Disney World 'Pride' event 'GayDays' on 'pause' for 2026 after loss of sponsorship support

( Post Millennial )

Orlando “GayDays,” which has been a long-running LGBTQ-themed tourism event at Disney World, has been paused for 2026. The pause comes as there has been mounting pressure related to the LGBTQ activism event that usually takes place on an annual basis in and around Disney World to mark Pride month.

“After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to pause the GayDays Orlando event scheduled for June 2026. Changes to our host hotel agreement, the loss of key sponsorship support, and broader challenges currently impacting LGBTQIA+ events nationwide made it impossible to deliver the experience our community deserves. This is a pause — not an ending. For more than 30 years, GayDays has been built by and for our community. Our focus now is on reimagining the future and returning with a stronger, more sustainable event,” the event organizers said in a post to Instagram.

“We will share updates in the coming months as we shape the next chapter together. Thank you for your support, your patience, and for being part of the GayDays family,” the statement added.

The announcement comes as many large identity-based events across the country face a lack of sponsorship dollars, rising production costs, and a corporate climate that has become more cautious about taking part in identity politics. 

After some online spoke about the potential cancellation of the event, GayDays spokesman said in an email to the Washington Blade on Tuesday, “At this time, I’d like to clarify that Gay Days Orlando has not been canceled. We are currently finalizing details regarding our plans for 2026 and will be making an official announcement later this week.”

The 2026 event had been described as the "biggest and best yet, with unforgettable events, dazzling performances, and non-stop fun all under one roof at our host hotel." It advertised "taking over the entire hotel," and "returning favorites like Drag Bingo, Porn Bingo, the Mr. GayDays Leather Competition, the Miss GayDays Pageant, and the legendary Puppy Mosh."

Although the event is not directly associated with Disney World or the company, Disney has been slammed in recent years for pushing LGBTQ activist material on children in movies as well as at the company’s theme parks.