Hotter Than July 2026
- July 22-27, 2025
- Detroit, MI
Hotter Than July 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of Detroit's iconic Black lgbtq+Q+ Pride celebration. What started as urgent conversations among a handful of activists in the mid‑1990s has grown into the world's longest‑running Black Pride festival; the 2025 event runs from Tuesday 22 July through Sunday 27 July 2025, honouring three decades of resilience, activism and joy. Organised by lgbtq+ Detroit—an organisation that evolved from the pioneering KICK Magazine—the week‑long celebration welcomes nearly 20,000 visitors to the Motor City and remains a grassroots space where the Black lgbtq+Q+ community can see itself reflected and affirmed. In an era when mainstream Pride events often centred white narratives, Hotter Than July offered a different vision: it forged a community for those who felt overlooked, combining celebration with advocacy and making Detroit’s Black queer culture visible on a national stage.
The festival’s history is central to its character. In 1994, as the AIDS crisis ravaged Black communities and homophobia remained entrenched in churches and families, Detroit activists began organising in a one‑bedroom apartment. The following summer they convened the first Hotter Than July picnic at Palmer Park. Over the years, programmes expanded to include vigils, film screenings, educational conferences and a health fair, while still retaining the heart of the original picnic. Part of the celebration’s success has been its intergenerational ethos: elders mentor younger activists, parents bring their children to the picnic, and thousands of chosen family members gather to honour those lost to AIDS and anti‑lgbtq+Q+ violence. For many Detroiters the week is less a festival than a homecoming; long‑time attendee Marcus Pratt notes that the best part is “seeing the community be unified and feed each other,” while nurse Christopher Ross says the events taught him not to be afraid of loving himself openly.
This year’s edition stays true to that spirit while offering a packed schedule. The official programme on the lgbtq+ Detroit site lists a candlelight vigil at the Blue Spruce Tree in Palmer Park on Tuesday 22 July; the following evening, Wednesday 23 July, features a VIP reception at the Detroit Historical Museum and a mixer at the Griot Music Lounge. On Thursday 24 July the festival hosts a film festival at the Northwest Activities Center’s Paul Robeson Theater. Friday 25 July begins early with the Annual Gathering for lgbtq++ Issues at the University of Michigan Detroit Center; the day includes the Mayoral Candidate Forum and State of the Movement, and ends with an official opening party at Pandora’s Boxx. Saturday 26 July brings the signature Palmer Park Picnic, a free, family‑friendly afternoon where vendors offer art, Caribbean food and vegan options, and the Royal Rumble stage showcases performers such as Calvin Lee, Nick Ferri, PeeJay Eugene, Cierra Malone and Montrelle Blu. That night the Black Bear Brotherhood hosts Hot Like Fire, a late‑night dance party. The week concludes on Sunday 27 July with worship services at One Church Detroit and a Sunday brunch hosted by the Billionaire Boys Club.
Beyond the headline events, Hotter Than July functions as a hub for health, education and community‑building. The festival is a multi‑day celebration that includes workshops, picnics and talent shows culminating in a large festival on the final weekend. Organisers from the Detroit Black Pride Society and KICK stress that the festival is free and open to everyone, and that its calendar is jam‑packed with exciting events across the city. A designated Testing Zone provides free HIV and STI screening and connects attendees with community health resources. The emphasis on wellness reflects the event’s roots in the HIV/AIDS crisis while ensuring that celebration goes hand in hand with care. Workshops explore topics such as mental health, queer youth empowerment, and the intersection of race and sexuality. A film festival highlights stories by and about Black lgbtq+Q+ people. The Annual Gathering invites politicians, faith leaders and activists to debate policy and discuss issues facing Detroit’s queer community. Even the late‑night parties serve a purpose: they raise funds for local initiatives and provide spaces where queer Black joy can thrive without judgement.
If you’re planning to join the 2025 celebration, consider basing yourself near Midtown or the Palmer Park area to be close to the key venues. Palmer Park sits on Merrill Plaisance Street and offers parking as well as easy access via the Woodward Avenue bus line. Many events, including the Annual Gathering and film festival, take place in central Detroit, so public transit or ride‑sharing might be more convenient than driving. Detroit has a small but lively gay nightlife scene—bars like Adam’s Apple, HALO and Gigi’s are popular stops for festival‑goers. Hotels around Downtown and New Center fill quickly during the festival, so book early or consider staying with friends in the community. The event is free, but bring cash for vendors and donations. Respect that Hotter Than July is a Black‑centred space: visitors of all identities are welcome, but organisers ask allies to listen, support and uplift without dominating. Most importantly, be present for the candlelight vigil and ancestor tributes—these solemn moments honour those lost and set the tone for the week.
What sets Hotter Than July apart is its refusal to separate party from purpose. Even after thirty years, the festival still honours its activist roots: from its earliest days as KICK Magazine’s backyard picnic to its current iteration drawing international visitors, it has never lost sight of the need to build community, advocate for justice and celebrate Black queer life. It remains the world’s longest‑running Black lgbtq+Q+ Pride celebration, yet it is still very much a Detroit story—rooted in the city’s resilience, shaped by its artists and elders, and nurtured by organisations like lgbtq+ Detroit that continue to fight for equality. In 2025 the organisers invite everyone to stand with them as they look back at three decades of struggle and joy and look ahead to the future. Whether you come for the music, the food, the health fair or the candlelit remembrance, you’ll find yourself part of a living legacy that has shaped Detroit’s cultural landscape and offered a home to thousands who needed one.
Official Website: https://www.lgbtq+detroit.org/hotterthanjuly
