Amsterdam Pride

Pride Amsterdam is an annual festival celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community, with the highlight being the unique canal parade with its colorfully themed boats in Amsterdam’s canals. In 2026, it will be the host city to World Pride and Euro Pride.

Amsterdam Pride Date

Amsterdam Pride Parade is usually taking place on the first Saturday of August. The festivities start already start from one week before, leading up to the canal pride the Saturday after.

When is the Amsterdam Pride taking place in 2026?

The Amsterdam Pride Parade (Canal Pride) for 2026 is planned for Saturday, August 1. The festivities around pride start from July, 25 and last until August 8, extending the usual 9 days celebration by another week. On Saturday, July 25 is a Pride March in Amsterdam City Centre.

Pre-Pride events kick off the festivities a week before the parade and this time lasting until one week after Canal Pride. There are several stages around the city and a huge stage at Dam Square featuring many concerts all weekend long.

Amsterdam Canal Pride Route

The route typically begins at Oosterdok, continues along the Nieuwe Herengracht, and then travels through the Amstel and Prinsengracht canals, before concluding at Westerdok.

Come early and try to get a spot to sit down directly at the canals. Best spots are also the bridges where you can see the boats coming through.

Bring yourself a blanket and some drinks to enjoy and sit by the canal to enjoy the event.

Amsterdam Pride Starting Time

The Parade usually starts at 12:00 pm and concludes around 06:00 pm.

Key Facts

When did Amsterdam Pride first take place?

Amsterdam Pride was first held in 1996. It was established to celebrate freedom and diversity. Unlike many other pride events it did not start as a demonstration, but was intended as a festive celebration.

As distinctive feature introduced was the Canal Parade, where boats navigate the city’s historic canals, attracting thousands of spectators.

Over the years, the event has grown into a nine-day celebration, becoming one of the world’s most prominent celebrations of LGBTQIA+ culture and inclusivity.

How many visitors to Amsterdam pride?

The festival attracts up to 550.000 vistitors each year.

What is the theme of Amsterdam Pride in 2026?

Unity.

Guide to Amsterdam Pride

Amsterdam Pride is one of Europe’s most special Pride events. Unlike many other Prides, Amsterdam doesn’t limit the celebration to one parade or one stage. There’s something happening everywhere in the city center, from Thursday evening through Sunday night and beyond.

Why You Should Go

Amsterdam Pride isn’t just a parade, it’s a city-wide event, attracting people from all around the world.

Many visitors have already been in city the weekend before for Milkshake Festival, making Amsterdam Pride a natural continuation of the celebration. There are activities the whole week, but it really kicks off from Thursday night in front of the Prik bar and along the city’s vibrant gay streets.

From Friday evening, Dam Square becomes the heart of the pride weekend, featuring a huge stage, spectacular drag and live performances, hosting major events like the Mr. Gay Europe competition.

The highlight is Saturday’s world-famous Canal Parade, a unique waterborne parade of around 80 boats floating along the Prinsengracht.

Practical Information for Participating

Pro tip: Arrive by 10am to claim a good viewing spot, bridges offer iconic photo options, but the canal side is equally fine and less of a hustle, if there is such a thing during pride. Bring a blanket, snacks, and drinks to make a day of it.

Even after the parade ends around 6pm, the party doesn’t stop: Street stages, pop-up performances, and packed bars keep the energy high across the city. On Sunday, the fun continues with more stage shows at places like Dam Square and parties throughout the city.

How long to Stay

If you’re up for the full experience, plan to arrive by Thursday and stay until Monday on Canal Pride Weekend. Don’t miss legendary club nights like Rapido (book early!), Funhouse, or the special Amsterdam edition of Berlin’s Gegen. See for more info below on this page.

Where to Stay

If you want to make the most of Amsterdam Pride, the best places to stay are within or near the city center (Amsterdam Centrum), preferably within the Canal Ring so you stay close to the gay streets close to Central Station as well as Reguliersdwarsstraat and Kerkstraat. Staying at Jordaan, De Pijp, and Oud-West are also central locations, where you can reach everything by walking. Make sure to reserve early, as prices in Amsterdam are generally high and can spike during summer, especially with Pride going on. Generally public transport is good during daytime, but more limited and inconvenient at night, so make sure, to not stay too far outside or if so, somewhere that is well-connected.

If you look for a cheaper option, staying at Sloterdijk is a good alternative. It only takes you 5 minutes by train to get to Central Station and trains run very regularly. You will find many modern hotels at more affordable rates near Sloterdijk train station.

Guide to Amsterdam's Gay Bars and Nightlife

Amsterdam offers an extensive amount of gay life. The most famous street is probably Reguliersdwarsstraat, where one bar is next to the other one. There are plenty of bars close to Central Station, so you can literally do a gay bar hopping all the way down to the bars at Reguliersdwarsstraat and Kerkstraat. These bars will be crowded during pride. Some places like Church or the Nieuwezijds gay saun will have long queues popping up, so if you plan to go there, try to go early or late or be prepared for waiting in queue for a long time.

For the pride there will be a lot of special events taking place. Here is a selection of parties that took place in 2025. Make sure to look out for these in 2026 and get your tickets early, as they sell out fast (the infos are still from 2025 and will soon be updated for 2026):

Dekmantel IsBuring @Lofi (Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday night)
Pride by day IsBurning @Lofi (Sat daytime)
Spielraum x IsBurning @Lofi (Sunday daytime)
BRET IsBurining @Lofi (Monday 5am – 12pm)
Herrensauna @Club Raum (Firday)
Raum x Pamela @Club Raum (Saturday)
Raum invites Deckmantel (Sunday)
Funhouse Pride Opening @Melkweg (Friday)
Funhouse XL @TransformatorHuis (Saturday)
Rapido After @Westerunie (Sunday)

Looking for a more personal take on what Amsterdam Pride is really like? Read full Review of Amsterdam Pride last year to know what to expect in 2026.

For more information about the event, check the official Amsterdam Pride Website.