From Hollywood celebrities and parade grand marshals to spectacular performances, community celebrations and thousands of rainbow flags, Palm Springs Pride 2026 delivered an unforgettable 40th anniversary.
Palm Springs, CA (The Hollywood Times) 11/10/26 – For four extraordinary decades, Palm Springs Pride has been more than a parade, a festival or a weekend of fabulous entertainment. It has been a celebration of identity, an expression of freedom, a commitment to equality and a reminder of what happens when a community comes together.
From November 6–8, 2026, Greater Palm Springs Pride celebrated its milestone 40th anniversary with the theme “Be Included,” bringing together LGBTQ+ residents, allies, entertainers, activists, community leaders and visitors from across the country.
The desert city transformed into a sea of rainbow flags, colorful floats, music, laughter, dancing and heartfelt moments of connection. From the bustling Arenas District to the historic streets of downtown Palm Springs, the anniversary celebration reflected both the progress made over the past 40 years and the work still ahead.
And at the center of it all was the highly anticipated Palm Springs Pride Parade, which brought Hollywood star power and hometown heroes together for one of the weekend’s most memorable celebrations.
A Parade Worthy of 40 Years of Pride
On Sunday morning, November 8, thousands of spectators lined Palm Canyon Drive for the 40th anniversary Greater Palm Springs Pride Parade.
Beginning at 10 a.m. at Tachevah Drive, the colorful procession traveled south through downtown Palm Springs toward Amado Road and the Pride Festival.
Spectators cheered as beautifully decorated floats, marching bands, classic automobiles, community organizations, elected officials, businesses, nonprofit organizations and enthusiastic participants made their way down the palm-lined boulevard.
The parade offered something for everyone: spectacular costumes, dazzling rainbow ensembles, lively music, creatively decorated vehicles and plenty of smiles.
Classic convertibles carrying dignitaries and honorees rolled through the streets, while marching groups proudly displayed banners representing their organizations and causes.
The Palm Springs High School Spirit of the Sands marching band added youthful energy and musical excitement to the procession. Community contingents, including animal welfare advocates and their four-legged companions, reminded spectators of the many different ways people contribute to the character of the Coachella Valley.
One of the most meaningful elements of the parade was seeing generations come together. Young people marched alongside longtime LGBTQ+ activists, while families, couples, friends and allies celebrated from the sidewalks.
For some, Pride was a joyous annual tradition. For others, it represented something much more personal: the freedom to be seen, accepted and celebrated.
Hollywood Stars and Community Heroes Lead the Celebration
The 2026 parade featured an outstanding lineup of grand marshals, recognizing individuals whose contributions to entertainment, advocacy and community service have made a lasting difference.
Fortune Feimster — National Grand Marshal
Beloved comedian, actress and writer Fortune Feimster brought her signature warmth, humor and infectious personality to the anniversary celebration.
Known for her stand-up comedy, television appearances and ability to connect with audiences through relatable storytelling, Feimster has become an important voice for LGBTQ+ visibility in entertainment.
Her selection as National Grand Marshal was especially fitting for a celebration centered on inclusion and authenticity.
Feimster also brought her comedy to the historic Plaza Theatre on Pride Sunday with her Takin’ Care of Biscuits (Encore) show.
Cheyenne Jackson — Celebrity Grand Marshal
Actor, singer and Broadway star Cheyenne Jackson was another highlight of the anniversary parade.
With an accomplished career spanning Broadway, television and film, including appearances in Glee, 30 Rock and American Horror Story, Jackson has used his platform to celebrate LGBTQ+ visibility and representation.
His participation brought an extra touch of Hollywood glamour to Palm Canyon Drive.
Jackson was also scheduled to bring his musical talents to the McCallum Theatre on Sunday evening, extending the Pride celebration beyond the parade.
Marshall Pearcy — Pride Royalty for Life
Palm Springs honored one of its most beloved entertainers and community figures, Marshall Pearcy, widely known as Dottie DuBois.
Pearcy’s designation as Pride Royalty for Life recognized decades of entertainment, fundraising and community involvement.
As part of the legendary Les Dames Du Soleil, Dottie DuBois helped establish an enduring legacy of drag entertainment and philanthropy in the Coachella Valley.
The recognition celebrated an entertainer whose contributions helped shape the local LGBTQ+ community long before Pride became the massive festival it is today.
Gary Moline — Community Grand Marshal
Longtime community advocate Gary Moline received recognition for more than 25 years of civic involvement and service to the LGBTQ+ community.
His contributions to Greater Palm Springs Pride, local organizations and community advocacy reflect the dedication that has helped the celebration grow and thrive.
Kataluna Enriquez, Marsha P. Johnson Grand Marshal
Model, fashion designer and transgender advocate Kataluna Enriquez was recognized as the Marsha P. Johnson Grand Marshal.
Named in honor of the pioneering transgender activist, the distinction celebrates individuals who advance transgender visibility, equality and community empowerment.
Enriquez’s participation highlighted the importance of ensuring that transgender voices remain visible and celebrated within the broader LGBTQ+ movement.
Together, these honorees reflected the diversity, strength, creativity and commitment that have defined Palm Springs Pride for four decades.
Leslie Barclay: Celebrating a Dear Friend and Dedicated LGBTQ+ Community Advocate
Among the many familiar faces celebrating the 40th anniversary of Palm Springs Pride was Leslie Barclay, a longtime LGBTQ+ community advocate, 2026 Pride Honors Community Service Award recipient, and someone I am proud to call a personal friend.
Leslie has spent decades supporting LGBTQ+ equality, inclusion, charitable organizations and community initiatives. Her commitment goes far beyond attending events or lending her name to a cause. She has consistently helped bring people, businesses and organizations together to strengthen the communities she cares about.
Through her professional involvement with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits and her longstanding community relationships, Leslie has contributed to initiatives that promote acceptance, opportunity and meaningful change.
It was especially wonderful to spend time with Leslie during this historic Pride celebration and capture another special photograph together.
For me, one of the greatest joys of covering Palm Springs Pride is celebrating people who have become friends over the years. Leslie is certainly one of those people, and seeing her recognized for her dedication to the community made this 40th anniversary even more meaningful.
Congratulations, Leslie, and thank you for everything you continue to do for our community!
PromoHomo.TV Brings the Parade to Viewers Everywhere
PromoHomo.TV Brings the Parade to Viewers EverywhereThe excitement extended well beyond the streets of downtown Palm Springs thanks to PromoHomo.TV, which provided live broadcast coverage of the anniversary parade.
Its broadcast team brought viewers close to the action, capturing the arrival of parade participants, grand marshals, community contingents, marching bands and colorful vehicles.
From the viewing area along Palm Canyon Drive, the cameras showcased not only the spectacular procession but also the personalities and stories that made the event meaningful.
The broadcast underscored the importance of independent LGBTQ+ media in documenting community history and making Pride accessible to people who could not attend in person.
For The Hollywood Times, which joined the festivities as a media partner, the weekend also offered opportunities to connect with fellow media professionals and celebrate the role of inclusive storytelling.
A Weekend of Music, Dancing and Celebration
Although Sunday’s parade was the centerpiece, the 40th anniversary festivities began well before the first floats traveled down Palm Canyon Drive.
Throughout Pride weekend, downtown Palm Springs and the Arenas District came alive with stages, entertainers, DJs, vendors, restaurants, bars and dance parties.
The festival marketplace offered visitors opportunities to explore merchandise, support local businesses, discover nonprofit organizations and connect with community resources.
More than 250 vendors, organizations and artists were expected to participate in the festivities, contributing to the welcoming, colorful atmosphere.
Festival entertainment included The Cowgays, Aubrey O’Day and a variety of regional performers, DJs and entertainers.
The historic Arenas District remained one of the celebration’s busiest destinations, with nightlife, live entertainment and outdoor festivities continuing throughout the weekend.
The best part of Palm Springs Pride has always been the combination of large public celebrations and the smaller, spontaneous moments of connection: running into old friends, making new ones, dancing to a favorite song or simply enjoying the freedom to celebrate together.
Jennifer Corday Brings Her Signature Energy to Pride
Singer, songwriter and LGBTQ+ entertainer Jennifer Corday, known professionally as Corday, brought her distinctive combination of rock, pop and high-energy stage performance to the festivities.
Corday has long been an enthusiastic supporter of LGBTQ+ audiences, and her participation in the 40th anniversary celebration added another memorable chapter to her connection with the community.
Her performance on the Corday Community Stage on Pride Sunday provided a spirited musical highlight.
With her unmistakable stage presence and audience connection, Corday helped keep the anniversary festivities going as the weekend approached its conclusion.
Her performances were also an opportunity to celebrate the musicians and independent artists who have helped make Palm Springs such an important destination for LGBTQ+ entertainment.
Hunter’s, Pulp Vixen and the Arenas District Keep the Party Going
Hunter’s, Pulp Vixen and the Arenas District Keep the Party GoingThe festivities also included memorable entertainment at Hunter’s Palm Springs, one of the Arenas District’s longtime gathering places.
Pulp Vixen brought its exciting performance style to the Pride celebrations, contributing to a weekend filled with live music, dancing and enthusiastic audiences.
The district’s restaurants, clubs and entertainment venues offered their own special events, turning the neighborhood into a lively celebration of music, friendship and community.
Palm Springs Pride’s continuing partnerships with local establishments demonstrate how important the city’s LGBTQ+-welcoming businesses have been to the growth and success of the annual celebration.
Hot Splash Brings Women Together at Nashville
Another highlight was Hot Splash, presented by Pamela Morgan at Nashville in Palm Springs.
The event brought women together for an energetic celebration of music, friendship, dancing and Pride.
Hot Splash reflected an important part of the weekend: creating spaces where LGBTQ+ women and their friends could celebrate, reconnect and enjoy their own community traditions.
With its lively atmosphere and enthusiastic participants, the gathering added another dimension to the many experiences that made Pride weekend so memorable.
Human Rights Campaign Celebrates 25 Years of Community
The 40th anniversary of Palm Springs Pride also coincided with another significant milestone: the 25th Annual Human Rights Campaign Palm Springs, Coachella Valley Garden Party.
Held on Saturday, November 7, at the historic Dinah Shore Estate, the event brought together more than 650 supporters, advocates, philanthropists and community leaders.
The anniversary theme, “25 Years of Community—Stronger Together,” emphasized the importance of continued advocacy and unity.
HRC President Kelley Robinson joined local and national leaders for a weekend that included the organization’s Convening for Change programming.
Among the Garden Party highlights was the recognition of celebrated photographer Michael Childers with the HRC Community Impact Award, honoring his artistic accomplishments and longstanding commitment to the community.
The weekend served as a reminder that Pride is not simply a party. It is also a platform for education, advocacy, fundraising and conversations about the future of LGBTQ+ rights.
A Pride Weekend Filled with Community Traditions
A Pride Weekend Filled with Community TraditionsThe celebrations stretched across the city and included events that reflected Palm Springs’ distinctive character.
The annual Palm Springs Pride 5K Run & Walk brought runners, walkers and volunteers together early Saturday morning in support of LGBTQ+ causes.
Before many residents had finished their morning coffee, volunteers were already preparing barricades, registration tables, water stations and the racecourse through the historic Old Las Palmas neighborhood.
The event illustrated another side of Pride: community members volunteering their time and energy to support something larger than themselves.
Other celebrations included the Pride flag unfurling at Desert Regional Medical Center, organized with Desert Care Network, and gatherings that brought residents, visitors, businesses and community organizations together.
The city also offered an abundance of private celebrations, pool parties, social gatherings and informal reunions, demonstrating that Pride is as much about personal connections as it is about large public events.
The Power of Inclusion After Four Decades
Palm Springs Pride began in 1986 with a much smaller community celebration. Over the years, it has evolved into one of Southern California’s most prominent LGBTQ+ events.
The first Palm Springs Pride Parade took place in 1992 with just 35 participating groups.
Four decades after that original celebration, the anniversary weekend demonstrated how dramatically the event, and the community around it—has grown.
But the message remains as important as ever.
The theme “Be Included” served as an invitation to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, background or generation, to take part in building a community founded on dignity, acceptance and respect.
The weekend was also an opportunity to recognize the activists, volunteers, business owners, nonprofit leaders, performers, sponsors and organizers whose dedication made this milestone possible.
Special recognition belongs to Greater Palm Springs Pride President Ron deHarte, Executive Director Jasmine Sullivan Waits, the organization’s staff, board, sponsors and countless volunteers who continue to sustain the celebration and its mission.
Looking Ahead: The Next 40 Years
As the final performers left the stages, the parade vehicles departed Palm Canyon Drive and the rainbow flags began coming down, the significance of the anniversary remained.
For 40 years, Greater Palm Springs Pride has brought people together, strengthened community bonds and helped create a place where LGBTQ+ individuals can live visibly and authentically.
The 2026 celebration offered plenty of unforgettable moments: Hollywood celebrities waving to cheering crowds, longtime community heroes receiving well-deserved recognition, talented musicians filling the streets with music and friends embracing beneath the desert sunshine.
But perhaps its greatest achievement was something beautifully simple.
For one extraordinary weekend, thousands of people came together to celebrate the freedom to be themselves.
And that is exactly what Pride should be.
Happy 40th Anniversary, Palm Springs Pride. Here’s to the next 40 years of love, visibility, equality and inclusion!
By Valerie Milano, The Hollywood Times
The Hollywood Times was proud to participate as a media partner during the 40th anniversary celebration of Greater Palm Springs Pride.
For more information about Greater Palm Springs Pride, visit www.pspride.org.
