25,000+ turned out for Auckland’s 2026 Rainbow Parade, filling Ponsonby Rd in a vibrant show of colour and solidarity, making the Parade the largest event in the Auckland Pride calendar once again!
Spectators arrived early, lining the barricades well before the 7.30pm start. Restaurant forecourts and business frontages along the central strip were packed, as parade-goers secured prime vantage points to watch the procession pass.
Corporate and Community Participation
A broad range of organisations took part, including Air New Zealand, Fonterra, Foodstuffs, Woolworths, ACT, Labour, National, Fire and Emergency New Zealand and NZ Police.
Scouts Aotearoa joined with around two dozen staff on their float, while the Auckland Rainbow Community Church marched with about 50 members carrying signs reading “Faithfully queer”, “God loves you” and “Aroha ki a koe”.
Seven Fire and Emergency New Zealand staff led a fire truck decorated with rainbow flags. A banner featuring a silver fern inset into the rainbow flag read: “Pride: Live Proud”.
The iconic rainbow police car headed the New Zealand Police contingent, followed by officers carrying the Progress Pride flag. Residents along Ponsonby Rd waved from apartment windows as the parade moved below.
Politicians Join the Celebrations
Several political figures took part in the event. Labour MPs marching with their party included deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni, Te Atatū MP Phil Twyford and former senior Cabinet minister Chris Carter.
Chris Bishop joined the National Party group, whose members carried signs stating “Celebrating Pride”.
Around a dozen participants, including ACT leader David Seymour, marched on the ACT Party float wearing matching pink T-shirts featuring the party’s logo. Seymour opted for a light pink shirt and shorts.
A Message of Unity and Inclusion
Speaking with YOUR EX Event manager, Shaughan Woodcock, thanked both the thousands who turned out and the incredible team putting in the time and effort to make the Parade possible.
“I personally want to acknowledge and thank New Zealand Police, Community Patrols of New Zealand, Global Risk Consulting, and Ubique Security for the extraordinary work they do behind the scenes to ensure we can deliver a safe and welcoming event — not just for the rainbow community, but also for the thousands of allies who proudly stand alongside us each year.”
“Events like this don’t happen safely by accident. They happen because of careful planning, collaboration, and people who are deeply committed to protecting our community. A HUGE thank you to all of our parade participants. It’s easy to comment from the sidelines about how things could be done differently — and everyone is entitled to their opinion — but those who step up, take part, and put themselves out there are the ones who truly bring the parade to life. That courage, visibility, and celebration deserve recognition.”
“And finally, a very special thank you to Trevor, Alex, Julie, Jessica, Gage, Shawn, Maeghan, Holly, the Rainbow Pride Auckland Board, and our incredible team of volunteers. I simply couldn’t do this without you. Your time, energy, and heart are what make this event possible.”
Check out our pic from the event below. Get your pic and see the full collection here!
