Home / Arts and Entertainment / Safety Concerns Cancel Long Beach Pride Festival
Safety Concerns Cancel Long Beach Pride Festival
16 May
Summary
- Long Beach Pride Festival canceled due to safety permit issues.
- Parade will proceed with record 141 entries on Sunday.
- Organizers failed to submit required safety documentation.
The City of Long Beach announced the cancellation of the annual Long Beach Pride Festival, citing a lack of essential safety documentation from event organizers. The festival, scheduled to commence on May 16, 2026, at 5 p.m., was called off by city officials just 30 minutes prior due to incomplete submission of required operational, construction, and public safety plans.
The city stated that the necessary information to ensure compliance with public safety standards, including inspections of critical infrastructure like stages and electrical systems, was not provided. This resulted in the inability to safely permit the event. Long Beach Pride expressed deep disappointment, calling the festival a decades-long symbol of visibility and equality.
Despite the festival's cancellation, the Long Beach Pride Parade is confirmed to take place on Sunday, May 17, 2026, beginning at 10 a.m. The parade is expected to be the largest ever, with 141 registered entries. Organizers of Long Beach Pride have called for further engagement with city officials to find a path forward for future events.
