kecia, and local drag performance artists. An all-ages event. Mosaic Templars Cultural Center. Time: 11 am-1 pm. Address:501 West 9th Street, Little Rock, AR 72201. Cost: $25.
Sunday, October 18th: Arkansas PRIDEFest at the Hall with the COWGAYS, an American queer country music supergroup formed in Nashville by Brooke Eden, Adam Mac, and Chris Houseman, with special guests Athena Sinclair, Beau Davis, Alura O’Shaunacy, and Gene the Machine. An all-ages venue. Tickets available at the Hall’s website, littlerockhall.com. Time: 6 pm- 10:30 pm. Address:721 West 9th Street, Little Rock, AR 72201. A portion of the proceeds supports Central Arkansas Pride’s 365 programming.
Let’s Keep PRIDE Alive Year-Round
Central Arkansas Pride is more than a one-day event. Proud to offer 365 days of community programming—from CAP Day at the Magic Springs Water Park to National Coming Out Day, our Youth Leadership Academy, and supporting statewide Pride celebrations.
We are a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit with an all-volunteer team advocating in the Deep South with limited resources as we complete our mission of educating, inspiring, and uniting the LGBTQIA+ community and allies. Anyone who shares our passion and vision for families, artists, businesses, and organizations is welcome to help build a better Arkansas.
Check out upcoming events and resources anytime at www.arpride.org.
How YOU Can Help: Donate or Sponsor at arpride.org
Central Arkansas Pride
Dolores Wilk
Central Arkansas Pride
+1 501-519-0137
email us here
Visit us on social media:
Instagram
Facebook
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability
for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this
article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Media gallery
