WorldPride Amsterdam 2026

WorldPride Amsterdam runs from Saturday 25 July to Saturday 8 August 2026, the first time WorldPride is held in Amsterdam and the Netherlands. Under the theme UNITY, the two-week programme spans the city: the Canal Parade on 1 August, a free festival village and ticketed concerts on Museumplein, a human rights conference at Beurs van Berlage and a closing march on 8 August.

Why it matters

Amsterdam hosts WorldPride in the year the city marks 25 years of marriage equality: the world’s first same-sex marriages were performed here in 2001. The organiser frames the theme as “unity is the key to fighting intolerance”. The opening day on 25 July brought the Pride Walk from Dam Square to Vondelpark and the single-day Pride Park festival in Vondelpark.

Programme highlights

All components below are confirmed on the organiser’s event pages.

• Open air film festival: Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 July, 21:00 to 00:00, in West. Free entry.
• Street parties: Friday 31 July 16:00 to 24:00 and Saturday 1 August 15:00 to 24:00 at spots across the centre, including the Dam main stage, Zeedijk, Reguliersdwarsstraat and the Homomonument at Westermarkt; on Sunday 2 August the Dam continues alone, 14:00 to 23:00.
• Canal Parade: Saturday 1 August, 12:00 to 18:00, sailing from Oosterdok via the Nieuwe Herengracht, Amstel and Prinsengracht to Westerdok. Watching from the quays is free.
• WorldPride Stadium: a temporary ticketed grandstand for the parade on the Prinsengracht between Leidsestraat and Spiegelgracht, with around 10,000 seats according to the organiser, open from 10:00 on parade day; the first boats pass around 12:30.
• UNITY Concert: Tuesday 4 August, 17:30 to 23:00, Museumplein, ticketed. Hosted by Conchita Wurst and Envy Peru, with Billy Porter, Beth Ditto and Joss Stone among the acts.
• WorldPride Village: Museumplein, 4 to 8 August. Daytime entry is free from Wednesday 5 August at 12:00; on 4 August the site opens at 17:30 for the ticketed UNITY Concert evening, and on 6 and 8 August the free daytime programme runs until 17:00 before the ticketed evening concerts.
• Human Rights Conference: Wednesday 5 to Friday 7 August, 09:00 to 17:00, Beurs van Berlage, ticketed via the conference website.
• Wedding Party XXL: Thursday 6 August, 17:30 to 23:00, Museumplein, ticketed. The concert marks 25 years of marriage equality, with a wedding chapel for symbolic ceremonies and the Vengaboys, Heather Small and Billy Porter on the bill.
• WorldPride March: Saturday 8 August, a free demonstration. Gathering from 15:00 in Martin Luther Kingpark, departure at 16:30, arrival at Museumplein around 17:30.
• Closing Concert: Saturday 8 August, 17:30 to 23:59, Museumplein, ticketed, with Olly Alexander and The Blessed Madonna among the acts.

Practical information

The organiser’s advice is to travel by public transport and check in contactless with a debit or credit card or phone. For Museumplein and the Prinsengracht, metro 52 to Vijzelgracht leaves about ten minutes on foot to the canal; Amsterdam Amstel is the alternative station for parade viewing near Carré. On parade day parts of the city centre close to traffic and the Prinsengracht is car-free with an all-day parking ban; drivers are pointed to P+R sites near the ring road. Cyclists should use the designated racks: yellow signs mark temporary no-parking zones and wrongly parked bikes are removed.

The three Museumplein evening concerts are sold through the organiser’s ticket shop, per concert (22.50 euros at the regular tier at the time of checking) or as a pass for all three from 45 euros, with community and Stadspas discounts. Under-18s are welcome; only soft drinks are served to minors.

Common questions

Is the Canal Parade free to watch?

Yes, from the quays along the route. The ticketed WorldPride Stadium on the Prinsengracht is the paid option with a guaranteed seat.

When is the WorldPride Village open?

From 4 to 8 August on Museumplein. Free daytime access starts on 5 August at 12:00; on 4, 6 and 8 August the evenings are ticketed concert sessions, and on Friday 7 August the Village runs from 12:00 to midnight.

Are the Museumplein concerts free?

No. The UNITY Concert (4 August), Wedding Party XXL (6 August) and the Closing Concert (8 August) are ticketed; the daytime Village programme is free.

Do I need a ticket for the WorldPride March?

No. The closing march on 8 August is a free demonstration, open to everyone.

How do I get around on parade day?

By public transport. The organiser warns of extreme congestion and closed streets in the centre on 1 August, with the Prinsengracht car-free and a parking ban all day.

Is the programme accessible?

The organiser lists wheelchair access, accessible toilets and sign-language interpreters for the Museumplein concerts, and the Canal Parade has a dedicated, secured quay section for visitors with disabilities, with a maximum of one companion per visitor.