Winnipeggers celebrate Pride with annual parade

Thousands of Manitobans marched at Winnipeg’s annual pride parade Sunday in a colourful celebration of love, identity and belonging.

The 2026 Winnipeg Pride festival kicked off at the end of May with events across the city celebrating the 2SLGBTQ+ community leading up to the parade, a tradition in the city that dates back to 1987.

Sunday’s event began with a rally at the Manitoba Legislative Building before participants marched through downtown streets and ending at the Forks.

Many participants that CityNews spoke to said that Sunday’s rally continues to be an important day in the calendar for the queer community.  

Bre Brown said Pride makes the 2SLGBTQ+ community feel visible.

“The fight is not over and the more that we are visible, and we see this love and support and people show up, the closer we get to the kind of world we want to live in,” Brown said.

“It brings everyone together,” said Iphelia payne. “We are so very different in so many ways but we’re all together and it’s just so happy that we can have this time together.”

“I have friends who are my age who are gay and said, ‘man if something like this had existed when I was a teenager, it would have made all of the difference in the world,’” said Gail Dueck. “So it’s an easy thing to do, it’s a delight and we really enjoy it.”

Another participant who goes by Super-bi said,“It’s so gratifying to see still so many people out here in support of us. Really appreciate that.”

Owen Firth said that Manitoba fosters inclusion through its diversity of its people and expressions.

“The joy of being able to express yourself and really getting together with everyone in the community,” Firth said.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew also participated in Sunday’s celebration.

“Pride is a celebration, pride is also a protest, Pride is a riot,” Kinew said.

For Storm Novak, days like today remind her why she calls Canada home.

“I originally am not from Canada and I came here because Canada is a place that is a lot more accepting and welcoming and has a lot better opportunities for people who are queer like myself,” Novak said.

“And Uzoma Asagwara is one of the people who does a lot (to make) health care accessible to trans people like myself and make the legislation a lot friendlier to queer people in general,” Novak added.