Introduction by the Rainbow Story Hub Foundation
Video courtesy of Paula Kirman, Radical Citizen Media
On Saturday, August 22, 2026, Edmonton’s 2SLGBTQ+ community and our allies filled the streets of downtown for the Edmonton Pride Parade and Trans March, the centrepiece of the Edmonton Pride Festival held August 21 to 23. Last year, in 2025, the parade and Trans March returned to the streets for the first time since 2018. This second year back showed that the community’s commitment to marching together remains strong.
The video we are sharing here was filmed at the start of the parade route in Sir Winston Churchill Square, where the day began with a Trans March opening ceremony before the parade stepped off at 1:00 p.m. It captures the energy, colour, and determination of the people gathered there. From Churchill Square, the route travelled west along 102A Avenue and 103 Avenue, north through ICE District Plaza, and on to Fan Park at ICE District.
Thousands of people came downtown to march and cheer. The day was a joyful celebration, but it was also a statement. Organizers called for unity at a time when public and government support for 2SLGBTQ+ people has been eroding. The festival also faced debate within the community over its relationship with police. In the days before the parade, organizers announced that police would not march after several organizations said they planned to boycott. Some groups still chose to stay away over the presence of police.
Holding the Trans March alongside the parade was a reminder that Pride in Edmonton was born out of protest and resistance. The work of standing up for our community, and especially for trans and gender-diverse people, is far from finished.
About the video
We at the Rainbow Story Hub Foundation are grateful to Paula Kirman of Radical Citizen Media for allowing us to embed this video in our collection. Paula has spent years documenting social justice and activist events in Edmonton, including rallies, protests, and conferences, creating an invaluable record of our city’s activist history. You can find many more of her videos on the Radical Citizen Media YouTube channel, and more videos and photos at radicalcitizenmedia.com.
Edmonton Pride Parade 2026
Photo Gallery
205 total photos
Click arrow on right or swipe left to proceed through the images.
Courtesy Paula Kirman
You can also see the images on Flickr at this link:
Edmonton Pride Parade 2026 | Flickr
Radical Citizen Media
Radical Citizen Media is an independent production company operated by Paula E. Kirman, documenting social justice and activist events such as rallies, protests, and conferences in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Visit radicalcitizenmedia.com for more videos and photos.
- Radical Citizen Media
Ruth DyckFehderau
Rob Browatzke