The heat may be unbearable in New York City, but honey, that won’t stop us from cranking up the fabulous. Even with the rising temps, spirits are shining brighter than a disco ball at Stonewall, and the only thing hotter than the subway platform is the Pride energy. We may be melting—but we are making it fashion, and serving fierceness under the blazing sun. Whether you’re waving rainbow fans or werk-ing rainbow fits, Pride in NYC is bringing the heat in all the best ways.
Here are the best events happening the rest of June to celebrate Pride in true queer brilliance:
Sky High Pride at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
As New York City reaches the height of Pride Month, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt celebrates the courage, resilience, and joy of the LGBTQ+ community, high above the city streets. On June 27 and 28, this magical experience will be infused with the vibrant spirit of Pride: dance among multicolored balloons in Affinity, watch rainbows ripple through mirrored infinity rooms, and enjoy cocktails and light bites while dining on the outdoor terrace—all while taking in sweeping views of the colorful city below. Step into boundless mirrored spaces that blur reality and reflection, inviting you to see yourself and others from new perspectives. Engage with immersive art that bridges the physical and digital, creating moments of connection and playfulness. With the NYC Pride Parade happening on Sunday, June 29, there’s no better time to feel the energy of Pride in the sky—a celebration as bold and bright as the skyline itself.
courtesy of SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
The Aesop Queer Library
Much like Belle from Beauty and the Beast, I always have a book in my face, captivated by stories that offer escape, insight, and hope. Once again to celebrate Pride, Aesop invites readers to do the same through the return of the Aesop Queer Library, an installation that celebrates the transformative power of queer storytelling. Through June 29th, select Aesop stores across the US and Canada—including the Rockefeller Center location in New York—will clear their shelves of products and fill them with complimentary books by LGBTQIA2S+ authors and allies. No purchase is required—just curiosity and an open mind. This year, the library honors the bold, beautiful stories shaped by LGBTQIA2S+ communities, reminding us that language is a sanctuary and a form of resistance. In partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, the initiative supports the fight against censorship and for the freedom to read, write, and speak freely. Aesop has once again partnered with Penguin Random House to curate the diverse titles.
Reign Your Pride at Reyna’s Unapologetic Drag Brunch
Reyna New York’s Unapologetic Drag Brunch is a flamboyant, high-energy weekend affair on Sunday, June 29th from 12 PM–3:30 PM, featuring bold queens serving scandalous glamour, cheeky toasts, and nonstop performances—all while you enjoy Mediterranean-inspired brunch fare and signature cocktails in a luxurious, inclusive atmosphere. And if you want to hit the Pride Parade afterward, don’t worry—this fabulous spot is just steps from the iconic Fifth Avenue route, so even your Kinky Boots won’t mind the short walk!
Courtesy of Reyna
Brooklyn Pride Comedy Festival at Brooklyn Art Haus
Brooklyn Art Haus in Williamsburg hosts the Brooklyn Pride Comedy Festival through June 29, delivering six nights of bold queer comedy to close out Pride Month. The festival spotlights LGBTQ+ comedians across stand-up, drag, sketch, and solo shows, celebrating queer joy. Brooklyn Art Haus is proud to foster queer voices in comedy, circus, film, theater, and more all year long! June 26 offers a chaotic queer rom-com “When Hailey Met Sally” plus a heartfelt solo act. June 27 pairs Alexa Springman’s musical comedy debut “5’4” with acclaimed comic Solomon Georgio. The festival closes June 29 with a satirical sketch show, Amanda Melhuish’s solo “Guilty Please: A Cumming Out Story,” and “The Illegal Comedy Show,” highlighting bold voices from women, LGBTQ+, immigrant, and PoC communities.
Laugh Your Sequins Off at The Stand Comedy Club
Kick off NYC Pride Parade weekend with a laugh that’s louder than your ex at a drag brunch. The Stand Comedy Club—voted NYC’s Best Comedy Venue—continues its fabulous Pride Month lineup with Oscar Aydin Presents: Stand Proud on June 26 at 8:00 PM in the Main Room. Host Oscar Aydin, known for his hilariously unfiltered “rainbow-pushing” style and the hit podcast Oh Oscar!, brings a lineup gayer than a Cher farewell tour: Brittany Brave, Sydnee Washington, Sureni Weerasekera, Daryn Passarello, and Jack Sullivan. Come for the laughs, stay for the sass—it’s stand-up that slays.
Pride with Aqua New York
Aqua New York, stunning and brand new to the Flatiron district, offers a unique dining experience with two exceptional cuisines—contemporary Japanese at Aqua Kyoto and Italian at Aqua Roma—served together under one roof. Guests can mix and match from both menus, enjoying everything from signature sushi platters to classic Italian entrees, all crafted with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Join Aqua’s Pride Party on Friday, June 27, from 9:30 PM ‘til late for live music, handcrafted cocktails, surprise performances, and celebration of love and equality. Plus, 20% of proceeds from the featured Pride cocktail will support Lambda Legal and their fight for LGBTQ+ rights.
Credit Aqua New York
For the Girls, Gays, and Theys — Sail to the FINAL Performances of TITANÍQUE
Honey this is the last lifeboat so head to the box office. After seeing it three times (and yes, my heart will go on forever), I can promise TITANÍQUE is the campy, Céline-fueled joyride you didn’t know you needed. At the Daryl Roth Theatre, this outrageous musical mashup of Titanic and Céline Dion wraps its legendary Off-Broadway run on NYC Pride Weekend, with the final show on June 29. Don’t miss your chance to laugh, belt, and sob glitter tears one last time. Divas don’t sink—they slay.
Courtesy of Titanique
Love They Gayborhood with Romer Hell’s Kitchen
This June, Romer Hell’s Kitchen invited guests to celebrate NYC’s LGBTQ+ community with Love Thy Gayborhood, a month-long series honoring queer culture, supporting local businesses, and fostering community. Highlights included Ella Emhoff’s Soft Hands Knitting Club on June 11, a Pride & Safe Spaces panel on June 18, and a Juneteenth celebration featuring queer Black artists on June 19. Now kicking off is Miss Hell’s Kitchen Residency #1 on June 27—the first show in a five-month drag residency at So & So’s, led by Miss Hell’s Kitchen 2024 winner Sabel Scities and featuring local talent and special guests. In partnership with Romer Neighborhood Hotels, the celebration continues with the Love Thy Gayborhood hotel package, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Ali Forney Center.
Photo: Niacreative
Arlo After Dark x GLITA NYC
On Friday, June 27th, Arlo After Dark x GLITA NYC presents PRIDE —a night of music, movement, and pure queer magic at Arlo Williamsburg from 7 PM to 1 AM. Drag royalty will take the stage, including RuPaul’s Drag Race standout KORI KING, the fierce LANA JA’RAE, and NYC’s Portuguese Princess JAZMINE, who also co-produces the event. The dance floor will stay hot all night with a high-energy set from THE MUSES, plus sounds by ARRA and PICSESPRINCE. Come celebrate queer joy in true NYC fashion—tickets start at $33.99 and are available via GLITA.
Pink Pony Club Brunch at BLACKBARN Restaurant
A party that Chappell can get behind. On Parade Sunday, June 29th, BLACKBARN Restaurant is serving up a glitter-soaked Pride takeover inspired by Chappell Roan’s iconic “Pink Pony Club.” From 10 AM–3 PM, the farm-to-table hotspot becomes a rhinestoned haven for cowgirls, queens, and divas alike—just steps from the parade’s starting line at 26th & 5th. Expect two hours of bottomless Schramsberg Rosé & Brut ($35), a DJ spinning Pride anthems from 11 AM–2 PM, and a brunch menu stacked with favorites like the Bagel Tower, Cornflake Crusted French Toast, Huevos Chilaquiles, and the fan-favorite BLACKBARN Burger. Whether you’re fueling up or living your champagne dream, come hungry, show out, and raise a glass to Pride, pop royalty, and community.
SLAYTE Pride Party
Slide into Pride at Slayte Pride 2025, a high-energy dance party and Pride Tea celebration happening Saturday, June 28 from 6–10 PM at Slate (54 W. 21st St.) in Chelsea. Celebrate in style with music by DJ Nesto, dazzling pop-up drag performances from NYC icons Androgyny and Bianca Star, Pride-themed cocktails, games, giveaways, and nonstop vibes. General admission grants full access to all the action inside this 16,000-square-foot adult playground, where you can dance, drink, and play your way through mini-bowling lanes, vintage arcade games, ping pong, pool tables, Skee-Ball, an 8-player foosball table—and even a 20-foot indoor slide. Whether you’re coming with friends or flying solo, it’s the ultimate way to party loud and proud.
Gayletter X The New York Edition PRIDE
What started as a cheeky little newsletter to help queer New Yorkers make the most of their free time, Gayletter has grown into a cultural force—and this PRIDE, they’re throwing a party to match. Join them for a celebratory cocktail at The Lobby Bar at The New York EDITION, where the vibes will be intimate, elevated, and unmistakably fabulous. On Friday, June 27th from 8-10:30 PM sip on a limited-edition PRIDE cocktail, mingle with the city’s most stylish, and catch a live appearance by artist Chris Lloyd, who’ll be sketching one-of-a-kind portraits throughout the night—capturing the colorful spirit of PRIDE in NYC, one fabulous face at a time.
courtesy of Joanne Trattoria
