It’s official. After years of false starts, Hotspots Happening Out announced today that a new future is born for Pride Fort Lauderdale. In February, it was announced that the former Pride organization board voted to dissolve and transfer Pride Fort Lauderdale to Hotspots Happening Out. The non-profit media and event organization is the largest of its kind in America. But the real big news today is all about LOVE.
How appropriate that in the hostile world our LGBTQ community is facing from radical voices… LOVE seems to be the answer. Pride Fort Lauderdale parade and festival will be held on Saturday, February 14. Valentine’s Day. This was important because weeks of negotiations continued with various decision makers wanting to have Pride Fort Lauderdale in early January. My Hollywood Pride’s marketing is “the first Pride in the World”. In 2026 it is being held on January 24.
Negotiations were time-consuming to continue Hotspots Happening Out support of My Hollywood Pride, being the first Pride event of the calendar year. Today, that became final. Here is the latest news for the announcement. On Friday, February 13, Wilton Manors and the famous LGBTQ entertainment community will host ‘Pride On The Drive’ as a kick off to what will be a landmark date on the community’s calendar.
Other big news is that the parade, for the first time in its nearly 50 year history, will move to the downtown Ft Lauderdale entertainment district. Pride Fort Lauderdale is the oldest LGBTQ Pride celebration in Florida. The parade will be held downtown near the Riverwalk.
Anchor areas around Pride Fort Lauderdale will include New River and the Esplanade Park, Broward Performing Arts Center and the Museum of Science and Discovery. The parade will end at the Pride Fort Lauderdale festival that will include entertainment stages, vendors, food providers and much more. The location is in the heart of nightclubs, restaurants and other business organizations that will add events, parties and more.
Pride Fort Lauderdale will bring the largest LGBTQ presence ever to Downtown Fort Lauderdale. Hotspots Happening Out CEO, Jeff Sterling told Queer News Tonight, “This is the biggest single LGBTQ expansion for the city of Fort Lauderdale since Pandemic. Utilizing the downtown entertainment district, bars, theaters, attractions and all the community and business partnerships will make this one of America’s signature LGBTQ events.
Growth for the future is nearly unlimited. Exactly what Fort Lauderdale represents from it’s large and diverse LGBTQ community.” Hotspots Happening Out will be unique in producing three nonprofit Pride events including Stonewall Pride on June 14 on Wilton Drive. Then the diversity festival PrideFete on August 9. Rounded out by today’s breaking news of the return of Pride Fort Lauderdale on February 14, 2026. Stay tuned to Queer News Tonight for all the exclusive breaking news of Pride Fort Lauderdale.
