Palm Springs Pride Marks 40 Years With Parade
The weekend celebration concluded Sunday with a parade along Palm Canyon Drive, themed "Be Included."
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in LGBTQ+
Palm Springs Pride concluded its 40th anniversary weekend with a parade on Palm Canyon Drive. The Sunday parade ran from 10 a.m. to noon, from Tachevah Drive south to Amado Road.
Why it matters
The celebration marks four decades of Pride events in Palm Springs and drew an expected 220,000 attendees across the multi-day program. The event was projected to generate $38 million in direct economic impact for local hotels, restaurants and retail.
The celebration was projected to draw 220,000 attendees and generate $38 million in direct economic impact for local businesses. The 3.1-mile Saturday 5K run and walk, which began in the Old Las Palmas neighborhood, supported several LGBTQ+ nonprofit organizations.
The players
Fortune Feimster
Fortune Feimster is a comedian and actress who served as National Grand Marshal of the Palm Springs Pride Parade.
Cheyenne Jackson
Cheyenne Jackson is a actor and singer who served as Celebrity Grand Marshal of the Palm Springs Pride Parade.
Eisenhower Health
Eisenhower Health is a Coachella Valley health system that served as the official medical and first-aid provider for the weekend.
The details
The Sunday parade featured colorful floats, marching groups, community organizations and advocates, with Fortune Feimster as National Grand Marshal and Cheyenne Jackson as Celebrity Grand Marshal. Sign-language interpretation was provided, with deaf community seating on North Palm Canyon Drive north of Amado Road.
Timeline
Saturday, 8 a.m.: 5K run and walk begins in the Old Las Palmas neighborhood.
Saturday, 11 a.m.: Festival attractions begin, including marketplace and live entertainment.
Sunday, 10 a.m. to noon: Pride Parade runs along Palm Canyon Drive.
Culture Shift
The 40th anniversary of Palm Springs Pride reflects the event's four-decade continuity as a fixture of the desert city's cultural calendar. Its "Be Included" theme and multi-day format place it among the large community celebrations that now anchor the city's tourism economy.
Visitors and residents planning Palm Springs trips should expect heavy traffic and road closures along Palm Canyon Drive during parade hours. Eisenhower Health first-aid stations were located on Arenas Road between Hunters and Streetbar throughout the event.
The takeaway
The 40th anniversary celebration shows how Palm Springs Pride has grown into a large, multi-day event with significant economic reach. Readers planning to attend should allow extra travel time around the parade route and festival areas.
Further reading
Explore more coverage of LGBTQ+ news and culture in Palm Springs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KESQ.
