17th Annual PrideFest and Parade to Honor Katie Meyer as Grand Marshal
COVINGTON, Ky. — Northern Kentucky Pride returns for its 17th year with a full day of community, visibility and joy on Sunday, June 7, including the annual NKY Pride Parade and PrideFest.
This year’s celebration will be especially meaningful as NKY Pride honors Katie Meyer, our late NKY Pride co-chair and longtime community advocate who helped shape Pride in Northern Kentucky, as the 2026 Grand Marshal. Katie’s children and family will walk in the parade in her honor.
The theme for NKY Pride 2026 is “Joy Is a Form of Resistance,” a reminder that coming together, celebrating openly and showing up for one another remain powerful acts of resilience.
The NKY Pride Parade kicks off at 12 p.m., starting at Sixth Street and Madison Avenue in Covington and ending in MainStrasse Village. The parade will include more than 50 organizations, with awards for the best parade floats presented at 2:30 p.m. The NKY Pride Center (230 W. Pike St.) will serve as an official watch spot for the parade, including stations for the parade emcee and judges.
The NKY PrideFest will take place in Goebel Park from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. This year’s PrideFest will feature live entertainment hosted by Molly Mormen throughout the day, as well as 150 local artisans and community organizations providing fun for all ages.
Other events planned as part of NKY Pride 2026 include:
- The NKY Pride Kickoff Party on Thursday, June 4 at Braxton Brewing Company in Covington, with doors opening at 6 p.m. and a drag show emceed by Molly Mormen beginning at 7 p.m. (Please note this is a 21+ event.)
- The NKY Pride Pop-Up Shop at the NKY Pride Center on Saturday, June 6 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., featuring deals on past merchandise, Pride swag and more.
- The NKY Pride Afterparty on Sunday, June 7 at Hotel Covington, with doors opening at 5 p.m. and a show hosted by Brooklyn Steele-Tate and Sarah Jessica Darker, produced by The LeCamerons, from 7 – 9 p.m.
“Katie played a pivotal role in making NKY Pride what it is today, and her legacy continues to be felt through the parade, the festival, and the community built around them,” said Dr. Bonnie Meyer, President of the NKY Pride Center. “She believed deeply in creating spaces where LGBTQ+ people could feel safe, welcomed and celebrated, and honoring her as this year’s Grand Marshal keeps her right where she belongs: at the heart of Pride, surrounded by her family, her community, and the city she loved.”
NKY Pride 2026 is presented by the City of Covington, with additional support from: 4 Hounds Gear & Grooming, BLDG, Braxton Brewing Company, Celanese, the Fairness Campaign, Golden Gelato, Hotel Covington, Juniper’s Gin Bar, MSP Insurance, New Riff Distilling, Republic Bank, Rosie’s Tavern, Scooter Media, The Crazy Fox Saloon, U.S. Bank, and West Sixth Brewing Covington Haus.
About the Northern Kentucky Pride Center
Born as a goal of the NKY Pride committee more than a decade ago, the NKY Pride Center’s mission is to advance LGBTQ+ equity and inclusion efforts in the region by providing community-based services and programs for LGBTQ+ Northern Kentuckians. The Center is located at 230 W. Pike Street in Covington.