Charlotte Pride Festival & Parade 2026

If you own or work with a for-profit retail or commercial company with fewer than 500 employees, we invite you to submit an application for vendor/exhibition space at this year’s Charlotte Pride Festival, to be held on Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16, 2026.  

Our retail/commercial/for-profit vendor fee structure is as follows:

• $695 per 10x10 space (includes $50 application fee)
• Add-Ons: 
  • Electricity: $400 addditional, if needed
  • Tent Rental: $450, if needed
  • Other Add-Ons: See application prices for additional tables, chairs, tent walls
  • Late Fee: Applications received on or after May 7 will be charged a $100 late fee per 10x10 booth space.

Application Fee:

A non-refundable application fee of $50 will be charged upon submission of your application.

Vendor Fee:

Retail/Commercial/For Profit - $695/space (includes $50 application fee) 

Late Fee:

Applications received on or after May 7 will be charged a $100 late fee.

NOTE: Corporate partners are invited to join us as sponsors and may not apply using this application. Sponsor packages often include a Festival Zone Vendor Space and/or Parade entry. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please reach out to our managing director at meredith@charlottepride.org for more information.

Vendors will be notified according to the schedule below.

Notification Deadlines and Dates:

Submission by February 4 - Notice by February 18

Submission by February 25 - Notice by March 11
Submission by April 1 – Notice by April 15
Submission by May 6 (Regular Deadline)* – Notice by May 20

*Late Fees Added After May 6th
Submission by June 10 (Final Deadline) – Notice by June 24

Please do not email requesting status updates before your submission notice date. If you have not been contacted by your appropriate notification date, please email vendors@charlottepride.org.  

The annual Charlotte Pride Festival is organized, operated, and produced by Charlotte Pride, Inc. Charlotte Pride and the City of Charlotte have several guidelines, rules, and regulations that all festival participants must follow. If you have any questions, please contact our Vendor Team at vendors@charlottepride.org. https://charlottepride.org/faqs/

If you represent a small, medium, or large nonprofit organization, we invite you to submit an application for vendor/exhibition space at this year’s Charlotte Pride Festival, to be held on Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16, 2026. 
 
Our nonprofit vendor fee structure is based on your organization or campaign's budget:

• Grassroots Nonprofit/Political Group (Gross Receipts/Campaign Budget Under $100k) — $250/Space
• Small Nonprofit/Political Group (Gross Receipts/Campaign Budget Between $100k-$500k) — $350/Space
• Medium Nonprofit/Political Group (Gross Receipts/Campaign Budget Between $500k-$1 million) — $450/Space
• Large Nonprofit/Political Group (Gross Receipts/Campaign Budget Over $1 million) — $650/Space

Application Fee:

A non-refundable application fee of $50 will be charged upon submission of your application. If application is approved, $50 will be applied towards total application fee. (Fees listed above include the application fee.)

Late Fee:

Applications received on or after May 6 will be charged a $100 late fee.

NOTE: Sponsor packages often include a Festival Zone Vendor Space and/or Parade entry. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please reach out to our Managing Director at meredith@charlottepride.org for more information.
 
Vendors will be notified according to the schedule below.
 

Notification Deadlines and Dates:

• Submission by February 4 - Notice by February 18
• Submission by February 25 - Notice by March 11
• Submission by April 1 – Notice by April 15
• Submission by May 6 (Regular Deadline) – Notice by May 20 *Late Fees Added After May 6th
• Submission by June 10 (Final Deadline) – Notice by June 24

Please do not email requesting status updates before your submission notice date. If you have not be contacted by your appropriate notification date, please email vendors@charlottepride.org. 
 
The annual Charlotte Pride Festival is organized, operated, and produced by Charlotte Pride, Inc. Charlotte Pride and the City of Charlotte have a number of guidelines, rules, and regulations that all festival participants must follow. If you have any questions, please contact our Vendor Team at vendors@charlottepride.org.https://charlottepride.org/faqs/

If you are an artist, creative, or maker of any kind, or if you operate a local small or micro-business, we invite you to submit an application for a 10x10 booth space within our Neighborhood Market area at this year’s Charlotte Pride Festival, to be held on Saturday, August 15, and Sunday, August 16, 2026. 
 
A Neighborhood Market space starts at $350, including the application fee.

Application Fee:

A non-refundable application fee of $50 will be charged upon submission of your application. If your application is approved, the $50 fee will be applied towards the total application fee.

Neighborhood Market booth spaces are limited, so please apply early. Please note that vendors are juried by our vendor team. Neighborhood Market vendors will be notified according to the schedule below.
 

Notification Deadlines and Dates:

Prospective Neighborhood Market vendors will be notified according to the schedule below.
 

Notification Deadlines and Dates:

• Submission by February 4 - Notice by February 18
• Submission by February 25 - Notice by March 11
• Submission by March 25 – Notice by April 8
• Submission by April 29 – Notice by May 13

Please do not email requesting status updates before your submission notice date. If you have not been contacted by your appropriate notification date, please email vendors@charlottepride.org. 
 
The annual Charlotte Pride Festival is organized, operated, and produced by Charlotte Pride, Inc. Charlotte Pride and the City of Charlotte have a number of guidelines, rules, and regulations that all festival participants must follow. If you have any questions, please contact our Vendor Team at vendors@charlottepride.org.
 https://charlottepride.org/faqs/

Our 2026 Neighborhood Market will be located in a specified area of First Ward Park, in the heart of our Charlotte Pride Festival Zone. Our Neighborhood Market is designed for micro- and small businesses, local artisans, crafters, and entrepreneurs. Your Neighborhood Market space will include a 10x10 space, a 6-foot table, and two chairs. You must bring and set up your own tent in with 40-pound weights attached to each leg of your tent. If you have questions before you apply, please reach out to vendors@charlottepride.org. Neighborhood Market vendors will not have the option to rent a tent from Charlotte Pride. 

Use this application to apply for a spot in our parade lineup for your company or organization's parade walking/marching group or group with a float or vehicle. Groups can include up to 100 people.

Companies or organizations that will consist of walking groups of more than 100 will need to contact Charlotte Pride about becoming a sponsor. To inquire about becoming a sponsor, please reach out to our managing director Meredith Thompson at meredith@charlottepride.org.

NOTE: Spaces for floats are limited and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Discounts or waived fees are only for organizations that have already become sponsors of the Festival & Parade and whose sponsorship package includes a complimentary space in the parade. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please reach out to our managing director at meredith@charlottepride.org for more information.

If you represent a small, medium, or large nonprofit organization, we invite you to submit an application for Parade entry in this year’s Charlotte Pride Parade, to be held on Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16, 2026. 
 
Our nonprofit Parade fee structure is as follows:
Walking Group (NO VEHICLE) - $200
Walking Group (WITH CAR/TRUCK/VAN) - $275
Motorcycle Group - $200
Large Bus or Vehicle (Tractor Trailer) - $395
Group with Float - $395

Application Fee:
A non-refundable application fee of $50 will be charged upon submission of your application. If application is approved, $50 will be applied towards total application fee. (Fees listed above include the application fee.)
 
Late Fee:
Applications received after May 31st at 11:59 pm will be charged a $100 late fee.
 
NOTE: Sponsor packages often include a Festival Zone Vendor Space and/or Parade entry. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please reach out to our Managing Director at meredith@charlottepride.org for more information.
 
Parade Applicants will be notified according to the schedule below.

Notification Deadlines and Dates: 

Submission by January 31 - Notification by February 16

Submission by February 28 - Notification by March 13

Submission by March 31 - Notification by April 13

Submission by April 30 - Notification by May 11

Submission by May 31 - Notification by June 15 

Late fees will be charged starting June 1st.

To avoid late fees, apply by May 31st. 

Submission by July 3 (Final Deadline) - Notification by July 14

Please do not email Charlotte Pride requesting status updates before your submission notice date. If you have not been contacted by your appropriate notification date, please email parade@charlottepride.org and a member from the team will get back to you.

For frequently asked questions, please visit our website at https://charlottepride.org/faqs/ 

Use this application to apply for a spot in our parade lineup for your company or organization's parade walking/marching group or group with a float or vehicle. Groups can include up to 100 people.

Corporations, as well as companies or organizations that will consist of walking groups of more than 100, will need to contact Charlotte Pride about becoming a sponsor. To inquire about becoming a sponsor, please reach out to our managing director Meredith Thompson at meredith@charlottepride.org.

NOTE: Spaces for floats are limited and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Discounts or waived fees are only for organizations that have already become sponsors of the Festival & Parade and whose sponsorship package includes a complimentary space in the parade. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please reach out to our managing director at meredith@charlottepride.org for more information.

If you represent a small, medium, or large nonprofit organization, we invite you to submit an application for Parade entry in this year’s Charlotte Pride Parade, to be held on Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16, 2026. 
 
Our Parade Retail/Commercial Application fee structure is as follows:
Walking Group (NO VEHICLE) - $395
Walking Group (WITH CAR/TRUCK/VAN) - $495
Motorcycle Group - $400
Large Bus or Vehicle (Tractor Trailer) - $595
Group with Float - $595

Application Fee:
A non-refundable application fee of $50 will be charged upon submission of your application. If your application is approved, $50 will be applied towards the total application fee. (Fees listed above include the application fee.)
 
Late Fee:
Applications received after May 31st at 11:59 pm will be charged a $100 late fee.
 
NOTE: Sponsor packages often include a Festival Zone Vendor Space and/or Parade entry. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please reach out to our Managing Director at meredith@charlottepride.org for more information.
 
Parade Applicants will be notified according to the schedule below.

Notification Deadlines and Dates: 

Submission by January 31 - Notification by February 16

Submission by February 28 - Notification by March 13

Submission by March 31 - Notification by April 13

Submission by April 30 - Notification by May 11

Submission by May 31 - Notification by June 15 

Late fees will be charged starting June 1st.

To avoid late fees, apply by May 31st. 

Submission by July 3 (Final Deadline) - Notification by July 14

Please do not email Charlotte Pride requesting status updates before your submission notice date. If you have not been contacted by your appropriate notification date, please email parade@charlottepride.org and a member from the team will get back to you.

For frequently asked questions, please visit our website at https://charlottepride.org/faqs/ 

Dear artists, entertainers, and speakers! 

We invite you to submit your information here to be considered as a potential performer for the 2026 Charlotte Pride Festival on August 15 and 16, 2026. All forms of art, entertainment, talent, and speakers are welcome. 

When filling out the application, please provide us with examples of your work so we can fully consider your participation. Due to the high volume of submissions, we will NOT be able to reach out to request samples if you do not provide them here.  

We will be in touch as the August event weekend gets closer, if we are interested in moving forward. 

Thank you for your interest in being a part of Charlotte Pride 2026!