OKLAHOMA CITY – After three days of music, drag performances, art, and wellness programming, PrideFest 2026 has come to a close at Scissortail Park. But while Pride Month is ending, organizers say their work is far from over.
Held June 26-28 under this year’s theme, “Community in Bloom,” the festival brought thousands of people to downtown Oklahoma City for one of the state’s largest 2SLGBTQIA+ celebrations.
Attendees watched headlining performances from singer-songwriter Joy Oladokun, Indigenous musician Samantha Crain, performer Tacey and RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Bob the Drag Queen, while Artist Avenue, wellness activities, Latin Pride programming, a Two-Spirit Festival and a Community Zone offered opportunities to connect beyond the entertainment.
This year’s festival connected attendees to healthcare providers, advocacy organizations and community groups offering information on services ranging from mental health resources to housing assistance and STI testing.
For Oklahoma Pride Alliance Vice President and President-Elect Apryl Awbry, those connections are the heart of PrideFest.
“We hear all too often about youth taking their own lives, violence and misinformation,” Awbry told Free Press in an interview. “When we’re able to have visibility, education, resources and joy on the scale that we’re putting together, it really does provide the space and the opportunity to save lives. If we can do that for one person, it makes growing every year all the more important.”
That philosophy extends beyond a single weekend for Oklahoma Pride Alliance. PrideFest serves as the nonprofit’s signature event, but the volunteer-run organization spends the rest of the year focused on creating spaces where 2SLGBTQIA+ Oklahomans can find community, resources and support.
“The more people know about those resources,” Awbry said, “the more we can build those connections for queer people throughout the year, beyond just festival weekend.”
SLIDESHOW: Performers at PrideFest 2026 in OKC (ZOE.ELROD/Okla City Free Press)
2SLGBTQIA+ Community Year-Round
While PrideFest draws the largest crowds, Oklahoma Pride Alliance has continued expanding its programming throughout the year, hosting everything from pickleball to film screenings to walking club, and the annual Rainbow Awards, celebrating Queer icons in Oklahoma City.
One of its newest initiatives is Queer Social Club, a monthly gathering created simply to give LGBTQ+ people a place to spend time together outside of major events. The club has led a variety of activities, including arcade games and board games.
“We have a lot of opportunities for parties, and we have our sports programs and things like that,” Awbry said. “But we really didn’t have a time for people to get together and just hang out and chill throughout the year.”
The gatherings have quickly attracted strong attendance, offering people an opportunity to build connections without the structure of a formal event.
Oklahoma Pride Alliance board member Piper Tully addressed the crowd at the 2026 PrideFest and spoke about the Queer Social Club, saying the new programming is “how they celebrate Pride year-round.”
“We all know this is about creating community for us and by us, because no one is free until all of us are free,” Tully said to the crowd.
Pride by the People
As Oklahoma Pride Alliance expands its programming, organizers say funding continues to be one of the organization’s biggest challenges.
Unlike many large Pride celebrations, the organization says it has intentionally become more selective about corporate sponsorships, instead emphasizing community support through its Pride by the People campaign.
Launched in 2025, the initiative was created with the goal of keeping PrideFest community-powered while reducing reliance on corporate funding.
This year’s campaign has a goal of raising $100,000 to support future PrideFest celebrations as well as year-round programming. The campaign had reached nearly 12% of its goal by the close of Pride weekend and will continue accepting donations throughout the year.
According to Oklahoma Pride Alliance officials, the funds help keep PrideFest free to attend while supporting expanded programming, more accessible event spaces, performances by 2SLGBTQ+ artists and partnerships with local organizations serving Oklahoma’s queer community.
SLIDESHOW: PrideFest attendees take in programming and community resources at the 2026 PrideFest (ZOE.ELROD/Okla City Free Press)
A Changing Landscape
Organizers say community fundraising has become increasingly important as many companies reconsider how they support Pride events.
“We are very specific about where we choose to collect corporate sponsor dollars from,” said Awbry. “We try to really weigh each sponsorship opportunity against their values and how they align with our values as an organization. Every year it gets tougher and tougher to find partners that we truly align with.”
PrideFest Parade Chair Stephen Fitzsimmons said the changing political climate has made celebrating Pride feel even more significant.
SLIDESHOW: The 2026 Pride Parade in Downtown Oklahoma City (ZOE.ELROD/Okla City Free Press)
“The climate right now is very anti-Pride,” Fitzsimmons pointing to companies scaling back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and reducing Pride-related support. “What Pride means to me is to do it anyway. We have to keep doing it, regardless of the political climate right now. It’s really, really important that we celebrate Pride and that we celebrate it in a big way.”
Oklahoma Pride Alliance is continuing monthly programs and building toward PrideFest 2027.
While Pride Month has come to an end this year, organizers say the work of creating spaces for visibility, connection and belonging continues year-round.
Zoe Elrod covers events and happenings around Oklahoma City for Free Press bringing her skill as a reporter and photographer. Zoe has spent her career covering local musicians, artists, politicians, and everyday folks.
