Dallas Pride is proud to announce the official theme for the 2026 Pride Festival and Parade: “Rainbows Don’t Wash Away.”
The selection of this year’s theme serves as a direct response to a rising tide of challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community both in Texas and across the United States. From the physical removal of rainbow-painted sidewalks in local municipalities to broader legislative efforts to restrict transgender rights and omit LGBTQ+ narratives from history books, the message from Dallas Pride is clear: Our existence is not temporary, and our history is not erasable.
A Message of Resilience
“Rainbows Don’t Wash Away” is more than just a slogan; it is a declaration of permanence. Despite attempts to “power-wash” queer visibility out of the public square, the spirit of the community remains deeply rooted in the fabric of Dallas.
We have seen the attempts to quiet our voices and scrub our symbols from the streets. But Pride isn’t just paint on a crosswalk—it is the lived experience, the history, and the unbreakable resolve of our people. You can remove a sign, but you cannot wash away our truth.
2026 Focus Areas
This year’s programming will emphasize the core pillars of the “Rainbows Don’t Wash Away” campaign:
- Preserving History: Showcasing the local legends and milestones that shaped the Dallas LGBTQ+ movement.
- Standing with our Trans Community: Direct advocacy and visibility for transgender and non-binary individuals facing legislative hurdles.
- Community Visibility: Encouraging local businesses and residents to display their colors even more vibrantly in the face of pushbacks.
Event Details
The 2026 Dallas Pride celebration will feature the signature Festival of Rainbows and the inaugural Sunset Parade on Main. Attendees can expect a day filled with local art, diverse performances, and a community marketplace that celebrates the intersectional identities of the North Texas region.
- What: Dallas Pride Festival and Parade, downtown Dallas
- Theme: “Rainbows Don’t Wash Away”
- Festival: Main Street Garden Park, Pegasus Plaza (11 am – 10 pm)
Pacific Plaza, Harwood Park (11 am – 6pm) - Parade: Main Street from Field Street to Harwood Street (7 pm – 9 pm)
- When: Saturday, June 6, 2026
Dallas Pride invites all community members, allies, and advocates to join us in showing the world that our colors are permanent.