WeHo Pride officially kicks off Friday in West Hollywood with the return of the free Friday Night OUTLOUD Music Festival, launching a weekend of celebrations expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city’s Rainbow District.
WeHo Pride Presents Friday Night at OUTLOUD will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, June 5, at West Hollywood Park, located at 647 N. San Vicente Blvd. The free outdoor concert, produced by JJLA in partnership with the City of West Hollywood, drew large crowds and long lines that stretched down Santa Monica Boulevard.
Singer Ava Max headlined the opening-night event to a packed crowd at WeHo Park. Feature performances also included a set by Jess Glynne, Maude Latour, Cakes da Killa, DARUMAS and Hannah Rad. The lineup also included a Drag King Showcase featuring King Molasses, Tenderoni and Dick Von Dyke.
Ava Max performs at WeHo Pride OUTLOUD Music Festival – Photo by Mike Pingel for WEHO TIMES
Jess Glynne erforms at WeHo Pride OUTLOUD Music Festival – Photo by Mike Pingel for WEHO TIMESMayor John Heilman acknowledged the crowd and had Vice Mayor Danny Hang and council members Lauren Meister, John Erickson, and Chelsea byers take a selfie with him with the crowd in the background
Erickson recognized Heilman for being the longest running openly gay elected person in the nation. Heilman was also presented with flowers in recognition of his advocacy to the LGBTQ+ community.
West Hollywood city council at WeHo Pride – Photo by Mike Pingel for WEHO TIMES
Friday night’s event serves as the opening celebration for the larger OUTLOUD Music Festival and WeHo Pride weekend, which continues through Sunday with concerts, community events, nightlife celebrations, the Dyke March, Women’s Freedom Festival, street fair and the WeHo Pride Parade.
2026 WeHo Pride in West Hollywood – Photo by Mike Pingel for WEHO TIMESAdditional OUTLOUD Music Festival performers scheduled throughout the weekend include The Pussycat Dolls, JADE, Ashlee Simpson and other artists appearing across multiple stages in West Hollywood Park and along Santa Monica Boulevard.
The City of West Hollywood has spent weeks preparing for one of its busiest weekends of the year. Streets throughout the Rainbow District have been decorated with Pride banners, and event installations as local businesses, restaurants, bars and hotels prepare for large crowds.
Initial street closures related to WeHo Pride festivities began Thursday. Starting Friday at noon, Santa Monica Boulevard will close in both directions between Doheny Drive and La Cienega Boulevard through Monday morning.
Additional information, schedules and event updates are available at wehopride.com.
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