Kick off Pride in New York this May 2026: NewFest films, Kween Astoria nightlife, Ali Forney Center’s gala, LGBTQ+ sports, eats, and June events to bookmark.

May 2026 LGBTQ+ Guide: New York Pre-Pride

Queer Things To Do in New York This May 2026: Your Pre‑Pride Kickoff Guide

Plan NYC Pride 2026 now: key June dates, bars, shops, orgs, and LGBTQ+ leagues. An April 2026 guide to celebrating and connecting in New York.

New York Pride 2026: April Planning Guide

Your April 2026 Guide to NYC Pride in New York

New York

Bureau of General Services – Queer Division is a shop in New York. Located at The LGBT Community Center, 208 W 13th St #210, New York, NY 10011, USA.

Bureau of General Services – Queer Division

The Nonbinarian Bookstore & Book Bike

Bluestockings Cooperative Bookstore is a shop in New York. Located at 116 Suffolk St, New York, NY 10002, USA.

Bluestockings Cooperative Bookstore

Quaint merchant stocking a diverse selection of fiction & nonfiction books in an intimate space.

Astoria Bookshop

The Ripped Bodice is a shop in New York. Located at 218 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USA.

The Ripped Bodice

Yu & Me Books is a shop in New York. Located at 44 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10013, USA.

Yu & Me Books

Snug neighborhood bookshop selling a well-curated selection of hardcovers & paperbacks since 1968.

Three Lives & Company

Landmark shop specializing in new, used & rare books from philosophy to finance, plus bookish gifts.

Strand Book Store

Cozy children's bookstore with a large selection, semiweekly storytime & a collection of rare books.

Books of Wonder

Hive Mind Books is a shop in New York. Located at 219 Irving Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237, USA.

Hive Mind Books

A long-running lesbian hangout for drinks, shooting pool & dancing, especially on weekends.

Henrietta Hudson

Casual lesbian bar with a neighborly feel thanks to happy hours, a pool table & an outdoor patio.

Ginger's Bar

Upbeat gay bar offering cocktails along with karaoke, drag shows, bingo & TV viewing parties.

Albatross Bar

Kween Astoria is a bar in New York. Located at 34-10 30th Ave., Long Island City, NY 11103, USA.

Kween Astoria

The Bush is a bar in New York. Located at 333 Troutman St Store 4, Brooklyn, NY 11237, USA.

The Bush

VERS is a bar in New York. Located at 714 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019, USA.

VERS

Loafers Cocktail Bar is a bar in New York. Located at 517 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11231, USA.

Loafers Cocktail Bar

Cocktails & bar bites in a brightly decorated space featuring burlesque shows & a heated patio.

Pink Metal

The Ritz Bar & Lounge is a bar in New York. Located at 369 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036, USA.

The Ritz Bar & Lounge

Venerable gay bar & lounge with a small stage that hosts drag shows & other events.

Barracuda Lounge

Hip, convivial ice cream parlor with multiple outposts serving innovative soft-serve concoctions.

Big Gay Ice Cream (West Village)

HAGS is a restaurant in New York. Located at 163 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003, USA.

HAGS

East Side Club is a sauna and bathhouse in New York. Located at 227 E 56th St #6Floor, New York, NY 10022, USA.

East Side Club

Hardware store turned buzzy nightclub with a large dance floor & DJs plus nightly live performances.

Hardware Bar

American fare, drag-queen shows & a cabaret atmosphere make up this long-running NYC experience.

Lucky Cheng’s

Happening saloon with a retro athletic-club atmosphere that includes boxing & wrestling memorabilia.

Atlas Social Club

Dark-lit, multilevel gay leather-&-Levis bar with a roof deck.

The Eagle NYC

Gay hangout with a lounge, video-wall-equipped basement, terrace & 3 full bars, plus league teams.

Boxers NYC

Easygoing, reservation-required soul-food restaurant featuring art-filled walls & Sunday brunch.

SpaHa Soul

Camera Ready Kutz is a venue in New York. Located at 71 Utica Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213, USA.

Camera Ready Kutz

The Phluid Project

Cafe for Australian-style coffees with table & window-counter seating & chic touches.

Saltwater (East Village)

Seasonal, Middle Eastern, carry-out breakfast & lunch dishes offered in a trendy deli.

Edy’s Grocer

Elevated Mexican cuisine in a festive dining room, plus tequila-based cocktails.

Fonda (Chelsea)

OutBox Gym is a venue in New York. Located at 171 Meeker Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211, USA.

OutBox Gym

Fresco’s Grand Cantina is a bar in New York. Located at 28-50 31st St, Queens, NY 11102, USA.

Fresco’s Grand Cantina

Headchop is a venue in New York. Located at 98 S 4th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249, USA.

Headchop

Small food-market counter turning out traditional Polish pierogies, plus kielbasa & draft beer.

Pierogi Boys

Nasty Pig is a bar in New York. Located at 922 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10022, USA.

Nasty Pig

Dinner & Sunday brunch, drinks & a drag show for birthdays, bachelorettes or a festive night out.

Lips NYC

Passionfruit

Good Light

Diaspora Co.

Queer Candle Co.

Coco and Breezy

Queerencia

Snif

Ash+ Chess

Virgins On Fire Candle Co.

Beekman 1802

Fredericks and Mae

Alder New York

Couplet Coffee

Queer In The World Shop

QueerWall

Cute Little Fuckers

Freck Beauty

An unapologetically queer marketplace and community organizer in the heart of Texas that amplifies the voices and artistry of queer creatives from around the world. Showcases a curated selection of books, art, apparel, magazines, pins, and giftable items from over 1,000 LGBTQIA+ artists, authors, and creators. Also hosts community markets and events year-round.

The Little Gay Shop

Gay Pride Apparel

Polar Embassy

Automic Gold

Beefcake Swimwear

OUTFAIR

OUT-FIT

New York City is the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, with the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village being the site of the historic 1969 Stonewall riots. The city has multiple gay neighborhoods including Chelsea, Hell's Kitchen, and the West Village. NYC Pride is one of the world's largest Pride celebrations, and the city offers an unparalleled array of queer bars, clubs, cultural institutions, and community organizations. From historic venues to cutting-edge nightlife, NYC remains a global LGBTQ+ cultural capital.

Weekday drop-in hours in the Center Youth computer lab, where youth aged 13-22 can check email, browse Facebook, work on job searches or college applications. An intake is required for all youth programs. No registration is necessary to attend.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Center Youth: Open Lab

A youth-focused event discussing sex-related topics, providing accurate sexual health information, and creating safe sex kits for community sharing. Open to youth aged 13-22, with an intake process required. The event is in-person and conducted in English.

Center Youth: Lights Out

Happy Hour

A social gathering with drinks called Happy Hour at Kween Astoria.

A social event for LGBTQ+ youth aged 13-22 to play various board, card, and video games, providing a space to connect and have fun. The event is scheduled for May 26, 2026, from 17:30 to 19:00 at The Center in New York City. No registration is required, and the event is in-person.

Center Youth: Gaymers

An evening fundraiser hosted by Love Wins NYC to kick off Pride Month with community celebration and support for addressing food insecurity in NYC. The event takes place at The Stonewall Inn, 53 Christopher Street, New York, NY 10014, on May 26, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM ET. Funds raised will support food distribution programs and community outreach efforts. The event features sponsorship opportunities, ticket options, and opportunities for community engagement.

The Stonewall Inn

Still Standing, Still Feeding - A Love Wins NYC Pride Fundraiser

The TransFamilies Project is a support group for parents of transgender children, as well as other family members and friends. It provides a space to meet understanding friends, share important information, and receive support on this journey. The event is virtual and scheduled for May 26, 2026, from 18:30 to 20:00 EDT. To participate, attendees need to register online for more information.

TransFamilies Project

PFLAG NYC

An online event hosted via Zoom on May 26, 2026, from 19:00 to 20:00 EST, exclusively for LGBTQ+ Jews of Color aged 18 and above. The gathering offers a space for connection, dialogue, laughter, and community building among participants.

5/26 – QJOC Kinship: A Virtual Gathering for LGBTQ+ Jews of Color

Keshet

Bingo

angelamansberry

A community bingo night hosted by angelamansberry at Kween Astoria.

Join Leila Olsen of Altaru Tarot for a 30-minute tarot reading session at Brooklyn Pride Center. The event is scheduled for May 27, 2026, starting at 18:00. Participants are encouraged to book their sessions in advance via the provided link.

Brooklyn Pride Center

Tarot Readings with Altaru Tarot

An event titled 'Las Vegas AI Builders' scheduled for May 27, 2026, from 18:00 to 20:00. Further details are not provided in the content.

Las Vegas AI Builders

StartUp Vegas

A peer-led support group for individuals with LGBTQ+ partners who have come out or are transitioning. The group provides a safe space for sharing experiences related to partners' coming out or transitioning journeys.

Brooklyn

Partners Group

A book discussion session of 'Pnin' organized by The Williamsburg Modern Lit Book Club at The Gibson in Brooklyn.

Meet up One Hundred and Forty One: Pnin

The Williamsburg Modern Lit Book Club

An event centered around a book club discussion of 'The Book Club for Troublesome Women' by Marie Bostwick, exploring themes of feminism, friendship, and societal change in the 1960s. Participants will delve into the historical context of women's roles, the impact of Betty Friedan's 'The Feminine Mystique', and the personal stories of women challenging societal expectations. The event aims to foster meaningful conversations about gender roles, empowerment, and the evolution of women's rights.

The Center

Queer Women Reading Whatever We Fancy: The Book Club for Troublesome Women

Queer Book Club NYC

Royal Karaoke

hassanintheworld

A drag event featuring karaoke performances at Kween Astoria.

The Gay Men’s Book Club is a relaxed group for individuals interested in discussing fiction and nonfiction works by queer authors, featuring queer characters, or books with a 'queer sensibility.' The event takes place on May 27, 2026, from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM at the Brooklyn Pride Center, located at 1561 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY. The featured book for discussion is 'The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay' by Michael Chabon.

Gay Men's Book Club

A casual happy hour event at Kween Astoria for everyone to enjoy drinks and socializing.

A powerful and humorous personal history by Hugh Ryan, exploring the transformative decade of the 1990s for LGBTQ communities. The book details societal shifts, activism, early internet culture, and personal stories, mapping how queer life transitioned from private to public during this pivotal era. It reflects on gains and setbacks, nostalgia, and the ongoing impact of the '90s on contemporary queer identity.

NYC AIDS Memorial

My Bad: A Personal History of the Queer Nineties and Beyond

An event focused on developing and strengthening self-esteem, scheduled for May 28, 2026, starting at 20:00. Further details about the event content, host, location, and end time are not provided.

Building a healthy self esteem

Self-awareness and mindfulness class - online

Exotic Painting

frederick_law_daddies

An event called Exotic Painting featuring artwork at Kween Astoria.

A social gathering with drinks and conversation during happy hour at Kween Astoria.

An awards event hosted by Immigration Equality, celebrating safety and freedom, with a focus on immigration rights.

Tribeca Rooftop

Safe Haven Awards

Immigration Equality

A celebration event for Julián Delgado Lopera’s new novel 'Pretend You’re Dead And I Carry You'. The event includes a reading, conversation, and Q&A session featuring Julián Delgado Lopera and Angie Cruz. The story explores themes of family, identity, and self-discovery through the lives of Ignacio, his daughter Valentina, and Mamadora Eléctrica in Bogotá. The event is organized by Bureau of General Services Queer Division and takes place in person at 208 West 13th Street, New York, NY, on May 29, 2026, from 18:30 to 20:30.

Bureau of General Services—Queer Division

Book Launch – Pretend You’re Dead And I Carry You

Join us for a Weekend Party at The Golden Nugget in Las Vegas on May 29, 2026, starting at 7:00 PM. The event features a night swim with a DJ at the pool, food and drinks available, and an afterparty at Troy Liquor around 9:00 PM with free entry and 2-for-1 drinks. Attendees are encouraged to wear pool clothing to the afterparty. Parking is available in the Golden Nugget garage with free validation or nearby street parking. The event is hosted by Su W. and is part of the Vegas Vibes group.

Weekend Party! Night Swim, DJ, BOGO drinks and more!

Vegas Vibes

New York Liberty vs. Phoenix Mercury. Reserve your tickets for the New York Liberty's Pride Night when they play the Phoenix Mercury.

New York Liberty Pride Night

Pride Basketball NYC

A basketball game between the New York Liberty and the Phoenix Mercury celebrating Pride Night.

Support The Center while cheering on the New York Liberty. Portions of ticket sales are donated to The Center.

A.R.T./New York Theatres

New York Liberty vs. Phoenix Mercury

Pride Basketball League, New York City

KWEEN Cocktails + Kitchen

All Stars Viewing Party

A social event where people can watch RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 11 together with drinks and snacks.

Cold Plunge - A 360 Experience with Experimental Performances, Frozen Drinks, Two Dancefloors, No Phones, and a Real Cold Plunge. Open to Close

House of Yes

Cold Plunge

A party featuring experimental performances, frozen drinks, two dancefloors, and a real cold plunge at House of Yes.

Leather & Skin Party

A party for men featuring leather and skin-themed fashion and style.

A nightclub event featuring DJ Frankiesharp and friends, with tickets available online.

Friends and Lovers

VICE

This event is a bootcamp session titled 'Claude Code Level 01: From Installation to Building Apps with AI'. It is scheduled to take place on May 30, 2026, from 10:00 to 12:00. The event focuses on guiding participants through the process of installing and building applications using AI, providing a comprehensive introduction to AI app development.

Claude Code Level 01: From Installation to Building Apps with AI

Rocketone.AI Singapore

An event for curious minds interested in security, featuring talks and networking opportunities.

UTN Sede Medrano – Aula Magna

THREAX SECURITY COMMUNITY EVENT

An online English class available for free, allowing participants to choose their preferred class. The event is scheduled to start on May 30, 2026, at 11:00 AM. Further details about the class content or registration are not provided.

Queer City Guides for New York

Queer Things To Do in New York This May 2026: Your Pre‑Pride Kickoff Guide

Your April 2026 Guide to NYC Pride in New York

Where Things Are Happening

Take New York's queer scene with you