Tucson Pride Gone, Parade Cancelled

Tucson Pride is no more. The pride festival, originally scheduled for February 21, has been cancelled as well.

Tucson Pride’s Board of Directors announced the “difficult decision to close Tucson Pride as an organization” and cancel the Tucson Pride Festival in a Facebook post.

Dear Tucson Pride Community,

After thoughtful discussion and careful consideration, the Tucson Pride Board of Directors regrets to announce the cancellation of the Tucson Pride Festival scheduled for February 21, 2026.

Additionally, the newly appointed Board has made the difficult decision to close Tucson Pride as an organization.

This decision was not made lightly. We recognize the deep importance Tucson Pride has held in our community since 1977, serving as a space of visibility, advocacy, celebration, and resilience for nearly five decades. We are profoundly grateful to every volunteer, sponsor, artist, activist, and community member who has supported Tucson Pride throughout its history.

All funds received for the 2026 festival—including vendor fees, sponsorships, and other prepaid contributions—will be refunded within 30 to 90 days. We appreciate your patience as we ensure this process is handled responsibly and accurately.

We want to thank the Tucson LGBTQ+ community and its allies for your unwavering support, passion, and commitment over the years. Tucson Pride exists because of you, and its legacy will forever remain part of our city’s history.

With gratitude and respect,
The Tucson Pride Board of Directors

The “BITCH IT’S MY TURN” karaoke event, described as “a joyful, chaotic, big-hearted karaoke party benefiting Tucson Pride” scheduled for Saturday, January 24, has also been cancelled.

According to MinnPost, along with government grant funding “many U.S. corporations this year stopped supporting Pride events that celebrate LGBTQ+ culture and rights, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in budget shortfalls ahead of the summer festivities and raising questions about corporate America’s commitment to the cause.”

GayTucson reported that “missed filings in 2021–2022 temporarily suspended Tucson Pride’s 501(c)(3) status.”