The City of Long Beach released a detailed statement defending its decision to cancel the 2026 Long Beach Pride Festival, saying organizers failed to provide critical safety and permitting documents in time for the event to move forward as planned.
According to the City, festival applications of this size are normally due 65 days in advance, though expedited reviews can be requested within 14 days. Officials said staff continued working with organizers throughout the week and into the final hours before the scheduled start of the festival to review submissions and request missing information.
City officials stated additional site plans were submitted around 7 p.m. Thursday night, but the application still lacked key documents needed to issue permits. As of Friday morning, the City said it had not received approved structural plans for stages and trusses, approved electrical plans, detailed security layouts, or sufficient infrastructure details required to safely permit the event.
Despite the cancellation of the festival in its original form, City leaders and the Convention Center reportedly offered alternative venues, including the Terrace Theater plaza for up to 3,000 attendees or the Bixby Park bandshell for a free public concert. Officials said alcohol sales and fenced-off areas would not have been allowed because of the shortened timeline. Mayor Rex Richardson also offered to privately raise up to $50,000 to support either option, but organizers declined.
The City emphasized that Pride celebrations will continue across Long Beach throughout the weekend, including Sunday’s Long Beach Pride Parade at 10 a.m., which the City says it has funded and operated for the past three years. Officials also announced additional transit services, extra restroom facilities along Broadway, and a free drag show and live music event Sunday at Bixby Park hosted by Jewels of Long Beach.
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