Montclair Pride Festival Postponed For Second Time, New Date Announced

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A popular LGBTQ Pride festival in Montclair has been postponed for a second time, organizers recently announced.

The 2026 Montclair Pride Festival will now take place on Oct. 11, according to Out Montclair, the nonprofit that spearheads the annual event.

The festival has regularly attracted thousands of attendees since launching five years ago. However, earlier this spring, organizers said they are struggling to find the money to hold the festival due to rising production costs and a “significant decline” in corporate sponsorship – challenges that are also impacting other Pride groups across the country.

According to organizers, there are mandatory costs that come with putting on a massive event like the Montclair Pride Festival. The list of expenses includes paying for local emergency responders such as police, firefighters and EMS workers, in addition to other municipal services.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help pay for this year’s event. View it or make a donation online here.

The 2026 festival was originally scheduled to take place on June 13. It was then postponed to Aug. 1 before being rescheduled again to Oct. 11.

Out Montclair said the new date lines up with National Coming Out Day.

The nonprofit explained more about the latest postponement in a press statement this week:

“The organization has postponed the event from its previously anticipated Aug. 1 timeframe to allow for the essential safety personnel required to produce a large-scale event, and to continue to increase necessary additional financial support and sponsorships … The goal is to deliver a safe, inclusive, and impactful Pride celebration that reflects the diversity and spirit of the LGBTQIA+ community members, allies, businesses, and organizations to come together to support LGBTQIA+ visibility, equality and belonging.”

Out Montclair has recently modified and strengthened its Pride Festival management structure with experienced event professionals and community leaders to ensure a “successful, safe, and well-coordinated Pride celebration” on Oct. 11, the nonprofit said.

“Moving the event to October 11 gives us the opportunity to create an even stronger experience while honoring the significance of National Coming Out Day,” said Reubena Spence, president and co-founder of Out Montclair/Montclair Pride.

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