Queen City Pride Parade to get new route in 2026 due to ‘safety risks’

Over 100 floats attended Regina's Queen City Pride Parade on Saturday, as part of the group's 10 day pride festival. (Damian Smith/CTV News)

Regina’s Pride Parade is getting a new route for this year’s marquee Pride Week event.

In a post on social media Friday, Queen City Pride says the city has issued a new parade route.

“We are saddened we no longer pass by certain landmarks and businesses, we are hoping this change will be exciting nonetheless,” the organization said. “While there are pros and cons to this route we’ve been given, we appreciate your grace and patience as we get familiar with the new route.”

The new route will see the parade begin at the Conexus Arts Centre; down 23rd Avenue; up Albert Street; past the Legislative Building; and back into Wascana Park down Lakeshore Drive to round out the route.

Regina Pride co-chair Riviera Bonneau says the Regina Police Service (RPS) came forward to the organization about the shift in route citing safety and traffic mitigation measures.

“This hopefully minimizes vehicle incursions,” she told CTV News. “In the last couple of years, there have been a lot of vehicle incursions and a lot of unnecessary violence, sometimes even death, that is really trying to be avoided here.”

While understanding of the changes, Bonneau was disappointed the parade will no longer cross over the Albert Street Bridge and into the downtown past some key areas, particularly ‘Q Nightclub’ – Regina’s community-owned 2SLGBTQIA+ nightclub.

“It’s unfortunate,” Bonneau added. “Going past the Q has always been a huge highlight for us. But we weren’t able to make that happen this year.”

In a statement to CTV News, RPS said it regularly collaborates with various community groups and events to plan parade routes.

“The primary goal is to ensure the safety of participants, spectators, and anyone in the vicinity,” the service said. “When assessing safety risks, among the considerations are recent world events. Adjustments are made in consultation with event organizers to mitigate these risks.”

It is not the first time this parade has seen changes in its route.

However, Bonneau hopes it can see a more consistent path so all residents are able to plan for the day.

“We’re trying to keep consistent because the Regina Pride Parade route changes almost every year,” she explained. “We’ve always been able to keep a kind of similar path, but we used to go in front of City Hall and we haven’t been able to go in front of City Hall in years.”

“They’re trying to remain consistent so people constantly know exactly where the parades happen, and they can avoid them if they need to,” Bonneau added.

Bonneau believes the best location to watch this year’s parade will be in front of the TC Douglas Building on Albert Street and parking locations will also be more convenient for spectators.

The 2026 Queen City Pride Parade is scheduled for June 13.