Amsterdam Pride: 30 years - July 13, 2026
Thirty years after Amsterdam introduced the world's first Canal Parade, the city is preparing to welcome the world for WorldPride 2026 (July 25 – August 8), celebrating three decades of an event that has become one of Europe's most distinctive and internationally recognised LGBTQ+ celebrations.
This summer, Amsterdam will welcome visitors from around the globe for WorldPride 2026, bringing together millions of people in a celebration of diversity, equality and inclusion. Alongside a vibrant programme of cultural events, community gatherings and the iconic Canal Parade, WorldPride offers an opportunity to celebrate not only the LGBTQ+ community, but also Amsterdam's long-standing reputation as an open, inclusive and welcoming destination. WorldPride also coincides with a significant milestone: 30 years of Amsterdam Pride. Since its launch in 1996, Amsterdam Pride has grown from a local initiative into one of the world's most recognisable Pride celebrations, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and inspiring cities around the globe.
What many people don't realise is that Amsterdam Pride began with a simple idea. Three friends, Siep de Haan, Peter Kramer and Ernst Verhoeven, wanted to give something back to the city they had come to call home. Inspired by Amsterdam's atmosphere of freedom and openness, they believed the city deserved its own Pride celebration, one that would bring together not only the LGBTQ+ community, but residents, families and visitors alike. Their vision resulted in something the world had never seen before: a parade on Amsterdam's historic canals.
The first Canal Parade attracted around 20,000 spectators. Within just a few years, attendance had grown to hundreds of thousands, with international media recognising the event as one of the world's most iconic Pride celebrations. Today, the Canal Parade remains the centrepiece of Amsterdam Pride and one of the city's best-loved annual events. From the outset, the founders deliberately chose the name Amsterdam Pride, rather than Gay Pride, reflecting their ambition to celebrate the city itself and create an event where everyone felt welcome. That philosophy continues to define Pride today, bringing together people of all backgrounds to celebrate diversity, freedom and visibility.
As Amsterdam marks 30 years of Pride while hosting WorldPride 2026, the celebrations are both a tribute to the event's remarkable history and a reminder that openness and inclusion should never be taken for granted. Pride continues to showcase the values that have long defined Amsterdam and the Netherlands: freedom, respect and the belief that everyone should feel welcome to be themselves.
WorldPride 2026 offers a unique opportunity to experience Amsterdam at its most colourful. From the Canal Parade to exhibitions, performances and community events across the city, this landmark edition celebrates not only three decades of Pride, but also the enduring spirit of a destination that welcomes everyone.