OutFront Kalamazoo Announces Kalamazoo Pride 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2026

CONTACT
Heather Sanford, Communications Manager
269-349-4234
heather@outfrontkzoo.org

KALAMAZOO, MI – OutFront Kalamazoo is thrilled to announce that Kalamazoo Pride will be returning to Arcadia Creek Festival Place on Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6, 2026. 

This year’s event may look different from previous years, as the City of Kalamazoo is expected to begin construction on Arcadia later this year. The City has been working diligently with OutFront to explore options that work within the construction schedule while keeping the City’s largest annual festival downtown. It was recently determined that Kalamazoo Pride can take place within the festival site as usual during downtown’s summer kick-off JumpstART weekend without impacting construction plans. One expected difference is that the park’s iconic bridge will not be accessible during the event due to safety concerns. Though additional adjustments are yet to be finalized, officials are confident that the site will be able to serve the event’s needs while ensuring safety and accessibility are maintained.

Kalamazoo Pride is downtown Kalamazoo’s largest summer festival and OutFront’s largest fundraising event of the year, with recent years bringing an average of 20,000 - 25,000 attendees from across the region. The proceeds of the event itself account for approximately 10% of OutFront’s annual budget, and brings irreplaceable tourism dollars to local businesses. 

This year’s event is expected to continue drawing in large audiences, with hip-hop soul artist Infinite Coles and glam-rock band Tony and the Kiki slated to co-headline the festival with Saturday night performances. Friday night will feature the annual Ms/Mx/Mr Kalamazoo Pride Pageant with local drag star Monique Madison returning for her fifth year as the pageant’s host. Additional performances by other local LGBTQIA+ artists are anticipated to join the lineup; the final schedule will be released online closer to the event.

With Kalamazoo Pride continuing to grow in size each year, the event’s organizers are excited to announce that this year’s event will be structured to feel more like a music festival, with multiple stages showing concurrent performances. 

“Pride is for everyone,” said OutFront’s Executive Director Christopher Terkos (he/him). “And this year’s festival is going to feel more dynamic than ever, as we bring ourselves that much closer to an event that truly reflects our community.”

Online ticket purchasing will be available soon. The “pay what you can” option that debuted last year is making a return, as well as a “pay it forward” option that will give purchasers the ability to pay an additional amount on top of the standard ticket price.

“We do not turn anyone away from Pride for lack of ability to pay,” said Terkos. “And when we debuted our ‘pay what you can’ option last year, we were honored by how many people offered to purchase extra tickets to cover the cost of those who can’t afford it. When we show up for each other like this, we are really proving that our queer community stands together, that we won’t be bullied into silence, and that we are not leaving anyone behind.”

Ticket purchasing, sponsorship and vendor registration, and volunteer information will be available soon at OutFrontKzoo.org/Pride. 

OutFront Kalamazoo is a non-profit, charitable organization whose mission is to create a just, inclusive, equitable, and supportive environment in Kalamazoo County for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions.

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