Ottawa’s downtown core was packed Sunday as members of the LGBTQ+ community, public figures and supporters attended the Capital Pride Parade.
The parade started just after 1 p.m. on Aug. 30, at the intersection of Wellington and Booth streets.
The parade followed a new route unveiled by Capital Pride earlier in August, with participants travelling east along Wellington Street before turning south on Bank Street and finishing at the intersection of Bank and Slater streets.
Grand Marshal Brianne Jenner walked the parade route with her wife and children Sunday afternoon.
Thousands of people were stationed against the metal barriers as they cheered more than 225 groups and over 11,000 community members that embellished the city’s streets this year, according to Capital Pride.
The event was a stark contrast from last year’s parade, which was cancelled shortly after it began due to a protest that blocked its route.
Tricia Lucas, who has been an Ottawa resident for a decade now, said she has tried to come to the parade every year.
“I was disappointed that they cancelled the parade last year,” she said. “But I wanted to come out this year and support the community. It’s really great to see everybody that came out here and all the different organizations.”
The Capital Pride Parade made its way through downtown Ottawa on a new route on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
Local politicians, including many councillors, Ottawa’s current mayor, Mark Sutcliffe, and mayoral hopefuls Jeff Leiper and Neil Saravanamuttoo, marched in the parade.
Mayoral candidate Alex Lawson did not attend Sunday’s event.
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board was also present Sunday, with a very large group marching. The OCDSB had originally backed out of the march, explaining that Capital Pride events took place in late August, outside the school year, but it later decided to reverse that decision.
In July, Capital Pride executive director Callie Metler had told the Ottawa Citizen that the organization was initially disappointed with the board’s decision to back out, but was later satisfied with the reversal.
The Capital Pride Parade made its way through downtown Ottawa on a new route on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
Peggy Lucas and her seven-year-old daughter came from Guelph, Ont., to visit Peggy’s sister, Tricia Lucas, and take in the parade. Peggy was grateful the weather turned out to be “so wonderful.”
“I love the music, the energy and the great vibes,” she said. Her family also attended other street festivities over the weekend, including the Ottawa Dyke March, which took place Saturday, Aug. 29.
“It’s a different kind of thing to do in Ottawa that you don’t think about, but it’s really, really fun,” Peggy said.
Last year’s fun came to an abrupt end after members of Queers for Palestine Ottawa blocked the parade route on Wellington Street near O’Connor, demanding action from both Capital Pride and Sutcliffe over the organization’s handling of a pro-Palestinian solidarity statement first issued in 2024.
The Capital Pride Parade made its way through downtown Ottawa on a new route on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
In a release posted online, organizers of Capital Pride had said they acknowledged the cancellation as being disappointing, and “for some (members of the community) damaging” and explained the decision was a measure taken in the interest of public safety.
“We did not want to cancel the parade,” the release read. “But with growing reports of dehydration and heat stroke, the logistical limitations we faced around road closures and permits, coordination with emergency services, and the constraints of rerouting a parade of over 7,000 people in the downtown core, it was the only decision we could make in the interest of public safety.”
The Capital Pride Parade made its way through downtown Ottawa on a new route on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
For Philippe Marchand, who isn’t part of the community, but comes as often as he can to show his support, said Sunday the special thing about Pride is how inclusive it is of different genders, and cultural and religious backgrounds.
“You can see it in the parade,” Marchand said. “I am an ally and I have friends who are part of the community so I am here to support them, and it’s a very fun event with music and colours.”
Manuel Murillo and Sky Bhardwha moved to Ottawa just over a year-and-a-half ago from Waterloo, Ont. “We’re very happy to be part of Pride this year,” Murillo said.
For Bhardwha, seeing hundreds who are part of the LGBTQ+ community is affirming and validating.
“It feels like we have a bigger family than we can see,” Bhardwha said.
— With files from Michael McBean
The Capital Pride Parade made its way through downtown Ottawa on a new route on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
The Capital Pride Parade made its way through downtown Ottawa on a new route on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
Coun. Laura Dudas and Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, joined by other city officials, rode aboard a float during Sunday’s colourful Capital Pride Parade through downtown Ottawa.
The Capital Pride Parade made its way through downtown Ottawa on a new route on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
The Capital Pride Parade made its way through downtown Ottawa on a new route on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
The Capital Pride Parade made its way through downtown Ottawa on a new route on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
The Capital Pride Parade made its way through downtown Ottawa on a new route on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
Ottawa police Chief Eric Stubbs took part in Sunday’s fun march through Ottawa’s downtown.
Chef Ric Allen-Watson, director of food services at The Ottawa Mission, waved a big hello as he made his way along the Capital Pride Parade route in downtown Ottawa on Sunday.
The Capital Pride Parade made its way through downtown Ottawa on a new route on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
NDP MPP Catherine McKenney marched in Sunday’s parade.
The Capital Pride Parade made its way through downtown Ottawa on a new route on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
The Capital Pride Parade made its way through downtown Ottawa on a new route on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
The Capital Pride Parade made its way through downtown Ottawa on a new route on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
The Capital Pride Parade made its way through downtown Ottawa on a new route on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
Donna Blackburn, an elected OCDSB trustee, was once again at the Capital Pride Parade in downtown Ottawa.
The Capital Pride Parade made its way through downtown Ottawa on a new route on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
The Capital Pride Parade made its way through downtown Ottawa on a new route on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
Coun. Tim Tierney was having all the fun on the City of Ottawa float during the 2026 Capital Pride Parade.
The Capital Pride Parade made its way through downtown Ottawa on a new route on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
The Capital Pride Parade made its way through downtown Ottawa on a new route on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
Dr. Vera Etches, president and CEO of CHEO, joined a group from the children’s hospital taking part in the Capital Pride Parade in downtown Ottawa on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
The Capital Pride Parade made its way through downtown Ottawa on a new route on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
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