A dynamic slate of LGBTQIA+ change-makers will headline the 2026 NYC Pride March, the world's largest and longest-running LGBTQIA+ demonstration
New York, NY, May 5, 2026 – NYC Pride | Heritage of Pride shares its full lineup of Grand Marshals for the 2026 NYC Pride March. Joining the ranks of honor this year are Dominique Jackson, Peppermint, Bernie Wagenblast, Bowen Yang, and Gays Against Guns. Nominated by our community and allies, the Grand Marshals were selected to celebrate and uplift their meaningful impact on the fight for LGBTQIA+ equality.
“Our Grand Marshals have blazed trails and opened doors in entertainment, media, and advocacy,” said NYC Pride Executive Director Im Lynde. “Their visibility alone is worth celebrating, but they are fighting for opportunity, support, and safety for our entire LGBTQIA+ community.”
As our trans siblings continue to be disproportionately harmed by the growing attacks on the LGBTQIA+ community, NYC Pride is grateful for the opportunity to honor three trans women among this year’s slate. Though just as important, their recognition alone is not enough. We must stay committed to centering their voices and honoring their history as we continue the fight for liberation - for all of us.
Since her culture-shifting run in POSE, Dominique Jackson has never strayed from the fight for LGBTQIA+ liberation. With the Bronx-based, trans-founded nonprofit Destination Tomorrow, she helped expand programs and services for local LGBTQIA+ communities. And working with local activists, she produced a documentary honoring Venus Xtravaganza and helped protect Venus’ childhood home as a historic landmark. Jackson said: “It is truly an honor to be named Grand Marshal for this year’s Pride. With recognition and celebration comes great responsibility—especially as part of a marginalized, oppressed, and often appropriated community. It means showing up, even when it is personally difficult. It means understanding that your impact on this world is real and ever-changing. This recognition does not make me better than anyone, nor does it place me above others as a leader—it makes me a living example of hope. And that hope must be carried with gratitude, humility, and respect, along with a commitment to keep moving forward. This honor empowers me to continue—standing firm in truth, in authenticity, and in purpose.”
Peppermint rose to fame as the first out trans contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race, but she has always been a force all her own. Recently making history as the first out trans woman to originate a principal role in a musical, Peppermint is a fierce advocate for diverse, authentic trans representation across entertainment. As the ACLU’s first Artist Ambassador for Trans Justice, she also raises funds for a variety of LGBTQIA+ organizations. Peppermint said: “Being named a Grand Marshal for NYC Pride is deeply meaningful to me, not just as an artist, but as a Black trans woman standing in the legacy of those who fought for us to be here. Pride has always been about visibility, resistance, and community, but this year, it feels especially urgent. To lead in this moment, in the birthplace of Pride, is both an honor and a responsibility I carry with purpose.”
If you have ever heard, “Please stand away from the platform edge,” on the NYC subway, you are already familiar with the work of the inimitable Bernie Wagenblast. A former radio personality and one of the most recognizable voices in our transit system, Bernie’s impact stretches far beyond her voiceover work. Socially transitioning in her 60s, she is a powerful example of the importance of living authentically - no matter where you are in your journey. Wagenblast said: “Visibility comes in many forms. In my case, it's by being a voice New Yorkers, and visitors to New York, hear in their daily travels. I hope it serves as a reminder that trans folks are part of everyday life and that it encourages others in their journeys toward authenticity.”
Bowen Yang became a household name as the first Chinese-American cast member on Saturday Night Live in 2019. With that platform, he helped usher in an era of authentic queer humor in mainstream media, earning an Emmy® for writing and becoming the most-nominated Asian male performer in Emmy® history in the process. He continues to shape and celebrate LGBTQIA+ culture - and pop culture at large - with his acclaimed Las Culturistas podcast and award show. Yang said: “The Pride March has held my best memories and also my most dehydrated. Please remember to drink water on the day. Being a Grand Marshal in the city that helped me find my community and my voice is incredibly special. Marsha P. Johnson was fighting for all of us, and we owe it to her to keep up that fight today.”
Gays Against Guns, a direct-action group of LGBTQIA+ people nonviolently challenging gun violence, was founded in direct response to the loss of 49 lives at Pulse Nightclub on June 12, 2016. Two weeks later, in a powerful symbol of solidarity and call for change, they rallied 1,000 activists for a “die-in” in the NYC Pride March. Gays Against Guns said: “We’re deeply honored to be named a Grand Marshal for NYC Pride. Ten years after our first Pride March, we are still grounded in the belief that visibility, public grief, and direct action can save lives. We show up as a visible reminder of the far too many lives lost to gun violence. Pride is rooted in protest, and this moment calls for continued direct action in the face of a simple truth: when hate is allowed to persist, queer lives are at risk.”
Our Grand Marshals will be joined by millions of spectators, supporters, and allies at the NYC Pride March, among the largest and longest-running LGBTQIA+ marches in the world, on Sunday, June 28, 2026. The Pride March will be broadcast live on WABC-7 from 12:00-3:00 p.m., featuring live performances and exclusive interviews with queer trailblazers.
NYC Pride’s other core events include PrideFest, the largest LGBTQIA+ street festival in the United States, on Sunday, June 28, 2026; and Youth Pride, an affirming celebration for LGBTQIA+ youth and their allies, on Saturday, June 27, 2026. NYC Pride’s full 2026 events calendar can be viewed at nycpride.org/2026events.
NYC Pride is made possible through the support of our community members and allies. To sustain our mission and continue creating spaces that serve and celebrate our LGBTQIA+ community, we invite everyone to help us reach our $100,000 fundraising goal at nycpride.org/donate. For volunteer opportunities and other ways to get involved, visit nycpride.org/volunteer.
Partnership opportunities are still available for the March, PrideFest and Youth Pride. Explore partnership opportunities here: nycpride.org/partnerships and reach out to partnerships@nycpride.org with ideas and opportunities to show up for the LGBTQIA+ community this year.
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Media Contacts:
Kevin Kilbride | Media and Marketing Manager
k.kilbride@nycpride.org
Chris Piedmont | Media and Communications Director
c.piedmont@nycpride.org
About NYC Pride | Heritage of Pride:
Heritage of Pride, Inc. is the volunteer-directed organization behind the official NYC Pride roster of events, rooted in a spirit of activism and advocacy for the entire LGBTQIA+ community. Each year, NYC Pride welcomes over 2.5 million spectators to the NYC Pride March with over 75,000 individuals marching. Additional marquee events include PrideFest and Youth Pride. Heritage of Pride’s mission is to work toward a future without discrimination where all people have equal rights under the law. We do this by producing LGBTQIA+ Pride events that inspire, educate, commemorate, and celebrate our diverse community year-round. For more information, including how to donate and volunteer, visit nycpride.org.
