New York City was a technicolor dreamland this year as over a million fabulous folks took to the streets for the 2025 NYC Pride March and honey, it was one for the books. Organized by Heritage of Pride, the annual march once again transformed Manhattan into the epicenter of LGBTQIA+ visibility and resistance. The theme, Rise Up: Pride in Protest, echoed through the crowd like a battle cry, honoring the movements radical roots while pushing forward with resilience, glitter, and grace.A sea of rainbows and resistance: Marchers filled Fifth Avenue during the 2025 NYC Pride March, waving flags, chanting for justice, and celebrating LGBTQIA+ joy in full color. Photo: Madison SwartFrom Stonewall to today, Pride remains political and the streets echoed with that truth. Photo: Madison SwartFrom Stonewall to 7th Avenue: A March for the AgesThe festivities officially kicked off at high noon from 26th Street and Fifth Avenue, but lets be real the energy had been building all morning. Marchers gathered early in their most dazzling looks, from sequins and feather boas to protest tees and leather harnesses. LGBTQIA+ families, activists, artists, and allies strutted, chanted, danced, and yes, vogued their way down the historic route through Lower Manhattan.The city that never sleeps lit up with color, love, and liberation at this years Rise Up: Pride in Protest march. Photo: Madison SwartThe march followed its iconic path, winding down Fifth Avenue, past the cheering crowds in Greenwich Village, and dispersing at 15th Street and Seventh Avenue but the celebration was far from over. Every corner of downtown was pulsing with community joy and the unwavering spirit of protest.A sea of rainbows and resistance: Marchers filled Fifth Avenue during the 2025 NYC Pride March, waving flags, chanting for justice, and celebrating LGBTQIA+ joy in full colorThe city that never sleeps lit up with color, love, and liberation at this years Rise Up: Pride in Protest marchPhoto: Madison SwartSigns shouted what hearts have always known: queer liberation is a fight worth showing up for. Photo: Madison SwartA Sea of Pride (and a Fortress of Safety)In a city that never sleeps and definitely doesnt sleep on Pride safety remained top of mind. The NYPD had security on lock, lining the march route with more than 10,000 metal barriers, backed by sanitation trucks, police vehicles, and a visible presence of uniformed officers.From feathers to fists raised high, NYC Pride 2025 turned Fifth Avenue into a runway of resistance. Photo: Madison SwartA sea of rainbows and resistance: Marchers filled Fifth Avenue during the 2025 NYC Pride March, waving flags, chanting for justice, and celebrating LGBTQIA+ joy in full color. Photo: Madison SwartA sea of rainbows and resistance: Marchers filled Fifth Avenue during the 2025 NYC Pride March, waving flags, chanting for justice, and celebrating LGBTQIA+ joy in full color. Photo: Madison SwartA sea of rainbows and resistance: Marchers filled Fifth Avenue during the 2025 NYC Pride March, waving flags, chanting for justice, and celebrating LGBTQIA+ joy in full color. Photo: Madison SwartPolice Commissioner Jessica Tisch assured the public that while there were no credible threats to the event, security measures were amped up due to ongoing global tensions, particularly in the Middle East.Protest With a PurposeRise Up: Pride in Protest wasnt just a catchy slogan it was a rallying point. Organizers and participants reminded the world that Pride didnt start with parades it started with a riot.A sea of rainbows and resistance: Marchers filled Fifth Avenue during the 2025 NYC Pride March, waving flags, chanting for justice, and celebrating LGBTQIA+ joy in full color. Photo: Madison SwartA sea of rainbows and resistance: Marchers filled Fifth Avenue during the 2025 NYC Pride March, waving flags, chanting for justice, and celebrating LGBTQIA+ joy in full color. Photo: Madison SwartFrom feathers to fists raised high, NYC Pride 2025 turned Fifth Avenue into a runway of resistance.. Photo: Madison SwartThe city that never sleeps lit up with color, love, and liberation at this years Rise Up: Pride in Protest march Photo: Madison SwartThe march honored the legacy of the 1969 Stonewall Riots, which ignited the modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement, while also calling attention to the battles still being fought today: trans rights, anti-LGBTQ legislation, and racial justice were front and center in handmade signs, chants, and impassioned speeches from floats and rally stops.Pride is joy, but its also resistance, said one marcher donning a cape made of protest signs. Were here to celebrate, but were also here to say: Were not going anywhere.From Stonewall to today, Pride remains political and the streets echoed with that truth. Photo: Madison SwartA sea of rainbows and resistance: Marchers filled Fifth Avenue during the 2025 NYC Pride March, waving flags, chanting for justice, and celebrating LGBTQIA+ joy in full color. Photo: Madison SwartA sea of rainbows and resistance: Marchers filled Fifth Avenue during the 2025 NYC Pride March, waving flags, chanting for justice, and celebrating LGBTQIA+ joy in full color. Photo: Madison SwartA sea of rainbows and resistance: Marchers filled Fifth Avenue during the 2025 NYC Pride March, waving flags, chanting for justice, and celebrating LGBTQIA+ joy in full color. Photo: Madison SwartStreet Closures and Full-On TakeoverIf you were anywhere in Lower Manhattan on Sunday, you felt Pride because traffic didnt stand a chance. Streets from 33rd down to 15th were closed for the day as the crowd snaked through the city like a moving rainbow wave. A sea of rainbows and resistance: Marchers filled Fifth Avenue during the 2025 NYC Pride March, waving flags, chanting for justice, and celebrating LGBTQIA+ joy in full color. Photo: Madison SwartA sea of rainbows and resistance: Marchers filled Fifth Avenue during the 2025 NYC Pride March, waving flags, chanting for justice, and celebrating LGBTQIA+ joy in full color. Photo: Madison SwartA sea of rainbows and resistance: Marchers filled Fifth Avenue during the 2025 NYC Pride March, waving flags, chanting for justice, and celebrating LGBTQIA+ joy in full color. Photo: Madison SwartA sea of rainbows and resistance: Marchers filled Fifth Avenue during the 2025 NYC Pride March, waving flags, chanting for justice, and celebrating LGBTQIA+ joy in full color. Photo: Madison SwartGreenwich Avenue, Christopher Street, and 7th Avenue became stages for spontaneous performances, kiss-ins, and emotional reunions. For one beautiful day, the city belonged to the people unapologetically loud, proud, and unfiltered.Signs shouted what hearts have always known: queer liberation is a fight worth showing up for. Photo: Madison SwartThe city that never sleeps lit up with color, love, and liberation at this years Rise Up: Pride in Protest march Photo: Madison SwartA sea of rainbows and resistance: Marchers filled Fifth Avenue during the 2025 NYC Pride March, waving flags, chanting for justice, and celebrating LGBTQIA+ joy in full color. Photo: Madison SwartSigns shouted what hearts have always known: queer liberation is a fight worth showing up for. Photo: Madison SwartA Pride for the Record BooksFrom youth-led trans rights chants to voguing battles in front of Stonewall, the 2025 NYC Pride March was more than just a celebration. It was a reminder that queerness is power, protest is beautiful, and love always wins.From Stonewall to today, Pride remains political and the streets echoed with that truth. Photo: Madison SwartSigns shouted what hearts have always known: queer liberation is a fight worth showing up for. Photo: Madison SwartThe city that never sleeps lit up with color, love, and liberation at this years Rise Up: Pride in Protest march Photo: Madison SwartAs marchers dispersed into afterparties, rooftop ragers, drag shows, and cozy community dinners, the spirit of the day lived on: Pride isnt just one month, one march, or one day. Its a lifelong commitment to living authentically, fighting for equity, and uplifting each other with fabulous ferocity.A sea of rainbows and resistance: Marchers filled Fifth Avenue during the 2025 NYC Pride March, waving flags, chanting for justice, and celebrating LGBTQIA+ joy in full color. Photo: Madison SwartA sea of rainbows and resistance: Marchers filled Fifth Avenue during the 2025 NYC Pride March, waving flags, chanting for justice, and celebrating LGBTQIA+ joy in full color. Photo: Madison SwartA sea of rainbows and resistance: Marchers filled Fifth Avenue during the 2025 NYC Pride March, waving flags, chanting for justice, and celebrating LGBTQIA+ joy in full color. Photo: Madison SwartThe city that never sleeps lit up with color, love, and liberation at this years Rise Up: Pride in Protest march Photo: Madison SwartFrom feathers to fists raised high, NYC Pride 2025 turned Fifth Avenue into a runway of resistance. Photo: Madison SwartSource