On Tuesday morning, The HELP Center for LGBTQ+ Health announced that Arlington Pride will return to the Levitt Pavillion on June 12, 2027. The decision follows a series of local election results that demonstrated community support for leaders committed to building an inclusive Arlington. Throughout the May and June 2026 elections, Arlington voters elected candidates who emphasized such values.
Earlier this year, the Arlington Pride committee canceled the event for 2026 in response to the city repeal of its nondiscrimination ordinance. By this time, the event had grown into one of the largest in the state of Texas. After the vote, Pride organizer and HELP Center President and CEO DeeJay Johannessen declared the event should not happen for fear of people’s safety.
Recent election results, however, delivered a different message.
“Arlington voters have spoken clearly,” Johannessen said in today’s press release. “They elected leaders who understand that strong communities are built by bringing people together. The results demonstrate that Arlington residents want a city where every
person is treated with dignity and respect and has the opportunity to thrive.”
I believe Arlington is strongest when every resident knows they belong and are wanted
–Arlington Mayor Jim Ross
The HELP Center emphasized that the return of Arlington Pride is focused on the future.
“While there have been difficult times over the past year, our focus now is on moving forward,” Johannessen added. “We remain committed to working collaboratively with the Mayor, City Council, city administration, business leaders and residents to ensure Arlington continues to be a city where everyone feels safe, welcomed and protected from discrimination.”Â
The organization and city leadership reaffirmed their mutual commitment to constructive engagement and continued dialogue as discussions regarding local civil rights protections continue.
“I believe Arlington is strongest when every resident knows they belong and are wanted,” Mayor Jim Ross said in the release. “I look forward to working with community leaders to put forward solutions that make sure all our citizens have confidence that discrimination will not be tolerated in our community.”Â
Founded in 2022, Arlington Pride quickly grew due to high profile entertainers and a spacious location at Levitt Pavillion drawing more than 15,600 attendees in 2025 and generating an estimated $4.5 million in local economic impact.
In 2027, Arlington Pride will resume to celebrate the diversity, resilience and contributions of the city’s LGBTQ+ community and its allies as well as the city itself who spoke up at the election booth.
We will have a featured piece on Arlington Pride’s return in a future print version of Dallas Voice and on DallasVoice.com.
–From staff reports