Denver Pride has officially announced the Grand Marshals for the 2026 Vizzy Denver Pride Parade, showcasing a lineup that embodies celebration, community activism, and the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ liberation.
Leading this year’s historic march down 17th Street will be celebrated drag artist Felony Misdemeanor, acclaimed author and poet Megan Falley, and advocacy organization One Colorado. The chosen marshals will front a massive procession expected to draw half a million attendees to the streets of Denver to celebrate and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
The announcement comes at a pivotal time for the LGBTQ+ community nationwide, a sentiment emphasized by Center on Colfax CEO Kim Salvaggio.
“Megan, Felony, and our partners at One Colorado embody what Pride has always been about: celebration, community, and the ongoing work of liberation,” Salvaggio says. “At a time when LGBTQ+ people are facing unprecedented legislative attacks across the country, it is more important than ever that we honor Pride’s roots in protest while creating spaces for joy, visibility, and belonging.”
Misdemeanor’s selection marks a historic milestone for Denver Pride, as she is the first Grand Marshal in the event’s history to be selected directly by the public. Following an Instagram call-out asking the community who best embodies the spirit of Denver Pride, the celebrated queen received dozens of nominating votes.
As the mother of the Misdemeanor House—a performance family dedicated to uplifting and mentoring Black queer performers—Felony has built a lasting legacy rooted in community care and queer artistry. Pride organizers chose her for making Denver’s drag scene more inclusive and representing the push for universal queer liberation.
“Pride is a celebration for every member of our vibrant and diverse community,” says Felony Misdemeanor. “And the parade is a display of how far we’ve come, as well as the work we all have to be doing to bring us closer to queer liberation for all.”
Author and poet Megan Falley has also been named a 2026 Grand Marshal. A National Poetry Slam finalist and creator of the popular online writing course “Poems That Don’t Suck,” Falley was chosen in recognition of her impactful voice as a queer writer and her steadfast presence in the community, including during one of its most public moments of grief following the passing of her wife, the late Colorado Poet Laureate Andrea Gibson. Organizers noted that Falley’s poetry has long made LGBTQ+ individuals feel both seen and honored.
“Pride is an expression of queer love, queer joy, and queer resilience,” Falley states. “In 2026, we’re still fighting for the liberation our queer ancestors have been pushing towards for decades, but each parade is a reminder that we are one step closer.”
Rounding out the Grand Marshals is One Colorado, the state’s leading LGBTQ+ advocacy organization. One Colorado has been instrumental in securing vital statewide protections, including safeguarding marriage equality, privacy for LGBTQ+ youth, and protecting access to gender-affirming care.
The organization’s presence at the front of the parade is highly symbolic of Pride’s roots in protest, especially as One Colorado gears up to fight two anti-trans ballot measures aimed at restricting trans youth from participating in sports and limiting access to gender-affirming care.
“Denver Pride is a chance for our community to come together in both protest and celebration,” says Nadine Bridges, Executive Director of One Colorado. “At a time when LGBTQ+ people, especially the transgender community, continue to face attacks, Pride reminds us that joy is also an act of resilience. One Colorado honors the transgender leaders who have helped shape the queer liberation movement, while reminding us that we must continue to show up for one another and protect the dignity, safety, and freedom in Colorado.”
The 2026 Vizzy Denver Pride Parade promises to be a powerful blend of joyous visibility and resolute activism as hundreds of thousands gather to honor the community’s past, present, and future.
Photo courtesy of social media
