Victoria Pride outlines month-long July lineup ahead of annual parade and festival

Rainbow Flag symbol of tolerance and acceptance.

From a longstanding drag baseball game to a community dog walk, the Victoria Pride Society unveiled its 2026 programming, with a series of events scheduled throughout July leading up to the city’s annual parade and festival.

Drag baseball game opens Pride programming

The month begins July 1, with the Memorial Drag Ball Game at Vic West Park. The event started in 1996, when members of the local 2SLGBTQIA+ community gathered during the HIV/AIDS crisis to spend a day playing baseball and connecting with one another.

What started as a small gathering has since become one of Victoria Pride’s signature events, now drawing large crowds of spectators each year.

Literary event and dog walk scheduled

On July 4, Pride in the Word will take place at the Victoria Conference Centre from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., featuring queer literary readings and guest speakers. ASL interpretation will be available, and its is the only ticketed event in this year’s lineup.

The Big Gay Dog Walk follows on July 8 at Banfield Park in Vic West from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event will include pet vendors, food trucks, contests and a memorial area for attendees remembering pets who have died.

Parade and festival cap Pride celebrations

Victoria’s annual Pride Parade will take place July 12 in downtown Victoria where over 80,000 people are expected to attend from 11 a.m. to 12:30 pm.

The day will end with the Victoria Pride Festival at MacDonald Park in James Bay, running from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Organizers say the this will be a quieter atmosphere, offering a less stimulating environment with vendors.