By Valerie Milano
San Diego, Ca (The Hollywood Times) 7/10/26 – The Hollywood Times is proud to return as a media partner for San Diego Pride, one of the largest and most influential LGBTQIA+ celebrations in the country.
Taking place July 11–19, San Diego Pride 2026 brings together a full week of marches, rallies, spiritual gatherings, live entertainment and community events under this year’s theme, “Pride Shines On.”
I recently spoke with Joslyn Hatfield, Director of Marketing Communications for San Diego Pride, about the meaning behind the theme and what attendees can expect from this year’s celebration.
“I think the theme this year really represents the resilience of our community and our ability to shine on despite the darkness,” Hatfield said. “Despite how challenging and just downright awful things can get sometimes.”
Click below for our exclusive interview:
That message feels especially important as LGBTQIA+ people continue to confront attacks on their rights, healthcare, safety and freedom of expression.
Rather than limiting Pride to one weekend, San Diego Pride offers a week-long schedule designed to give different parts of the community opportunities to gather, celebrate and be seen. Pride Week begins with the return of the San Diego Pride Dyke March on Saturday, July 11, followed by community events throughout the week and the main Pride weekend July 17–19.
The revival of the San Diego Pride Dyke March is one of the most meaningful additions to this year’s celebration.
Beginning at 11 a.m. at Mo’s in Hillcrest, the march will travel to Gossip Grill for an after-party. Organizers describe it as an act of visibility, resistance, joy and solidarity for lesbians, queer women, transgender and nonbinary people, gender-expansive communities and everyone who identifies with its spirit of courage and refusal to be erased.
Hatfield told The Hollywood Times that the event is personally meaningful to her.
“The Dyke March is such an event that is so near and dear to my heart,” she said. “It’s such an expression of power and authenticity.”
She explained that the march honors the often-unrecognized contributions of lesbians and queer women throughout LGBTQIA+ history.
“It’s really a celebration of the historic role that lesbians and queer women have played within the movement, which is often unsung,” Hatfield said.
After a hiatus of several years, bringing the march back is also about reclaiming space during Pride Week and recognizing the leadership the community needs today.
“We’re looking to bring it back in this moment because we’re really seeking and needing that leadership from queer women,” she said.
San Diego Pride Week continues with Light Up the Cathedral, a free, interfaith gathering presented in collaboration with St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Hatfield described it as a welcoming, nondenominational event that allows the community to begin Pride Week from a spiritual place.
“It really just sets the tone for the community to kick off Pride Week in a spiritual capacity,” she said. “It’s interfaith, it’s welcoming for everyone.”
The Spirit of Stonewall Rally will take place Friday, July 17, at 6 p.m. at 535 Robinson Avenue, across from The Brass Rail. The rally honors the origins of the LGBTQIA+ movement while recognizing current community leaders and calling attendees to action.
Hatfield said the rally helps keep the celebration connected to both its history and the work that remains ahead.
“It is really a celebration of the origins of our movement,” she said. “It keeps us dialed in on where we came from and what the work is ahead.”
This year’s keynote speaker will be actress and activist Hailie Sahar, known for her groundbreaking role on the television series Pose.
“She is just such an amazing activist,” Hatfield said. “She is the first transgender person to do so many things in media.”
Hatfield added that Sahar’s work and cultural influence make her an especially fitting voice for the Stonewall Rally.
“It felt like a really good fit to help us ground ourselves in the movement, the work that we have done and the work that we need to do moving forward.”
The Spirit of Stonewall Awards will also recognize individuals and organizations making a difference in San Diego’s LGBTQIA+ community.
“Community leadership is everything to Pride,” Hatfield said. “These are people who are doing amazing work for the community, often unsung.”
She said the awards provide an important opportunity to celebrate people whose work continues throughout the entire year.
“It’s such an amazing way to celebrate folks who are doing great work in the community and bring that into San Diego Pride Week.”
The San Diego Pride Parade will step off Saturday, July 18, at 10 a.m. in Hillcrest.
Recognized as the region’s largest single-day civic event and one of the largest Pride parades in the United States, the parade is expected to welcome more than 250,000 people along its 1.5-mile route. Admission is free.
Hatfield noted that while construction may affect parking and access around Hillcrest, it will not change the parade itself.
“The parade route remains the same,” she said. “It goes down University and then turns up toward Balboa Park and empties into the festival.”
The Pride 5K Run and Walk will also take place Saturday morning at 8 a.m. near Centre Street and University Avenue. The annual event attracts approximately 1,700 participants and raises money for San Diego Pride and The San Diego LGBT Community Center’s Youth Housing Project.
Following the parade, the celebration continues at the San Diego Pride Festival, July 18–19 at Marston Point in Balboa Park.
The two-day music festival features more than 100 artists, multiple stages, vendors, community resources and entertainment led this year by headliners including MARINA and Krewella.
The festival is also the primary fundraiser supporting San Diego Pride’s nonprofit programs and philanthropy.
“The ticket sales for the festival are the largest revenue generator for our nonprofit organization,” Hatfield explained. “Rather than buying a ticket to a gala, you’re buying a ticket to a fabulous two-day music festival.”
Festival revenue supports San Diego Pride’s year-round advocacy, education, arts, culture and Pride 365 programs. The organization has also distributed more than $2.5 million through community philanthropy supporting LGBTQIA+ causes locally, nationally and globally.
Hatfield said smaller nonprofit organizations are invited to apply for grant funding at the end of the year.
“That’s a great example of how those funds are distributed directly right back into the community,” she said.
One-day, weekend and VIP festival passes are available. High school-aged youth and younger may attend free by obtaining tickets at the box office, while seniors 65 and older can purchase discounted $15 general-admission tickets onsite. Volunteers can also earn free admission.
Accessibility remains a central part of San Diego Pride’s planning.
The organization provides accessible seating, transportation options, mobility accommodations, services for visually impaired attendees and a dedicated accessible festival entrance. San Diego Pride also employs a staff member focused specifically on accessibility and works with a large volunteer accessibility team.
“San Diego Pride is actually one of the most accessible Prides in the world, but certainly in the nation,” Hatfield said.
She explained that inclusion is not treated as an afterthought.
“It is really baked into everything that we do throughout the year, and it’s something that we’re very, very proud of.”
Senior Sunday is especially close to Hatfield’s heart because of the role older LGBTQIA+ pioneers played in shaping the movement.
“I’ve been profoundly shaped by a lot of the senior, early movement leaders in both San Diego Pride history and LGBTQ history,” she said.
Creating events that welcome people across the spectrum of age and ability ensures that everyone has an opportunity to return, participate and feel valued.
For someone attending San Diego Pride for the first time, Hatfield hopes the experience becomes a memory they carry throughout their life.
“We all remember our first Pride,” she said.
Her advice is to explore the many different events, find the spaces that feel comfortable and allow the experience to unfold naturally.
“San Diego Pride Week has truly something for everyone,” she said. “People can tap in where it feels right and good and appropriate.”
Most importantly, she hopes attendees leave feeling less alone.
“What we really hope people take away is joy and love, a feeling of community and finding somewhere that they belong,” Hatfield said. “Joy and love and being seen.”
The Hollywood Times and Aspiring Magazine are honored to continue supporting San Diego Pride as media partners. We look forward to once again joining the celebration and sharing the people, stories and organizations that make San Diego Pride such a powerful force for visibility and change.
San Diego Pride 2026
Pride Week: July 11–19, 2026
Spirit of Stonewall Rally: Friday, July 17
Pride Parade: Saturday, July 18
Pride Festival: Saturday and Sunday, July 18–19
Location: Hillcrest and Balboa Park, San Diego
