10 Pride Month events around Madison celebrate LGBTQ+ community | Entertainment

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Pride Month is an annual celebration to honor the LGBTQ+ community. Celebrate visibility, self expression and love this June with the Cap Times’ roundup of Pride events around Madison:

Delta Pride Celebration, June 5 — Queer-owned Delta Beer Lab is continuing an annual tradition with its Delta Pride Celebration. Live music, local food carts, cocktails, queer-friendly vendors and desserts from Baked Lab will be featured at Delta Beer Lab, 153 E. Badger Road from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. to promote pride and visibility in the LGBTQ+ community.

CapitalQ Theatre Festival, June 5-7 & 11-13 — Back for its fifth season, StageQ’s annual CapitalQ Theatre Festival (formerly known as “Queer Shorts”) will run two weekends. Queer playwrights will present play readings, 10-minute shorts and one-act plays at the Bartell Theatre, 113 E. Mifflin St. Tickets range from $10-$50.

Madison Pride Ride, June 7 — Trek Bicycle Co. hosts an annual bike ride around downtown Madison to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. Riders will meet at 10 a.m. at McPike Park, 202 S. Ingersoll St., to decorate their bikes and enjoy music before heading off at 11 a.m. This event is free to attend, with two routes to encourage riders of all ages. Once the ride is finished, riders can enjoy ice cream, more music and community at McPike Park.

Drag Bingo, June 9 — Join drag queens Bianca Lynn Breeze and Kayos Lynn Mirage for an evening of bingo at Comedy on State, 202 State St. Starting at 6:30 p.m., participants can enjoy beverages and 10 rounds of bingo with the opportunity to win prizes. Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased through the website.

Vince Tripi, “The Power Here Is You,” June 11 — From 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., join LGBTQ+ historian and educator Vince Tripi for an educational workshop on Milwaukee’s grassroots response to the 1980s HIV epidemic, and how the lessons from previous activists can be applied to today’s movements. This event is free to attend at Pinney Library, 516 Cottage Grove Road.

Middleton Pride 2026, June 13 — Join the “Good Neighbor City” for Middleton Pride 2026 at Stone Horse Green, 7550 Hubbard Ave. Attendees can expect a similar lineup to last year’s Pride celebration, which featured two drag story hours, local music and nearly 30 vendors, along with dozens of crafts and games from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. The festival is free to attend with dozens of food options from Middleton’s nearby restaurants.

Friday Night Market – The Big Gay PRIDE Market, June 19 — Head to the Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, for the Big Gay PRIDE Market featuring dozens of queer artists and vendors. The market runs the entire weekend, but Friday will feature exclusive Friday-only vendors, a drag pageant and a furry fashion show. The Friday Night Market runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and tickets cost $15.

Pride Drag Brunch, June 21 — Drag performers Anya K Thundercat, Bambii Banx$, Taaysty C Infiniti and Aryiah J StKlare are ready to serve looks, vocals and unforgettable performances at a Pride Drag Brunch, hosted by Midwest icon Bianca Lynn Breeze at the Bur Oak, 2262 Winnebago St. Doors open at noon and the performance begins at 1 p.m. Enjoy food and beverages available for purchase. Tickets cost $12 and are available on the Bur Oak website.

Queer & Trans Open Mic, June 24 — Celebrate LGBTQ+ poetry and music at Queer and Trans Open Mic Night, hosted by A Room Of One’s Own Bookstore, 2717 Atwood Ave. From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., queer poets and musicians share their latest art. Performance sign ups begin at 6:50 p.m. and run until space runs out. Allies are invited to watch, but this performance space is reserved for LGBTQ+ identifying individuals.

Live On Queen, June 26 — The Orpheum Theater, 216 State St., will open its doors early for this year’s Live On Queen Pride event. The pre-show party begins at 5 p.m. with live music from DJ Femme Noir, face painting, spirit tasting, roaming drag queens and more to start the night. Over 15 drag performers, DJs and comedians will take the stage at 7 p.m. The event is free to attend.

Sun Prairie Pride Fest, June 27 — Sun Prairie Pride Fest is a free, family-friendly afternoon of music, arts and crafts, food and fun at Sun Prairie West High School, 2850 Ironwood Drive. The festival goes from noon to 4 p.m. and will include a new Makers Market this year. Attendees are invited to start the celebration early with a Friday night concert from 5 p.m to 8 p.m at Wetmore Park, 555 North St., or the Sun Prairie Farmers Market on Saturday morning at Cannery Square.